Pool 1 Munster v Racing Metro Munster: Jones; Howlett (capt.), Earls, Downey, Zebo; Keatley, Murray; Kilcoyne, Varley, Botha; O’Callaghan, Ryan; O’Mahony, O’Donnell, Coughlan. Replacements: Sherry, […]
Latest Posts
Nick Cain: Suddenly the England scrum is Gr-eight again
There were not many No.8 options for England at the start of last season, and it had become another problem position. When Stuart Lancaster came […]
Amlin Challenge Cup Round 6 teams
Bath (v Bucharest) Bath: Cuthbert; Agulla, Hipkiss, Williams, Woodburn; Heathcote, McMillan; Beech, Dunn, Perenise; Hooper (capt.), Caldwell; Skuse, Mercer, Koster. Replacements: Sharman, Catt, Palma-Newport, Attwood, […]
London Wasps win in Wales
London Wasps have secured their place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 20-19 win over the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade last […]
Rob Baxter and Toby Booth could be called up by England
Rob Baxter and Toby Booth could be helping England in the summer if Stuart Lancaster gets his way. The England head coach will go to […]
Live: Biarritz v Harlequins
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Biarritz take on Harlequins in the 6th and final round of the Heineken Cup group stages […]
My Life in Rugby: Tony Diprose – former England Quins and Saracens No.8
Standing in front of nearly 30,000 Australians and having to speak after we had just lost 76-0 was a hugely tough experience, but I wouldn’t take it […]
Tom Varndell commits to Wasps
Prolific try-scoring winger Tom Varndell has committed his future to London Wasps, signing a new contract extension this week. Premiership leading try-scorer Varndell, who is […]
Jamie Heaslip named Ireland captain
Leinster No.8 Jamie Heaslip will skipper Ireland for the forthcoming Six Nations, it was announced today. Declan Kidney revealed his 39-man training squad for the […]
Peter Jackson: Dragons big dilemma – when to cash in on Toby
They say Toby Faletau is not for sale, that those across the border and across the Channel eager to buy him are wasting their time. […]
“Don’t be nervous, beat that breakdown, lads!” – Shontayne Hape
Get to grips with the breakdown and everything else will fall into place. Those words of wisdom for League converts Kyle Eastmond and Joel Tomkins […]
Dream Team: Martyn Thomas – Gloucester and former Scarlets and Dragons full-back
1. Dan Murphy – I am expecting big things from him. Since joining Gloucester I have been behind a really strong pack and he has […]
Paul Doran-Jones to join Harlequins
Harlequins are thought to have hit straight back to replace James Johnston by signing Northampton‘s Paul Doran-Jones. It was announced earlier this week that the […]
Wasps name side for Dragons clash
London Wasps have named their team to play Newport-Gwent Dragons in Thursday’s Amlin Challenge Cup game at Rodney Parade. Dai Young‘s men secured qualification for […]
Jeff Probyn: I didn’t need a letter to know my dad backed me
I think it is fair to say that 2012 was Stuart Lancaster’s year more than anyone else in rugby, despite no major competition wins. Many […]
Alex Corbisiero joins Northampton Saints
As expected and revealed in The Rugby Paper weeks ago, England prop Alex Corbisiero will join Northampton Saints next season. With Tongan star Soane Tonga’uiha […]
Exile Ed Williamson brushes up for life after rugby
London Welsh‘s abrasive back row forward Ed Williamson is developing a name for himself off the pitch – as an artist. His delicate and precise […]
£100,000 each – cost of a Lion in Australia
The Lions have agreed to pay out more than £100,000 for every player chosen to go to Australia at the end of the season. In […]
Wasps did everything to keep Vunipola
Director of Rugby Dai Young revealed London Wasps did everything they could to keep Billy Vunipola at the club but “pressure for family reasons” pushed […]
Harlequins confirm James Johnston departure
Harlequins confirmed today that James Johnston will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the current season. The announcement was made […]
Eli Walker gets Wales call up
Slick-running Ospreys winger Eli Walker has been named in the Wales’ Six nations squad by interim coach Rob Howley today. The 20-year-old has been impressive […]
Saracens snap up Billy Vunipola and James Johnston
As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper back in December, Billy Vunipola will team up with his brother Mako next season after the […]
Sean Maitland called-up by Scotland
Kiwi-born Sean Maitland has been selected by Scotland ahead of the Six Nations which starts on February 2. The 24-year-old winger arrived in Glasgow in […]
Geoff Parling stays at Welford Road
England lock Geoff Parling has ended rumours about a potential move away from Welford Road by agreeing terms on a new contract to stay with […]
Leicester Tigers set for ‘winner-takes-all’ clash with Toulouse
Leicester Tigers have set themselves for a ‘winner-takes-all’ clash with Toulouse after securing a 15-15 draw against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium today. The […]
Room 101: Glenn Delaney – London Irish forwards coach
1. Doorway blockers Health and Safety wouldn’t let you block a fire escape so why are people allowed to stand and chat in doorways of […]
Live: Ospreys v Leicester
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Ospreys take on Leicester in the 5th round of the Heineken Cup at The Liberty Stadium […]
Live: Edinburgh v Munster
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Edinburgh take on Munster in the 5th round of the Heineken Cup at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. […]
Nick Cain talks to Saracens flanker Will Fraser about his ‘inspirational’ brother
Will Fraser goes through a ritual before every match he plays for Saracens. The rugged openside flanker has his wrists and thumbs bandaged, and on […]
Young Gun: Tom Jubb –Saracens lock
With Richard Hill as his academy coach and Steve Borthwick his club captain, Saracens lock Tom Jubb could not be better placed to learn the […]
Jeremy Guscott: Lancaster needs a wing man to drive home his bombers
I’ll argue all day long that the key ability in a winger is that when you give them a try-scoring opportunity, they must take it. […]
Gloucester make it five from five in France
Gloucester are still unbeaten and qualified for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals after their 31-26 win at Bordeaux-Begles tonight. The French scored two tries through […]
Sharks thumped at home by Montpellier
Sale suffered an heavy 27-6 loss to the hands of Montpellier at the Salford City Stadium in the fifth round of the Heineken Cup tonight. […]
Northampton beat Castres but look set for Amlin future
Northampton Saints are almost out of the Heineken Cup despite a 18-12 win over Castres at Franklin’s Gardens tonight. With Ulster certain to top Poll […]
20 Questions: Adrian Jarvis – Bristol fly-half
Decent turnaround from Bristol? Pretty good, yes. After a really good pre-season we had a very disappointing start and didn’t get out of the blocks […]
Live: Northampton v Castres
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Northampton take on Castres in the 5th round of the Heineken Cup at Franklin’s Garden in […]
Heineken Cup round 5: teams
Pool 1 Edinburgh v Munster (Live) Edinburgh: Tonks; Fife, Cairns, Scott, T. Visser; Laidlaw (capt.), Rees; Jacobsen, Lawrie, Nel; Gilchrist, Cox; McInally, Basilaia, Denton. Replacements: […]
Amlin Challenge Cup round 5: teams
Bath (v Agen): Abendanon; Woodburn, Hipkiss, Williams, Agulla; Heathcote, McMillan; James, Mears, Wilson; Attwood, Caldwell; Skuse, Louw (capt.), Koster. Replacements: Dunn, Beech, Perenise, Hooper, Mercer, […]
Nick Cain: The Gong Show and the Goon Show 2012
It’s the season of awards, from the BBC’s Sports Personality show to the New Year Honours. Gongs are being handed out at a furious pace […]
Bryan Habana confirms Toulon switch
As announced on our website on December 18, Bryan Habana will join the Toulon star-studded squad nest season and for the next three years. The […]
Mathieu Bastareaud gets France call-up
Toulon powerhouse centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been called-up by France head-coach Philippe Saint-André for the upcoming RBS Six Nations today. Bastareaud’s last involvement with Les […]
No end to Dan Caprice’s magical mystery tour
Dan Caprice is not one for letting the grass grow under his feet. Over the past three years he has travelled the Sevens circuit with […]
My Life in Rugby: Lewis Moody – former Leicester, Bath, England and Lions flanker
Sitting on the bench in the World Cup final in 2003 I found myself for the first time ever starting to wonder whether I actually […]
Purdy and Sloan added to England U20 for 6 Nations
Henry Purdy and Harry Sloan have been added to the England U20 squad ahead of the Six Nations. The Leicester wing and Harlequins centre are […]
Peter Jackson: Magnificent Ospreys put life back into Wales
After the Grand Slam, the Grand Slump as befitting a nation where extreme mood swings tend to be the norm. After five straight wins and […]
Vunipola named Game Changer of the month
London Wasps barn-storming No.8 Billy Vunipola has won the Gatorade Game Changer Award for December for his performance against Sale at Adams Park. The Game […]
Mont-de Marsan v London Irish teams
Shane Geraghty will captain London Irish tonight when they come up against Mont-de-Marsan in the fifth round of the Amlin Challenge Cup at Stade Guy […]
Let us help get the refs up to speed, say top clubs
Premiership Rugby want to play a more active role in the recruitment and training of referees in future. At present the RFU are responsible for […]
Dream Team: Kris Chesney – Esher and former Saracens and Toulon lock
1. David Flatman – He was very young at the time, very raw but quite aggressive. He went on to be a great player and […]
Hendre Fourie ‘not required to leave England’
Ex-England international Hendre Fourie has been told that “he is not required to leave the UK” by the UK Border Agency. Reports earlier this week […]
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