The IRB have announced their latest incarnation of the scrum engagement sequence that incorporates pre-binding and the need to put the ball in straight. I […]
Latest Posts
Peter Jackson: Leigh’s the guardian ‘angel’ for home club
Gorseinon RFC have done more than their bit for the international game over the last half century – from Onllwyn Brace to Norman Gale, Lewis […]
Dean Ryan in wings as Akapusi Qera hints at move
Dynamic Gloucester flanker Akapusi Qera could potentially be reunited with Dean Ryan when his contract at Kingsholm expires next year. Qera, nominated for this season’s […]
My Life in Rugby: Arwal Thomas – former Wales, Neath and Bristol fly-half
My punch on Philippe Carbonneau is probably still the rugby moment most people ask me about and it’s even got to the stage where my […]
Nick Cain: First blood to Lions as toxic Quade gets ‘axed’
The slabs of red meat are one up already! The sledging war initiated by our Aussie mates ahead of the arrival of the 2013 Lions […]
Nick Cain talks to Leicester’s Tom croft about his double challenge of Premiership final and Lions tour
Tom Croft has an attribute that few international forwards possess, including those back rowers alongside him in the 2013 Lions squad: The pace to scare […]
Ben Alexander’s debt to Bedford Blues production line
Bedford may have been the finishing school for three front-rowers in the Lions squad, but the Blues also played a key role in developing a […]
Dream Team: Tom Johnson – Exeter and England flanker
1. Brett Sturgess – He would kill me if I didn’t put him! He’s a great scrummager and also very good around the park. 2. […]
Dan Hipkiss forced to retire
Dan Hipkiss has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect through injury. The 13 times capped England centre has made 28 appearances for Bath […]
James Haskell: Being big and strong does not make you good
Is rugby becoming too dangerous? Are players getting too big? Could rugby be heading the same way as the NFL, with all the inherent injury […]
Jeremy Guscott: Tigers can edge this battle of the giants
Northampton‘s results against the top teams in the Premiership have generally not been the best and they won’t be favourites for this Twickenham final, especially […]
I won’t be watching the Lions says Toby Flood
Toby Flood aims to deliver his own personal snub to the British and Irish Lions … by not bothering to watch them on TV! The […]
Joe Launchbury launchpad is thanks to boss Dai Young
Do you believe in fate? Joe Launchbury does, and why not after a season in which he scaled the heights with England and was named […]
Davies to lead Wales in Japan
As revealed by Matt Lloyd in The Rugby Paper on Sunday, Bradley Davies will captain a young Wales side that ncluded nine uncapped players to […]
French act to head off revolt over Heineken Cup
France called a crisis meeting over Europe yesterday aimed at averting the planned Anglo-French breakaway to launch an alternative tournament. The Dublin summit, held hours […]
RFU Championship Dream Team 2012-13
The four Championship semi-finalists dominate this year’s Dream XV with Nottingham and Newcastle, the top two sides from the regular season, boasting four representatives each. Nottingham’s […]
England call on Luther Burrell and Stephen Myler for Argentina tour
Luther Burrell and Stephen Myler have been added to the England squad ahead of their tour of Argentina tour. The Northampton Saints backs duo will […]
Wasps switch for Corporal Reeves
Lance Corporal Ricky Reeves will join London Wasps next season from Bedford Blues. On the back of an impressive season in the Championship, the experienced […]
Room 101: Ben Pons – Moseley flanker
1. The soft drift defence A soft drift defence is all too soft for my liking. The soft drift is when the opposition has more […]
Wilkinson named ERC Player of the Year
After leading Toulon to their first Heineken Cup, Jonny Wilkinson has been presented with the ERC Player of the Year award. The English fly-half kicked […]
Israel Folau in, Quade Cooper out for Wallabies to face Lions
Cross-code convert Israel Foau is set to become a dual-code international after being named in Robbie Deans’ initial Wallabies squad to face the British & […]
Young Gun: Tom Smallbone – London Irish prop
London Irish prop Tom Smallbone has been doing more than his fair share of homework this season and hopes it will pay dividends should he […]
Leinster beat Stade Francais to claim Amlin Challenge Cup
Leinster lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup trophy after beating Stade Francais 34-13 in Dublin tonight. In front of their home fans at the RDS, the […]
20 Questions: Nick Evans – Harlequins fly-half
Quins set for a big finish? We are. It’s the money month now and all about momentum. We had a sticky patch but the sun’s […]
Wayne Barnes to referee Premiership final
Wayne Barnes will take charge of next Saturday’s Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham between Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers. It will be the fifth time […]
Quins announce pre-season fixtures
Harlequins have confirmed their pre-season fixtures as they prepare for the start of the 2013-14 season. The current LV= Cup holders will kick-off the season […]
Wilkinson shortlisted for ERC Player of the Year
Jonny Wilkinson has been named in a five-man shortlist for the ERC Player of the Year award. The World Cup winning Toulon captain has been […]
Jeff Probyn: Late kick-offs can harm the legacy of RWC 2015
With news about the Lions selection dominating the sports pages, someone at RWC 2015 must have thought no-one would notice. The announcement that 22 of […]
Peter Jackson: Forgotten Byrne can join select Welsh club
A new name ought to be added to Europe’s painfully small Welsh roll of honour next weekend, a player long declared surplus to international requirements. […]
Andy Robinson: My three Lions to scatter the Wallabies
Former England and Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has earmarked Justin Tipuric, Tom Youngs and Leigh Halfpenny as his Lions players to dazzle during the […]
TRP link up with Poolpit
The Rugby Paper we have joined forces with Poolpit, a new and exciting bookmakers who hit the scene recently. For those who are yet to […]
My Life in Rugby: Alex Brown – former Bristol, Gloucester and England lock
I won the Amlin Cup, the LV= Cup and finished top of the table at Gloucester but never getting a Premiership winners’ medal is a […]
One more year for BOD but no Amlin final
Brian O’Driscoll has signed a new one-year contract with the IRFU which will see him available for Leinster and Ireland until June 2014. This ends […]
Jeremy Guscott: Forget the chess game let’s go for check mate
The squad Stuart Lancaster has selected to tour Argentina next month is spot on, and I like the inclusion of 11 non-capped players. I only […]
Nick Cain says the tour party to Argentina represents a sea-change for England
The grass-roots setting of Barnes RFC is an unlikely location for game-changing decisions at the apex of the English elite game. However, when Stuart Lancaster […]
Gloucester confirm Tavis Knoyle arrival
Neil Fissler revealed the move in the Fissler Files over a month ago but Gloucester confirmed today that Tavis Koyle will join the Cherry and […]
Power will be on from first scrum – Richard Hibbard
Hooker Richard Hibbard says the Lions need to take referees out of the equation by dominating from the first scrum to the last against Australia. […]
Dream Team: Andy Nicol – former Bath, Scotland and Lions scrum-half
1. David Sole – My first international captain so he holds a special place for me. A phenomenal player who gave up a couple of […]
Baa-Baas squad finalised
Fresh from a monster performance that propelled Northampton to their first Aviva Premiership final, Samu Manoa will become a Barbarian. The American is one of […]
Nick Cain: Put star players outside salary cap
What has happened to the once proud record of English clubs in Europe? When Saracens slipped out of the Heineken Cup a fortnight ago after […]
James Haskell: I can’t wait to see new back row in action
Being injured sucks! Not just because you miss out on all the tours. No it sucks because you end-up working harder than you did during […]
Joe Ansbro forced to retire
Joe Ansbro has been forced to retire from rugby with immediate effect after suffering a neck injury in August 2012. The London Irish centre, 27, […]
Some regrets? Yes, but they’re few to mention for Delon Armitage now!
Delon Armitage has opened his heart on why he never wanted to leave England but felt there was no choice if he was to rekindle […]
Bath confirm pre-season fixtures
Bath Rugby have confirmed today their per-season fixtures ahead of the 2013-14 Aviva Premiership campaign. The first “friendly” game will take place at The Rec […]
Scott Williams out of Japan tour
Scott Williams has been force to withdraw from Wales‘ tour to Japan due to a recurrent shoulder injury. The 22-year-old sustained the injury last Friday […]
All Blacks name squad for France series
The All Blacks have called up ten uncapped players for their three-Test series against France this summer. Coach Steven Hansen announced his 38-man wider squad […]
Doug Howlett forced to retire
All Black record try scorer Doug Howlett has been forced to retire from professional rugby due to a shoulder injury. The Munster winger suffered the […]
Greene King to be title sponsors of RFU Championship
Brewing giant Greene King are set to become the first title sponsor of the RFU Championship in a three-year deal believed to be worth £1.2m. […]
Warren Gatland on playing against the Lions
British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland goes back to memory lane and remembers what it is like to play against the Lions. The […]
Lewis Moody and Chris Cracknell discuss Sevens
Following a record attendance over the weekend at Twickenham, former England captain Lewis Moody joined England Sevens star Chris Cracknell at the final round of […]
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