Challenge Cup - The Rugby Paper

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Another barmy idea from the men in suits

14 April 2024 0 comments

The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame the unaccountable administrators turning […]

Sharks too strong for ordinary Edinburgh

14 April 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Sharks ……………36pts Tries: Am 16, J Venter 26, Mbonambi 55 Conversions: Masuku 17, 27, 56 Penalties: Masuku 48, 52, 65, 70; Bosch […]

On-target Carreras makes no mistake

14 April 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………23pts Tries: Blake 30 Penalties: Carreras 6, 18, 34, 49, 60, 65 Ospreys…………… 13pts Tries: Giles 13Conversions: O Williams 13 Penalties: […]

Murphy promises new focus after Ulster are demolished by Clermont

14 April 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Clermont………..53pts Tries: Yato 18, 68, Sowakula 36, 60, Newsome 44, Simmons 64, Jurand 80 Conversions: Belleau 19, 37, 45, 61, 65, Bezy […]

Connacht know they must rise to the occasion

14 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW… Benetton v Connacht Today. Kick-off 12.30pm CONNACHT know they will have to go up a gear to see off Benetton today. […]

Pienaar heads the list for Europe’s golden oldies

14 April 2024 0 comments

In the course of wheeling their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend against the Cheetahs, the Michelin Men of Clermont brought a somewhat […]

Quirke has his heart set on return to England fold

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN McGILLIGAN Most Mancunians aspire to represent Manchester for either United or City – but this never enticed a young Raffi Quirke. The 22-year-old […]

Ulster set for massive fight

7 April 2024 0 comments

Preview Montpellier v Ulster Today. 12.30pm ULSTER interim head coach Richie Murphy says a ‘massive test’ awaits in Montpellier. Ulster have lost their last two […]

Clermont survive second-half scare

7 April 2024 0 comments

Clermont ……..27 Cheetahs …….22■By BEN JAYCOCK THREE-TIME Challenge Cup winners Clermont held off a Cheetahs fightback to earn a place in the last eight. Clermont […]

Umaga stars for 14-man Benetton

7 April 2024 0 comments

Benetton ……..27 Lions ……………. 17 ■By SAM JACKSON THE Lions were booted out of the Challenge Cup by a Benetton side that played half the […]

Ace Velacott snipes over for quickfire try double

7 April 2024 0 comments

■By BRYN PALMER Edinburgh………33pts Tries: Watson 23, Currie 42, Vellacott 53, 56; van der Merwe 67 Conversions: Healy 24, 43, 54, 69Bayonne………… 15pts Tries: Spring […]

Sisi leads way on 100th appearance

7 April 2024 0 comments

Preview Sharks v Zebre Today. 3pm DAVID Sisi captains Zebre on his 100th appearance for the club as the Italian side hope to secure a […]

TV deal to break €500m barrier

7 April 2024 0 comments

FRENCH COLUMN – JAMES HARRINGTON France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby hopes to pocket more than half-a-billion euros, after launching a call for tenders for Top […]

Premier Sports is set to get back to ‘business as usual’

7 April 2024 0 comments

IRELAND-BASED sports broadcaster Premier Sports makes its long-expected return to British EPGs on Tuesday April 9, after its buyout of Viaplay’s UK sports broadcast arm […]

Borthwick now spoilt for choice at 15, says Piutau

1 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Charles Piutau feels England’s decision to drop Freddie Steward in favour of George Furbank at full-back shows the embarrassment of riches Steve […]

We’ll pick our best team for Exeter, says Bath coach

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath will pick their strongest available side at Exeter in Saturday’s Champions Cup last 16 with head coach Johann van Graan billing […]

Bears battle back to subdue Gloucester

31 March 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Gloucester ………………….. 24pts Tries: Hathaway 10, Carreras 18, McBurney 21 Conversions: Carreras 11, 19, 22 Penalty: Carreras 33 Bristol ………………………….. 33pts Tries; […]

O’Flaherty: We need to learn from our inquest

31 March 2024 0 comments

■By JON NEWCOMBE Sale Sharks vExeter Chiefs PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 3pm, Salford Community Stadium SALE’S players had good old northern, say it how it is, […]

Morris finds his form to help Ospreys see off Lions

31 March 2024 0 comments

■By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys …………36pts Tries: Botha 5, Parry 17, Morris 49, Lloyd 58, K Williams 80 Conversions: O Williams 18, 50, 59, Walsh 80Lions……………… […]

Relegation saga still a shadow over game

24 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There is so much that makes so little sense in the English club game. Nothing made this […]

All set for a race to the finish

17 March 2024 0 comments

With the Premiership resuming next weekend, Paul Rees looks at how the runners and riders are gearing up The Premiership resumes this week after an […]

Toulouse and Stade in line for a race to glory

17 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The top two tiers of French domestic rugby have been on hiatus this weekend, giving fans a clear run at the […]

Redshaw ready to lead from the front

10 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ben Redshaw trained with England during last year’s World Cup before he had made his Newcastle debut, already marked out as a […]

Reid: We want to build new legacy

10 March 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to Bath back rower Miles Reid who wants to see the glory days return, if only to keep his dad quiet Combative […]

Oyonnax have to keep on believing

10 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Oyonnax manager Joe El-Abd promised last week that his side would ‘fight to the end’ following their so-near-so-far 35-39 home defeat […]

End of an era as Lawes commits to Brive

25 February 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes will leave Northampton this summer to join ProD2 side Brive after 17 seasons at Franklin’s Gardens. Lawes said Northampton did “everything they could” […]

Mercer: I’m focused on Gloucester

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES If desire to play for England was a factor in selection, Zach Mercer would be one of the first names on the […]

McDowall on fine form to put Glasgow in the clear

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow………..40pts Tries: McKay 1, 37, McDowall 3, 75, Ashfar 44, Cordero 69 Conversions: Thompson 2, 4, 38, 45; Weir 76 Dragons………….. 7pts […]

Short-term contract takes Grace to Bath

18 February 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON FORMER Wales rugby league star Regan Grace has signed a short-term contract with Bath. The 27-year-old switched to rugby union and joined […]

Keen demand to host Euro finals weekend

4 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Dominic McKay, chairman of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), has revealed that interest in hosting European club rugby’s finals weekend was higher […]

Scotland prop Rory signs with Warriors

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Scotland and Lions loosehead Rory Sutherland is returning to Scotland at the end of the season after signing a […]

We are here for the long term

4 February 2024 0 comments

Newcastle were the only Premiership club to sack their head coach mid-season last year and the Falcons were at it again last month when Alex […]

Young Guns: Newcastle wing/fullback Ben Redshaw

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ben Redshaw has burst onto the professional rugby scene and is hoping his wonder try against Perpignan is a sign of what’s […]

North and Kinghorn miss out on Cardiff clash

1 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Wales vs Scotland (Saturday, 4:45pm) Wales’ George North and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will both be absent from the two countries’ opening game of the […]

Ward: Diamond is the right man for Falcons

28 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Steve Diamond takes over at Newcastle this week with club stalwart Micky Ward believing the hard-nosed former Sale and Worcester director of […]

Crisis? Not in my view, says Sanderson

28 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Gloucester v Sale Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm WITH four straight defeats in all competitions and a season-ending injury to England lock […]

Conquistador going in search of pot of gold

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Italy Brendan Gallagher predicts new coach Gonzalo Quesada could just be a very good appointment SO what next for Italy? What […]

Farrell’s jumping from fire…into fire

28 January 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS I don’t know about you but it’s occasionally been a bit of a torture watching Owen Farrell struggle with himself ever since England’s […]

Lyon get it right against Perpignan

28 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON In a league featuring the likes of Racing 92 and Toulouse, Toulon and La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Stade Francais, there’s a ‘big match’ […]

Premiership previews: Round 12

26 January 2024 0 comments

After a two-week break for European action, the Premiership is all set for its final round of matches before the Six Nations. With Steve Borthwick’s […]

La Rochelle defy wind to win Sale shootout

21 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Sale Sharks…………………………………24 Tries: Roebuck 59, Creevy 67, Dugdale 77, Veainu 80+2 Conversions: Ford 68, Bedlow 79 La Rochelle…………………………………37 Tries: Leyds 9, Hastoy […]

Caulfield sees red as Bears bomb out

21 January 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht …………………….. 27pts Tries: Bolton 9, Aungier 20, Blade 33, Smith 46 Bristol……………………………10pts Conversions: Tries: Carty 47, Hanrahan 21 Penalty 80 Penalties: […]

Sherratt proud of courageous Cardiff lads as Racing superstars turn on the style

21 January 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Racing 92 …….. 48pts Tries: Kamikamica 18, Kolisi 25, Tabuavou 32, Tedder 43, Wade 46, Baudonne 50, Tarrit 76 Conversions: Tedder 19, […]

We need a more exclusive guest list

21 January 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED HERE’S a little brain-teaser, just to make sure you’ve been paying attention at the back of the class: since 2014, when […]

Edinburgh claim vital bonus point to proceed

21 January 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Scarlets ………… 19pts Tries: Roberts 14, Conbeer 79, Penalty 80 Conversion: Lloyd 79 Edinburgh……… 31pts Tries: Vellacott 3, Nel 7, Van der […]

Wales prop Thomas ruled out of Ospreys’ South African safari

21 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Lions v Ospreys Today. Kick-off 1pm, Ellis Park THE Ospreys have already qualified for the Challenge Cup knockout stages but know […]

Black Lion …….. 3 Clermont ………36

21 January 2024 0 comments

CLERMONT secured home advantage in the last 16 with a five-try rout of the Georgian newcomers. The Top 14 giants and three-time former winners ended […]

Tough for Falcons as Diamond gets ready

21 January 2024 0 comments

■ By PAUL REES NEWCASTLE’S players will have their fourth boss in less than a year when Steve Diamond starts work as consultant director of […]

Brown returns as Dragons aim to make it four in a row

21 January 2024 0 comments

PREVIEW… Dragons v SharksBy BEN JAYCOCK Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, Rodney Parade THE Dragons are aiming for four victories on the spin at Rodney Parade as […]

Georgia turn to Cockerill

21 January 2024 0 comments

FORMER England hooker and forwards coach Richard Cockerill has been appointed head coach of Georgia and the nation’s premier club side Black Lion. The 53-year-old […]

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