Paul Rees

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

21 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

It’s still all to play for in race to the finishing line

7 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees predicts a nerve-racking end to the Premiership season where bonus points will prove crucial THE two-month Premiership break has made the jostling for […]

The scrum is fighting to stay in the game

31 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees wonders whether some of World Rugby’s law tweaks will mean the end of the scrum as we know it A BANE or a […]

Ireland’s finest take control

24 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees picks his Six Nations team of the tournament with the men in green providing six of the best THIS year’s Six Nations […]

England prove they are a force again

17 March 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 PAUL REES The Six Nations saved the best to last. France sealed second place ahead of England in a compelling match in […]

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 […]

Borthwick gets his big selections right

10 March 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Seldom can a victory plundered with the last kick of the match have been so richly deserved. England, so haphazard and error-riddled in […]

Players or gladiators? Why the game is struggling to find the right balance

10 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees reports on World Rugby’s attempts to broaden the sport’s appeal but can see problems ahead It has become an annual event this decade […]

It’s time for take – off, England

3 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, with Ireland at home and France away to come, Borthwick’s men must become relentless IT WAS three years ago last weekend […]

Borthwick’s conundrum: Stick or twist for Ireland

25 February 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES It was England’s first real test this Six Nations as they faced a team that expected to defeat them rather than fantasise about […]

Lawes can bring some order

25 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says the former England captain who has signed for Brive will have much to offer when he retires Brive will be delighted that […]

Borthwick is still in search of right mix

18 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees predicts a close encounter in the Calcutta Cup but sees Ireland winning another Grand Slam THE second round of the Six Nations was […]

After two wins, it just gets harder from here for England

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 PAUL REES England named an unchanged side for the first time since the 2019 World Cup, but although Steve Borthwick was rewarded […]

Legend who had no wish to be one

11 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says it was hard not to fall in love with rugby as a young boy, watching his hero play for Cardiff RIP the […]

England look ready to throw off the chains

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 PAUL REES CLOSE yet comfortable summed up a contradictory England performance. Exposed in defence at times, they smothered Italy after the interval, […]

Borthwick puts club form at top of his list

21 January 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS COUNTDOWN Paul Rees says change will be gradual rather than sudden as teams renew after World Cup THE first Six Nations after a […]

With Smith and Mitchell, there should be fireworks

14 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Topsy Ojo and finds the TV pundit in optimistic mood for both club and country Topsy Ojo gets a reminder every […]

Borthwick puts his foot on the accelerator

7 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at how England, without Owen Farrell at the helm, could turn into an attacking force Steve Borthwick’s England promise to look very […]

Reasons to be cheerful for rugby’s year ahead

31 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees canvasses the views of Premiership directors of rugby and finds there is a fair amount of optimism IT IS another year the professional […]

The French out in front? That’s not how it looks

24 December 2023 0 comments

With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It has been a chastening […]

Too many are being pushed to the edge

10 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees says it’s time to ensure players spend less time in the gym and more with the ball in their hands Max Malins […]

Race for the top is going to be close

10 December 2023 0 comments

The Premiership is taking a short rest after eight rounds and by Christmas will have reached the halfway stage. It is a consequence of a […]

Big clubs ready to rumble

3 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees looks forward to the Champions Cup, kicking off this weekend THE Champions Cup returns this week with a tweaked format that does away […]

Georgia happy to be joining the party

3 December 2023 0 comments

The Challenge Cup is being used to widen boundaries. A Georgian side, Black Lion which will play its home matches in Tbilisi, has been included […]

Set-pieces which make the difference

26 November 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees canvasses expert opinion on how scrums and lineouts can separate the two codes of rugby Last month, World Rugby launched a new version […]

Scottish genie turning on the magic at Bath

19 November 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at Finn Russell, the big-money signing who is making a name for himself in the West Country Big-name signings have become rare […]

Unassuming Charlie, the water carrier

19 November 2023 0 comments

One of the attractions of rugby union is that it is a game which provides a refuge for the likes of Finn Russell and Charlie […]

Borthwick has tough decisions to make

29 October 2023 0 comments

PAUL REES FOURTH in the Six Nations, third in the World Cup. Redemption rather than progress for England given the pool they were in and […]

Small steps, but it may be a quiet revolution

29 October 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees is pleased to see World Rugby introduce three changes which will help grow the global game World Rugby is often accused of taking […]

Why we won’t see the likes of this victory again

29 October 2023 0 comments

What the planned changes will not do is revive the old-fashioned international tour that used to be a feature of the amateur game, although the […]

Coventry show how it should be done…

29 October 2023 0 comments

Paul Smith takes a look at rugby values…and which club in particular is walking the walk while England talk the talk To those for whom […]

England go with heads held high

22 October 2023 0 comments

PAUL REES England did everything but win. They were ahead after two minutes and held on to the lead until there were two minutes to […]

Curtain falls on dynamic duo

22 October 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees sees Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar exit stage left as their epic international careers come to a close ALL things must pass, none […]

Top teams getting too far ahead

22 October 2023 0 comments

The World Cup kicked off to a barrage of complaints about the draw for the groups, which was made three years before the start of […]

Big four are streets ahead

15 October 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees says the 40 group matches have highlighted the difference in the two sides of the draw World Rugby’s plans for a 24-team tournament […]

Not enough clarity, too much confusion

8 October 2023 0 comments

PAUL REES A victory but a step backwards. After three matches that were largely stress free, Danny Care burgled Samoa with a try from a […]

Time for the mind games to take centre stage

8 October 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees wonders whether a demanding run-in for the favourites will open the door for England and Wales THE World Cup has reached the stage […]

Bunker system may expand to other contests

8 October 2023 0 comments

It was always going to be a World Cup in which discipline would be crucial with a zero tolerance on head high tackles which lacked […]

Northern stars enjoying life in the new order

1 October 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees sees the wheel turn, proof of how despair for some teams can quickly turn into dreams Was it only eight years ago that […]

Gatland right to put his faith in Tompkins

1 October 2023 0 comments

After Wales’s home defeat to England in the Six Nations, a match which went ahead after their players backed down from a threatened strike that […]

Growing options for Borthwick

24 September 2023 0 comments

PAUL REES It was Chile, and England were hot stuff. They had three outside-halves on the pitch in the final 30 minutes and pulled their […]

Minnows beginning to prove their worth

24 September 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees reports on how World Rugby’s investment below decks has started to make a difference THE Adelaide Oval is arguably the most scenic venue […]

Ford does not need escort to guide England

24 September 2023 0 comments

Joe Marler likes to say it as it is. The England prop is not one to cloak his words in euphemism or disguise his thoughts […]

Reviving the lost art of the drop goal

17 September 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees sees George Ford join an impressive list of players whose quick thinking has made the difference GEORGE Ford resurrected not only England’s reputation […]