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Call to axe Bill Sweeney ‘as soon as possible’

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain Bill Sweeney’s tenure as RFU chief executive is in a precarious position after Bill Beaumont’s announcement as an interim RFU Board Chairman […]

Henry Arundell lines up England return

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Henry Arundell, one of rugby’s most exciting talents, is poised to join Bath next season from Stuart Lancaster’s Racing 92, opening the […]

The motion to call an SGM sent to Bill Sweeney, which had been signed by more than 200 RFU clubs

22 December 2024 0 comments

Dear Bill, 1. The publication of Annual Report (2023/24), including the Remuneration Committee report in respect of the remuneration of the senior leadership within the […]

Jack Willis: I’m loving my life with Toulouse

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens While some sides would consider the tag of defending champions as a target on their backs, it appears Toulouse see it more […]

Jack Clement: I’m here to put fear into our opponents

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Gary Fitzgerald Jack Clement feels the Cherry and Whites are now ripening nicely into a potential top four side and putting real “fear” into […]

Speedster Ollie Sleightholme ends the year on a high

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Ollie Sleightholme will not be among those glad to see the back of 2024 – a year in which he made his […]

Van Graan is the key to our rise to the top, says Ewels

22 December 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Top tier: Charlie Ewels is enjoying life at Bath CAST your mind back only a couple of years and it was clear […]

Steward leads calls for Cheika to stay at Tigers

22 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES MICHAEL Cheika will hold talks with Leicester after Christmas over his future having signed a one-year contract with the East Midlands club. […]

Defeats will spur us on – Randall

22 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES HARRY Randall believes Bristol’s two Champions Cup defeats against Leinster and La Rochelle this month will help them in their quest to […]

Dream Team – Josh Davies

22 December 2024 0 comments

JOSH DAVIES, THE FORMER WALES U20s, EALING, LONDON WELSH & BARNES SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. Rhodri […]

England’s outsiders deserve a chance

22 December 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England […]

Anguish for Exeter Chiefs as Sale Sharks march on

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Ross Heppenstall Sale Sharks…………………. 28pts Tries: James 22, Carpenter 36, Penalty 50, Hill 71 Conversions: R du Preez 23, 37, 72 Exeter Chiefs……………….. 10pts […]

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso shoulder injury a concern for Rob Baxter

22 December 2024 0 comments

Rob Baxter will assess the shoulder injury which forced Immanuel Feyi-Waboso off during the first half. The England winger was hurt in a tackle and […]

Nick Tompkins hits the 200-mark for Saracens

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Match Preview – Saracens v Northampton Today. Kick-off 3pm, StoneX Stadium Mark McCall has hailed Nick Tompkins, who makes his 200th appearance […]

Bill Beaumont needs to show clear thinking

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week Bill Beaumont is stepping into a saloon in which the tables and chairs have been […]

England have to wait on Afo Fasogbon

22 December 2024 0 comments

Here’s hoping that the knee injury that Gloucester’s Afo Fasogbon sustained against Harlequins on Friday does not rule him out for long – because England […]

Jack proves that he’s still the lad

22 December 2024 0 comments

THERE’S something about crossing The Channel that seems to bring out the best in England’s Top 14 exports, with a rejuvenated Jack Nowell scoring a […]

No Franco Mostert? That’s got to be a mistake

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed Here’s a funny thing: one of the more prominent rugby sites on the worldwide web super information highway thingy […]

Show Champions Cup a little more respect

22 December 2024 0 comments

YOU could set the clocks by it. Whenever the Walcot Old Boys team bus began one of its regular 45-mile descents from the sunlit uplands […]

Bill Beaumont named interim chairman at RFU as Tom Ilube resigns amid scandal

20 December 2024 0 comments

Sir Bill Beaumont has been appointed Rugby Football Union chairman on an interim basis following the resignation of Tom Ilube. Ilube stepped down on Friday […]

Ellie Kildunne believes impact of home Rugby World Cup lies ‘beyond imagination’

20 December 2024 0 comments

England and Harlequins full-back Ellie Kildunne cannot even fathom how transformative next year’s home Rugby World Cup might be for her country. The 25-year-old was […]

Tom Ilube resigns as RFU chairman amid pay controversy

20 December 2024 0 comments

Tom Ilube has resigned as chairman of the Rugby Football Union amid controversy over executive pay. The move follows an outcry over RFU chief executive […]

Gloucester vs Harlequins – Betting Preview

20 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Christmas is less than a week away, so we are treated to some great rugby matchups in the Gallagher Premiership. […]

Premiership Preview – Round 8

19 December 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott The last weekend before Christmas has some mouthwatering rugby action, and although many have already begun their festive celebrations, for the Premiership it is […]

Grassroots revolt triggers vote over futures of RFU chief executive and chairman

19 December 2024 0 comments

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney and chairman Tom Ilube are facing motions calling for their removal after a grassroots revolt gathered enough support […]

S4, E16: Rugby Paper Podcast 2024 Awards and Champions Cup debate

19 December 2024 0 comments

In our last episode of 2024, the gang is back together in full force. Host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Chris Hewett and Brendan […]

Start with Tom Roebuck, Ben Curry tells Steve Borthwick

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ross Heppenstall Steve Borthwick has been urged to make in-form Sale star Tom Roebuck a starting winger in the Six Nations. Roebuck enjoyed an […]

Northampton Saints, Harlequins & Leicester Tigers lead way

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Northampton Saints won in South Africa for the first time in their history by beating the Bulls away in Pretoria 30-21 courtesy […]

Cornish Pirates remove break clauses

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Cornish Pirates have lifted the break clauses in player contracts which had been inserted in the summer amid concern over the ongoing […]

Steve Borthwick leads tributes to Tom Voyce

15 December 2024 0 comments

English rugby is mourning the death of 43-year-old former winger Tom Voyce. He went missing last Saturday night during Storm Darragh while attempting to drive […]

Handre Pollard: My future still up in the air

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Handre Pollard is out of contract at the end of the season and Leicester hope a strong showing for the rest of […]

England-born Junior Kpoku rules out playing for France

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Hard-hitting: Racing 92 lock Junior Kpoku Junior Kpoku, ineligible for Steve Borthwick’s England team while playing for Racing 92, says the prospect […]

Gareth Anscombe glad to be back to his best after a year out

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Gloucester believe Gareth Anscombe is back to his best after the Wales outside-half spent almost a year out with injury. Anscombe joined […]

Promotion still needs too much hoop-jumping

15 December 2024 0 comments

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: [email protected] I’m very pleased to see the possibility of […]

Ronan O’Gara keeps on driving La Rochelle

15 December 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens talks to the former Ireland No.10 about his plans in France – and what could happen next In the heart of La Rochelle, […]

It’s time for Bath to take control

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Jeremy Guscott – Outspoken and unmissable every week… Bath need to make a statement against Benetton at the Stadio Monigo today if they are […]

Mark McCall: There is no margin for error in this format so we have to back up last week

15 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Match Preview Stade Francais v Saracens Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stadium Mark McCall has warned his Saracens players not to be fooled by […]

Duncan Weir’s set for Toulon tester

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Match Preview Toulon vs Glasgow Today. 3.15pm Duncan Weir feels his Glasgow side must get to grips with Toulon’s boisterous atmosphere at […]

Alex Dombrandt leads the fight for Harlequins

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Gary Fitzgerald Harlequins ……………… 53pts Tries: Murley 12, 64, 66; Care 29, Dombrandt 36, 52, 57; Riley 78 Conversions: Smith 30, 37, 53; J […]

Roebuck the star as Sale cruise in

15 December 2024 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Sale ……………………………………………………….. 29pts Tries: J-L du Preez 19, Roebuck 34, Carpenter 51, Curry 60 Conversions: R du Preez 35, 52, 61 Penalty: […]

We’ve got our bite back – Alex Sanderson

15 December 2024 0 comments

Sale DoR Alex Sanderson said after the match: “We just wanted to be on it for longer defensively this week. “We are a little more […]

Slade: We have to be all in this together

15 December 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Exeter Chiefs v Toulouse Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, Sandy Park THE importance of playing what’s in front of you rather than on […]

Ring fence has made English rugby go soft

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week The most positive aspect to come out of the opening round of the European Cup […]

Battling Bath looking to revive cup campaign

15 December 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Benetton v Bath Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stadio di Monigo Ready for action: Vilikesa Sela and, right, Tommaso Menoncello PICTURES: Getty Images […]

The global travellers who light up game

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed There is nothing especially funny about short-term memory loss, but it may just have an upside when it comes […]

We’re happy to be the hunted, says Sarah Beckett

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Sarah Beckett admits Gloucester-Hartpury have made an underwhelming start to their title defence but believes that’s partly due to competition across the […]

Chris Robshaw backs USA to boost 2031 Rugby World Cup

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Chris Robshaw is confident the United States will make a success of hosting the 2031 World Cup and expand the game’s commercial […]

Dream Team – Peter Altham

15 December 2024 0 comments

PETER ALTHAM, THE FYLDE, LANCASHIRE AND FORMER WHARFEDALE AND PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. Soane […]

Nottingham purple patch is too good for Chinnor

15 December 2024 0 comments

■ By ROB WILDMAN Nottingham …… 19pts Tries: Dickinson 42, Williams 52, Chessum 57 Conversions: Parks 42, 52 Chinnor ………….. 15pts Tries: Passman 64, Hughes […]