When Stephen Jones turned down an offer to join Leicester in 2004, Wasps had just superseded the Tigers as champions of England and Europe. Eight […]
Latest Posts
Man Behind the Match: Rob Andrew and the 1995 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final
England went into the 1995 World Cup quarter-final in Cape Town having seen many highs since the desperate low of losing the 1991 World Cup […]
Barnes at No.10 for Wallabies, Cooper out
Berrick Barnes has been named at fly-half for Australia‘s clash against New Zealand in Saturday’s opening game of the Rugby Championship while Quade Cooper has […]
Moment in Time: Sale Sharks and the 2002 Parker Pen Shield
Lift-off for Sale Sharks. This was the day when chairman Brian Kennedy’s vision of creating a powerhouse team in the north-west of England finally came […]
Jeff Probyn: Rugby should be backing the war against drugs
Isn’t it funny how those at the top of sport believe that only what affects them is of any importance or consequence to what happens […]
20 Questions: Danny Care – Harlequins and England scrum-half
Enjoying pre-season at Quins? Loving it! It’s great to be back around all the boys again. It is hard work but everyone is looking to […]
Room 101: Tom May – Northampton and former England centre
1. Warm ups I don’t know if it’s because I have been playing for what seems like a long time now but I really hate […]
Young Gun: Luke Treharne – Exeter and Wales U18 full-back
A contemporary of George North in the Scarlets academy, Luke Treharne and the giant Welsh winger made a ferocious midfield combination in west Wales. Where […]
SBW cleared to play for the All Blacks
Sonny Bill Williams was today cleared by his new Japanese club to play in the All Blacks‘ opening Rugby Championship matches against Australia. Despite his […]
Ospreys’ Ryan Jones back in six weeks?
Ryan Jones will miss the start of the new RaboDirect Pro12 season after undergoing keyhole surgery to his knee. The 31-year-old back-rower went under the […]
Huge blow for Ulster’s Paddy McAllister
Ulster prop Paddy McAllister will be sidelined for the majority of the season after picking up a significant knee injury in training last week. The […]
My Life in Rugby: Ollie Smith – former Leicester, England and Lions centre
Making the British and Irish Lions tour in 2005 was an achievement I couldn’t really comprehend. The squad was announced on the Monday and then […]
Dream Team: Scott Barrow – Fylde and former Leeds centre
1. Simon Emms – Very fast for a chunky fella. One of the most athletic props I’ve played with, including Premiership guys. We played at […]
Ospreys name side to face Clermont
Ospreys Head Coach Steve Tandy has named his team to face French giants Clermont Auvergne at Issoir on Friday night (KO 8.00pm local time). The […]
Kellock carries on as Warriors captain
Lock Al Kellock was today confirmed as Glasgow Warriors captain for the seventh consecutive season. He has made 76 appearances in the RaboDirect PRO12 since […]
Ulster name team to face Bayonne
Mark Anscombe has named his first match day squad for the pre season friendly against Bayonne at the Parc des Sports Jean Dauger this evening […]
London Welsh confirm Ion and Kulemin signings
As revealed in The Rugby Paper on Sunday, London Welsh have added some muscle to their pack ahead of the club’s first-ever Premiership season with […]
Fixtures unveiled for 2012-2013 LV= Cup
Saracens will kick off the 2012-13 LV= Cup season against current title holders Leicester Tigers in the opening round of the new season’s campaign. The […]
Springboks return for Botha?
The Springboks are considering calling back hard man Bakkies Botha to cover a locking crisis for the Rugby Championship. Botha’s 76-test career looked to be […]
England U18 squad named for SA tour
England Under 18 coaches John Fletcher, Pete Walton and Ian Peel have named their squad for the summer tour to South Africa where they will […]
Cockerill confirms Thorpe arrival at Tigers
Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill has confirmed that his side have recruited back-row Richard Thorpe from London Irish. Thorpe made 135 appearances for the Exiles, […]
Stuart Hooper retains Bath Rugby captaincy
Bath Rugby confirmed that Stuart Hooper will continue to captain the West country club for the forthcoming season. An injury ravaged season limited the Exeter-born […]
Bristol sign Samoa international Faosiliva
Bristol bulked up their back row after signing Samoa international Alafoti Faosiliva. The 26-year-old, who can play at flanker or number eight, has 10 caps […]
Argentina announce squad for Four Nations opener
Horacio Agulla, Marcos Ayerza and Gonzalo Camacho have been named in Argentina coach Santiago Phelan’s 26-man squad that will travel to South Africa for their […]
Only one new cap for World Champions for Rugby Championship
Auckland and Blues prop Charlie Faumuina is the only new face named in the 28-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship. Faumuina was in […]
Tommy Bowe is back home to help Ulster maintain momentum
Tommy Bowe is back home with Ulster Rugby and reveals that envy, as much as ambition, will be driving him on this season. “Watching them […]
Wales teen wonder Tom Prydie aiming to fly high again
Tom Prydie and Kristian Phillips aim to relaunch their careers this season after falling into the international wilderness. The former Ospreys wing wonders, part of […]
Peter Jackson charts the league stars who moved to union to become dual internationals
Martin Gleeson’s planned conversion from Rugby League comes eight years after England earmarked him for their defence of the World Cup in 2007. Within months […]
Nick Cain: Pumas out to prove their first-class credentials
Argentina have received an early reminder that New Zealand, South Africa and Australia see them as the poor relations of the inaugural southern hemisphere Rugby […]
Uncapped Gill named in Wallabies Four Nations squad
Australia U20 captain Liam Gill is set to make his Test debut after he was named in Robbie Deans 30-man squad for the upcoming Rugby […]
Jeremy Guscott: Sniffer Ashton should get back on scent with Sarries
Whether Chris Ashton likes it or not we all know he has gone to Saracens because he’s got a better contract. If he had not […]
RFU fury over Graham Henry’s slur against Wayne Barnes
Sir Graham Henry could face legal action following an admission that he wondered whether match-fixing was to blame for New Zealand‘s shock World Cup quarter-final […]
London Welsh capture hard men Kirill Kulemin and Paulica Ion
London Welsh have plunged into the European transfer market and signed a pair of international forwards born behind the then Iron Curtain. The Exiles have […]
Serge Betsen shrugs off the Sir Graham Henry fixing accusations
France legend Serge Betsen has laughed off Graham Henry’s claims that the infamous 2007 World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff could have been fixed. Henry this […]
Serge Blanco lets me know if I’m kicking too much says Iain Balshaw
World Cup winner Iain Balshaw knows all about instinctive rugby and would love England to show more of it. We meet in Biarritz on France‘s […]
Final offer from RFU would see Championship clubs receive £4.3m backing
Championship clubs are close to agreeing a funding deal for the next four seasons after receiving what has been described by one insider as a […]
Peter Jackson: Welsh try to cash in but end up with loose change
Agrand total of ten props, enough to put a small theatrical group out of business, will be missing when Wales finish their autumn series. The […]
Ben Ryan asks: Can Ashton adapt to Sevens in time?
Chris Ashton and Alex Goode’s interest in being included in Great Britain’s Sevens squad for the 2016 Olympics Sevens has been welcomed by Ben Ryan. […]
Saracens talisman Schalk Brits is hooked on helping talented young guns
Saracens hooker Schalk Brits says he expects to take an occasional backseat at the club this season to accommodate the development of young English protégés […]
Long wait is over for new Gloucester prop Huia Edmonds
Hedging his bets in trying to reach the Premiership and play for Australia in the World Cup almost scuppered Gloucester hooker Huia Edmonds’ chances of […]
Jeff Probyn: Like Jonny, these kids need time before going for Gold
Nick Cain: Lion king of Leeds will ride to the rescue
When it comes to understanding the importance of nurturing and building a brand, Sir Ian McGeechan’s track-record with the Lions takes some beating, and that’s […]
Meyer names five new caps for the Boks
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has included five uncapped players in his 30-man squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship. Stormers loose forward Siya Kolisi and Lions […]
Man Behind the Match: Jason Robinson and the 2006 Premiership final
World Cup hero, Lions star, Great Britain rugby league icon, multiple trophy-winner with Wigan … Jason Robinson’s cv is awesome and leads some to offer […]
Moment in Time: Northampton Saints and the 2000 Heineken Cup final
Few people had rated Northampton’s chances of lifting the Heineken Cup. Still fewer gave them a prayer after they had lost their second Pool match […]
20 Questions: Tomas O’Leary – London Irish scrum half
How are you settling in at London Irish? It’s been good so far and I’m getting to know the boys now. The spirit in the […]
Young Gun: Gerard Ellis – London Irish hooker
Glenn Delaney has already converted Tom Youngs from a centre into an international hooker and he is confident he can repeat the trick with London […]
Dream Team: Dan Seal – Bedford and former Bath prop
1. Alan Paver – He’s been the cornerstone of the Pirates scrum for nearly a decade and knows the dark arts better than anyone. 2. […]
Room 101: Mark Mapleoft – Harlequins coach
1. Reality TV Take a bow Bradley Wiggins, not only for his outstanding Tour de France exploits but his post-race press conferences last week. A […]
My Life in Rugby: Brett Davey – Doncaster Director of Rugby
Slotting the last-minute penalty to win the Principality Cup Final in 2002 was nerve-wracking but it was incredible to seal a famous win over Llanelli. […]
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