In this issue

Nick Cain interview
He’s riding high, so why does
Jonny Hill make himself cringe?

Global plan
sees club
season run
into July.

Courtney eyes Lions and foreign pay-day

ENGLAND enforcer Courtney Lawes has not ruled out an overseas swansong before bringing down the curtain on his stellar career.

4 mins

Bloodgate was brazen – with comic moments

Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at rugby’s biggest scandals

10+ mins

Courtney is best bet to counter Du Toit

THE traditional role of a Lions blindside, or No.6, was that of a big, athletic flanker, who combined being a damaging ballcarrier and tackler, and usually also provided a pack with another line-out option.

3 mins

My mission is to make Bath exciting and scoring tries

Bath’s first-year director of rugby Stuart Hooper tells NEALE HARVEY how he’s coping with the current shutdown while attempting to plan ahead.

10 mins

Young Jonah, just doing what came so naturally

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

4 mins

Virus Ends Brock's Hope Of A Fitting Career Finale

On the first weekend of January this year in the foothills of the Pyrenees, the visitors made a tactical change then of such insignificance that it vanished into the minutiae of just another Saturday.

2 mins

Evergreen Elvis has lots of hits left in him

TONGAN Test hooker Elvis Taione puts his remarkable longevity down to Pacific Island genes, sleep and a lifechanging decision to swap work on a building site for rugby.

2 mins

A League of Nations is an idiotic proposal

Democracy: an ideal where people have freedom, equality, and the ability to make choices in how either they or their elected representatives govern a way of living and working, or, in the case of sport, playing.

4 mins

Glad I took Dad's advice not to quit

AS a teenager, I was told I was too small to play rugby (I’m 5ft 8), and that I would never make it to the top. So, when I look back on a career that saw me win 55 Argentina caps, play at three World Cups and professionally in England and France, I’m very proud of what I achieved.

5 mins

No French champions for first time since WW2

The 30 presidents of the Top 14 and ProD2 this week agreed to end the 2019/20 season, leaving a number of questions unanswered. The hope, now, is to start the 2020/21 season in September but the clubs cannot begin their pre-season planning until a definite start date is confirmed, and medical measures are agreed and met.

6 mins

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The Rugby Paper Magazine Description:

The Rugby Paper, the UK's number 1 selling rugby title, brings you exclusive stories, reports and features on your device, published in exceptional clarity. It contains renowned journalists such as Nick Cain and Peter Jackson, and famous former players as columnists including Jeremy Guscott and Jeff Probyn. Published every Sunday, The Rugby Paper covers Rugby Union from national teams and Premiership / Rabo Direct down to grass roots.