Gregor Townsend insists Scotland have the depth to overcome the devastating loss of Sione Tuipulotu to injury for the entire Guinness Six Nations. Tuipulotu, Scotland’s […]
Latest Posts
Champions Challenge Cup Sunday roundup: All the action from the last day of pool stage fixtures
By Charlie Elliott The teams playing their games on Sunday in the Champions and Challenge Cups had the advantage of knowing exactly what was required of them […]
Champions Cup Team of the Week: Toulouse stars shine and Damian Penaud runs riot
The pool stage of the Champions Cup reached a close, with teams now knowing their fate in either the round of 16 or elsewhere. Defence was […]
Steve Borthwick: It’s time to put our foot down
By Adam Hathaway Steve Borthwick insists he has come up with a solution to England’s problem in closing out matches – be even quicker out […]
Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade can work in Six Nations – Brad Barritt
By Ben Jaycock Brad Barritt backs the misfiring duo of Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence to continue together in midfield for England, stressing the importance […]
Anthony Watson: I had to quit, I was in so much pain
By Paul Rees As Anthony Watson trudged off five minutes into the second-half in Leicester’s match at Sale in December, he knew deep down that […]
Christ Tshiunza: There’s no panic at Exeter Chiefs
By Paul Rees As Christ Tshiunza reflected on what has been a frustrating season for the Wales forward, he recalled a recent conversation he had […]
Uncapped Fergus Burke gets nod from Gregor Townsend in Scotland Six Nations squad
Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke has been named in Scotland’s squad for the Six Nations as they look to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. New […]
Alex Mitchell back to his best and ready for Six Nations battle
By Jon Newcombe Alex Mitchell is now eight games into his injury-delayed season and feeling full of energy for the Six Nations campaign ahead of […]
Antoine Dupont returns to Six Nations stage
Scrum-half Antoine Dupont will take part in his first Six Nations since 2023 after missing last year’s competition to prepare for the Paris Olympics, where […]
Prop Jack Boyle called up to Ireland Six Nations squad after Tom O’Toole ban
Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has called up Leinster’s uncapped prop Jack Boyle, 22, for the Six Nations to replace the suspended Tom O’Toole. […]
Teddy Williams is poised to shift up a gear for Wales
By Simon Thomas Teddy Williams will be looking to put his international disappointments behind him now his remarkable shift this season has been rewarded with […]
Stephen Varney & Tommy Allan back in the mix for Italy
Italy have recalled Stephen Varney and included Tommaso Allan in their squad for the Six Nations but are without Louis Lynagh who has undergone knee […]
Unfair to remove Kirill Gotovtsev’s Russian flag
SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: [email protected] I have to respectfully disagree with your correspondent […]
‘Life at Sale Sharks without my brother is weird’ – Luke James
By Jon Newcombe Sale stalwart Luke James admits his first season apart from older brother Sam has been “very weird”. Before the Curry twins and […]
We are all paying for the financial errors of the RFU
Who, other than for self-aggrandisement, is going to invest in rugby? The Premiership has never ever returned a profit. Several leading clubs are currently in […]
Anthony Watson was so special
It’s such a shame to see that Anthony Watson has retired. He’s the most talented attacker this country has produced since Jason Robinson. I remember […]
Curtis Langdon’s Dream Team
CURTIS LANGDON, THE ENGLAND, NORTHAMPTON AND FORMER SALE, DONCASTER, WORCESTER, & MONTPELLIER HOOKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. […]
Jeremy Guscott – Steve Borthwick must put faith in his players during Six Nations
By Jeremy Guscot – Outspoken and unmissable every week… The change of England captaincy that was discussed in last week’s column has become reality with […]
Beno Obano red ends Bath hope of an upset win against Leinster
By Brendan Gallagher Leinster ……………………….. 47pts Tries: Henshaw 9, 15; Conan 37, Snyman 51, 76; Ringrose 60, Gibson-Park 67 Conversions: Prendergast 16, 38, 52, 61; […]
‘It’s tough on Beno Obano, we stand by him’ – Johann Van Graan
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said he has never seen a scrum penalty given near halfway result in a red card. “To concede […]
Charging Bulls dominate Stade Francais to book their Challenge Cup spot
By Ben Jaycock Bulls………………… 48pts Tries: Penalty 3, Williams 13, Papier 18, Vermaak 27, Louw 39, Chamberlain 47, Hanekom 51 Conversions: Goosen 14, 19, Chamberlain […]
Tom Seabrook hat-trick as Northampton Saints edge a thriller over Munster
By Rob Wildman Northampton ………………. 34pts Tries: Seabrook 13, 48, 67; Langdon 40, Ramm 54 Conversions: Smith 40, 54, 67 Penalty: Smith 59 Munster ………………………. […]
Alex Mitchell should be fit for England – Phil Dowson
Saints boss Phil Dowson hopes England scrum-half Alex Mitchell should be fit for the Six Nations campaign ahead. Mitchell needed treatment for a first-half knee […]
Plucky Benetton down La Rochelle to secure Champions Cup qualification
By Sam Jackson Benetton…………. 32pts Tries: Cannone 15, Bernasconi 67 Conversions: Albornoz 15, Smith 68 Penalties: Albornoz 23, 42; Smith 40, 50, 60, 63 La […]
Rob Baxter: We can’t become victims
Exeter DoR Rob Baxter has told his side ‘not to be victims’ after they were sent crashing out of the Champions Cup. With just one […]
Izuchukwu treble as Chiefs sent crashing
By MARK STEVENS Ulster …………………………… 52pts Tries: Izuchukwu 21, 66, 78; McCann 27, 73; Timoney 38, Herring 49, Carson 69 Conversions: Doak 22, 50; Cooney […]
Battling Bristol Bears suffer injury-time heartache against Clermont
By Gary Fitzgerald Clermont ……………………… 33pts Tries: Newsome 17, Raka 40, 54; Penalty 76, Ceyte 80+6 Bristol ………………………….. 26pts Conversions: Belleau 40, 55, 80+6 Tries: […]
Pat Lam puts focus on push for Premiership play-offs
Pat Lam tried to look on the bright side of his Bears’ failure to progress to the knockout stages on a day of real European […]
Owen Farrell brings spark to Racing 92
By Sam Jackson Racing 92 …….. 31 Stormers ……….22 Match Action Racing 92 booked their place in the round of 16 at the expense of […]
Chandler Cunningham-South and Harlequins cook up a tasty performance
By Bryn Palmer Harlequins ………..24pts Tries: Cunningham-South 14, Chisholm 20, Murley 67 Conversions: Smith 15, 21, 68 Penalty: Smith 25 Glasgow ……………… 7pts Try: Jordan […]
Match Preview – Injury-hit Sharks need one point against Bordeaux to progress
By Ben Jaycock Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade Chaban-Delmas High-flying Bordeaux host a Sharks side seeking just a point to join them in the play-offs. The […]
Match Preview – Leicester Tigers gunning to take down Antoine Dupont and Toulouse
By Adam Hathaway Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Stade Ernest Wallon Michael Cheika is aiming to take down a French icon as his Tigers attempt their Champions […]
Alex Sanderson packs his Sale Sharks side with his seven England stars
By Paul Rees Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, AJ Bell Stadium Alex Sanderson is set on Sale making the last 16 of the Champions Cup even though […]
Match Preview – Brad Barritt backing the new boys as Saracens welcome Castres
By Paul Rees Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, StoneX Brad Barritt won the Champions Cup three times with Saracens and believes the club are on course to […]
Mark McCall – Saracens’ most meaningful game of the season so far
By Paul Rees Mark McCall is expecting a highly motivated Castres when they take on Saracens at the StoneX Stadium this afternoon with a home […]
Good news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist
By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain, my first reaction to […]
The RFU Board has failed to do its job properly
The employment of the crisis management company, Teneo, by the incumbent RFU administration to help it weather the SGM storm is a scandal – especially […]
Referees are not free from criticism
In a country in which we are lucky to have freedom of opinion and speech as a birthright, Wayne Barnes is entitled to his say. […]
Matt Banahan tribute to ‘superb’ Anthony Watson
By Jon Newcombe Former England international Matt Banahan has hailed Anthony Watson as the ‘ultimate team man’ and a ‘true professional’ who had an unparalleled […]
I want the Red Roses to be unstoppable, says Zoe Aldcroft
By Dan Robertshaw Newly appointed England captain Zoe Aldcroft insists there is work to be done before her side can set their sights on glory […]
Captains don’t have to play the full 80
By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed It seems your columnist’s hotline to the England head coach Steve Borthwick has turned positively polar. “Don’t take the […]
Beefing up club rugby may start a trend
HERE’S a novel idea: a fresh European tournament specifically aimed at clubs based on the continent of Europe, as opposed to a European tournament featuring […]
Bundee Aki potency provides the edge for Connacht
By Roger Panting Cardiff …………… 19pts Tries: Lloyd 16, Young 42, 58 Conversions: Thomas 16, 42 Connacht ……….28pts Tries: J Murphy 13, Joyce 37, Ralston […]
First-half blitz sets Scarlets on their way to Challenge Cup knockouts
By Roger Panting Scarlets ………..38pts Tries: Macleod 7, 22; Murray 26, Davies 32, Rogers 37, Van der Merwe 51 Conversions: Lloyd 7, 22, 32, 51 […]
Montpellier turn power on to finish in top spot
By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle ……………………… 7pts Tries: Hearle 32 Conversions: Wilkinson 33 Montpellier…………………. 26pts Tries: Bernadet 1, Serfontein 46, Akrab 59, Martins 64 Conversions: Darmon […]
Ospreys snatch it in stunning finale against Pau
By Simon Thomas Pau ………………..28 Ospreys ……….. 31 Ospreys booked a home tie in the last 16 with a superb five-try bonus point victory in […]
Lyon thump Cheetahs to secure home Challenge cup knockout tie
Lyon secured a home knockout tie with a 10-try, 68-21 victory including two apiece from Josiah Maraku and Léo Berdeu. A first-half double from Maraku […]
Dragons suffer record defeat against Lions
By Simon Thomas Lions……………… 60 Dragons…………. 10 Dragons crashed out in ignominious fashion as they suffered their heaviest-ever defeat in European competition. They went into […]
Greg Fisilau is following in father’s footsteps
By Mark Stevens In what has been a challenging campaign for the Exeter Chiefs, Greg Fisilau has emerged as a rare shining light. The young […]
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