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Another Championship player joins London Irish

11 April 2013 0 comments

London Irish have signed hooker Mike Mayhew on a three-year contract from Newcastle Falcons. Mayhew joined the Sunbury-based side as injury cover earlier in the […]

Jeff Probyn: RFU must step in and end this financial ring-fencing

10 April 2013 1 comment

As the disappointments of the Six Nations fades into memory, club rugby comes back into focus as we approach the business end of the season […]

London Irish sign Rotherham duo

10 April 2013 0 comments

London Irish added depth to their back-line option with the signings of Eamonn Sheridan and Fergus Mulchrone from Championship side Rotherham on two-year deals, it […]

Wasps snap up Bedford flyer

4 April 2013 1 comment

London Wasps have signed highly rated young winger Josh Bassett from Bedford Blues. Bassett topped the RFU Championship try-scoring charts last season with 14 and […]

Jeff Probyn: End this cult of ‘superstar’ refs and sort out the scrum

27 March 2013 0 comments

If there is one thing that has made this Six Nations Championship more memorable than most, it is the controversy that has surrounded the referees. In almost […]

Young Gun: Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi – Northampton prop

23 March 2013 1 comment

Being picked to start for England U20s on home soil at Franklin’s Gardens against Italy – Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi admits he could not have asked for […]

Peter Jackson: Trust me, Cardiff jinx waits for Lancaster!

21 March 2013 0 comments

At a dinner in London some years ago, the English defined their rugby relationship with the Welsh as one based on “trust and understanding”. Dudley […]

Rob Howley: England showdown is so huge

12 March 2013 0 comments

Rob Howley last night (Saturday) billed Wales‘ Six Nations clash with England as one of the biggest of their lives. Wales, who marched past Scotland […]

Jeremy Guscott: Clockwork England show their composure

2 March 2013 0 comments

Remember the great England World Cup-winning side and the management mantra that came from their head coach Sir Clive Woodward, T-CUP, which was shorthand for […]

Healy wins appeal to play France

28 February 2013 0 comments

Cian Healy will be available to face France on March 9 for the next round of the RBS Six Nations after winning an appeal against […]

Andy Robinson: “I could not face Scotland’s fans after failures”

27 February 2013 1 comment

Andy Robinson has revealed the deep-seated sense of frustration that led to him resigning as head coach of Scotland in November. Robinson starts as director […]

Joe Carlisle joins London Wasps

22 February 2013 0 comments

As rumoured for a number of weeks now, Worcester Warriors fly-half Joe Carlisle will be wearing the London Wasps jersey next season. Rated as one […]

Geoff Parling can boss the Lions, says Aussie great Nathan Sharpe

21 February 2013 0 comments

Nathan Sharpe, one of the great Wallaby locks, believes Geoff Parling will be given the responsibility to ‘marshal the cattle’ as the Lions lineout caller […]

Peter Jackson: WRU see sense with price cut

14 February 2013 0 comments

When he retired after captaining Wales at the 1995 World Cup in Johannesburg, Mike Hall began to make the most of his degree in land […]

Jeff Probyn: Memo to Telfer: the Scots are most elitist of them all

13 February 2013 2 comments

So the English are too arrogant, too pretentious and too condescending and the Welsh are lazy, or so says former Scotland coach Jim Telfer. For […]

James Scaysbrook remains a Chief

12 February 2013 1 comment

James Scaysbrook has ended rumours about a move to Leicester by agreeing a new two-year deal with Exeter. The openside flanker has been outstanding for […]

Legend Pete Buxton to quit Gloucester

12 February 2013 0 comments

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on Sunday, Gloucester legend Peter Buxton will call time on his playing career at Kingsholm at […]

Jeff Probyn: Scotland must prove they should not be demoted

6 February 2013 5 comments

Just one more week and the wait is over for the most eagerly awaited Six Nations Championship in years. Each of the participating countries has […]

Saints sign Wallaby prop Salesi Ma’afu

4 February 2013 0 comments

Northampton Saints today announced the capture of Australian international prop Salesi Ma’afu for next season. The 6ft, 126kg, tight-head Ma’afu, who has 14 Wallaby caps […]

Young Gun: Kieran Low – London Irish lock

2 February 2013 0 comments

Kieran Low credits forwards coach Glenn Delaney for turning him into the Exiles’ commander-in-chief at the lineout. The work of New Zealander Delaney, who came […]

Grand Slam worth £100k per player this season

29 January 2013 2 comments

The Six Nations Grand Slam will be worth a record £5m to the winner when the tournament kicks off next weekend. Despite the recession, prize […]

Young Gun: Steve Uren – Bristol flanker

26 January 2013 0 comments

Record-breaking Steve Uren is already the talk of Bristol, having become their youngest league player last season, and the 18-year-old claims a season toughening up […]

20 Questions: Tom Hayes – Exeter captain

25 January 2013 0 comments

Exeter‘s season so far? There’ve been some frustrating results but overall we’re on a similar points total to last year and there’s still a lot […]

Young Gun: Josh Watkins – Worcester wing

19 January 2013 0 comments

From Birmingham City to Worcester Warriors, flying wing Josh Watkins admits he feels at home hugging the touchline no matter what shape the ball. In […]

20 Questions: Matt Hopper – Harlequins centre

18 January 2013 0 comments

Enjoy finishing 2012 in front of 82,000 at HQ? Fantastic! There was lots of hype and playing at Twickenham is brilliant. Unfortunately, the weather was […]

Jamie Heaslip named Ireland captain

17 January 2013 2 comments

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 […]

Jeff Probyn: I didn’t need a letter to know my dad backed me

16 January 2013 0 comments

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 […]

20 Questions: Adrian Jarvis – Bristol fly-half

11 January 2013 0 comments

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 […]

Jeff Probyn: There’s hope, despair and the road to redemption

9 January 2013 2 comments

Now the end of the year approaches, we can reflect on the first half of the season and look forward to next year’s rugby. So […]

Nick Cain talks to Dean Richards about his remarkable return to rugby

6 January 2013 0 comments

Dean Richards has no peers in the English club game when it comes to building champion teams, and he is at it again at Newcastle. […]

Peter Jackson: Let’s hear it for these Ospreys heroes!

3 January 2013 0 comments

Toulouse had been to Wales many times before last week, losing the odd game by the odd point here and there. They would have had […]

Sale Sharks still alive with bonus-point defeat at London Wasps

23 December 2012 0 comments

Sale secured a last gasp losing bonus-point against London Wasps to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive this afternoon. While Wasps had the game […]

London Scottish deducted points

6 December 2012 1 comment

Championship club London Scottish have been deducted three points for fielding an unregistered player. The Exiles fielded Alexander Mackenzie in their league fixture with Plymouth […]

Farrell shortlisted for IRB Player of the Year

28 November 2012 0 comments

England fly-half Owen Farrell has been nominated for the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year award. Farrell has been shortlisted alongside All Blacks duo […]

Scotland v Tonga teams

22 November 2012 0 comments

Bath fly-half Tom Heathcote looks set to make is Scotland debut after being named on the bench for the reception of Tonga on Saturday in […]

Maori All Blacks outclass RFU Championship XV

17 November 2012 1 comment

The Maori All Blacks claimed a convincing 52-21 win over the RFU Championship XV in Doncaster today. The Kiwis scored eight tries showcasing the skills […]

Cattle thrilled to be facing the Haka for the first time

17 November 2012 1 comment

Cornish Pirates scrum-half Gavin Cattle describes his inclusion in the RFU Championship squad to take on the Maori All Blacks at Doncaster this Saturday as […]

Live: RFU Championship v Maori All Blacks

17 November 2012 1 comment

Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as a selection from the RFU Championship take on the Maori All Blacks at Castle Park in […]

Rotherham Titans want Alex Codling after coach Andre Bester walks out

9 November 2012 0 comments

Alex Codling has confirmed his interest in becoming Andre Bester’s full-time replacement at Rotherham Titans. Bester resigned from his post on Thursday after a breakdown […]

My Life in Rugby: Neil Calrk – Exeter and former Bristol hooker

8 November 2012 0 comments

Getting promoted with Bristol was special but there was no comparison when I went up with Exeter three years ago. Exeter are the club I […]

Peter Jackson: Can Jamie say Non to a fortune in Paris?

8 November 2012 2 comments

Racing Metro have put their offer for Jamie Roberts on the table – a basic £350,000-a-year for three years from next summer. The figure is […]

Wales v Argentina teams

7 November 2012 1 comment

Ospreys tight-head Aaron Jarvis will make his Wales debut when he lines up against Argentina on Saturday as Mike Phillips and Dan Biggar are both […]

Jeff Probyn: Five-year ring-fence could destroy our game in North

7 November 2012 1 comment

Last week I wrote about the newly formed Rugby Coaches Association (RCA) and how it could be good for the game by stopping the merry-go-round […]

Nick Cain talks to Andrew Sheridan about his ongoing ambition to play for England and the Lions

4 November 2012 2 comments

Andrew Sheridan is in the form of his life, the main axle in the Toulon juggernaut that is smashing the heavyweight packs in the French […]

Young Gun: Mike Pope – Exeter and Taunton half-back

3 November 2012 0 comments

Versatility is considered an asset in most walks of life, but Exeter Chiefs‘ fledgling back Mike Pope admits he needs to make a position his […]

Amlin Challenge Cup round 2: preview and predictions

19 October 2012 0 comments

Dragons v Bayonne Tonderai Chavhanga returns for the Dragons as they face Bayonne following their defeat at Wasps last week. The former Springbok returns on […]

Baa-Baas welcome Dean Richards back as coach

16 October 2012 0 comments

Dean Richards has been short-listed for a return to the big stage as coach of the Barbarians. The renowned touring club approached him last week […]

Ulster leave it late but Ruan Pienaar secures the five points

12 October 2012 0 comments

Ulster had to wait until the third minute of stoppage time and a try from Springbok Ruan Pienaar to secure a 41-17 bonus-point win over […]

A former Saracen to referee England

11 October 2012 1 comment

Former Saracens fly-half Glen Jackson will referee England‘s clash with Fiji at Twickenham next month continuing his meteoric rise as an international match official. Jackson, […]