The Rugby Paper Ltd

KYRAN Bracken talked in his column last week about how South Africa used around three various teams during the Nations Championship… excellent visionary coaching using the competition to ‘blood’ fringe players against so called Tier 1 opposition. Rassie Erasmus strikes gold once again. If Steve Borthwick had thought to use the same approach with England […]

■By BEN JAYCOCK Flying start: Former Leicester wing Harry Potter scores Australia’s first try PICTURE: Getty Images LES Kiss says Australia must learn to control their attacking ambition after surviving a major scare against Japan to give their new head coach a winning start. The Wallabies edged a frantic encounter 35-32 in Osaka despite playing […]

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD NICK Eastwood was a seriously nice guy and person to be with. Obviously, I was very sad to hear this news. The big thing to me was outside his skills on the finance side, he was genuinely passionate about the rugby – he really wanted the England team to go well. People […]

■By BEN JAYCOCK AUSTRALIA survived a thrilling Japan fightback and a first-half red card to give new head coach Les Kiss a winning start in Osaka. The Wallabies were forced to dig deep after Miles Amatosero’s yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red shortly before half-time, while Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms threatened to snatch […]

■By ADAM HATHAWAY GEORGE Kruis likes what he is seeing from England and insists they have the potential to go deep in next year’s World Cup – just like his vintage did in 2019. And the former second row believes Courtney Lawes – who is back in the international reckoning – could play a role […]

PAUL REES ON THE LEGAL BATTLES OVER CLAIMS O Raging Bull: Phil Vickery in action for England against New Zealand PICTURES: Getty Images let’s help, says Vickery IN LAW nothing is certain except the expense. It is a saying that had force in the early years of professionalism when clubs and unions clashed over control […]

■By GARY FITZGERALD TOM Litchfield has spent the summer both in the slow and fast lane while also keeping up with how his Saints pals competed on the Test stage. And, having enjoyed a first experience sampling the turbo-charged noise and atmosphere at Silverstone, the centre hopes this season can see him also line up […]

George Kruis believes Courtney Lawes could play a key role in England’s 2027 Rugby World Cup campaign after being impressed by Steve Borthwick’s side.

After fearing his professional career was at a crossroads, Will Trenholm found a new home at Gloucester and is determined to build on a breakthrough first season.

Everything you need to know about Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry as the All Blacks and Springboks renew their historic rivalry with a four-Test series in 2026.