Club Rugby
This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Club Rugby news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoJack van Poortvliet keen to follow in Ben Youngs’ footsteps
Jack van Poortvliet has spent his rugby upbringing idolising fellow Norfolk-born scrum-half Ben Youngs and now hopes to step into his...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoI’m aspiring to be like Manu Tuilagi, says Rekeiti Ma’asi-White
Alex Sanderson believes Rekeiti Ma’asi-White’s work ethic will take him far after a season when the centre broke into the England...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 8 months agoJohann Van Graan: Chris Harris will fit in very well at Bath
Bath boss Johann van Graan has insisted that the signing of another world-class player in Chris Harris has not put any...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoDwayne Peel confident Scarlets are on right track
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel insists reaching the URC playoffs was just the start of the journey for the west Wales...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoJulian Montoya excited by Pau challenge
Julian Montoya admits he will be leaving Leicester with a heavy heart after five seasons at the club. The 31-year-old Paubound...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoHolly Aitchison agrees to join Sale on two-year deal
Sale have signed England fly-half Holly Aitchison from Bristol on a two-year deal. The 27-year-old, right, spent two years at Bristol...
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English Championship
/ 8 months agoCornish Pirates’ Bruce Houston out to make the most of new life in France
Cornish Pirates top try scorer Bruce Houston helped secure a final day triumph against Nottingham on his 50th appearance, but the...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoAJ MacGinty: Expect big hitters at No.10
AJ MacGinty was not surprised at the Premiership salary cap report’s revelation that outside-halves are the highest earners in the league....
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoLeicester Tigers 21-16 Sale Sharks: Adam Radwan flies in to make it safe for Tigers
Leicester Tigers .............21pts Tries: Radwan 20, 28, Perese 67 Penalties: Pollard 7, 52 Sale Sharks ......................16pts Tries: R du Preez 57...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoPremiership Awards: Tomos Williams is named as Player of the Season
Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams has been named Premiership Player of the Season. The 30-year-old, capped 65 times for Wales, joined from...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoBath 34-20 Bristol Bears: Bath pass their final audition but Bears go down with all guns blazing
Bath .................................... 34pts Tries: Hill 41, Cokanasiga 48, Muir 54, Ojomoh 59 Conversions: Russell 41, 48, 54, 60 Penalties: Russell 22,...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoJohann van Graan – ‘It was a great game of rugby’
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan hailed the hunger of his side to get past Bristol for another crack at...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 8 months agoBulls 25-13 Sharks: Bouncing Bulls set up Dublin showdown
David Kriel produced the crucial moment of a pulsating semi-final clash as the outside-centre raced over the try-line to ensure the...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 8 months agoURC: Leinster have the final word with Glasgow Warriors
Leinster's tortuous quest for a fifth European star continues to cast a shadow, but their season may yet have a silver...
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Features
/ 8 months agoJacques Vermeulen looking to win trophies with Sale Sharks
Paul Rees catches up with the 29-year-old back rower who is leaving Exeter Chiefs after six years to become a Shark...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoSimon Thomas: A few bright sparks to light up the gloom in Welsh Rugby
Simon Thomas assesses the state of the clubs in Wales and predicts more battles with the WRU over what happens next...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoJimmy Staples glad to be making a name for himself at Harlequins
For Harlequins hooker Jimmy Staples, the journey to elite rugby began with a twist of fate — when his local football...
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Features
/ 8 months agoLeon Brown’s Life in Rugby: Named in the Pro 12 Dream Team? Happy days…
It was only when my mate Norm introduced me to rugby that I first became properly aware of the sport as...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoHarlequins’ Roma Zheng on the fast road to success
Roma Zheng’s rugby journey has been far from conventional, and he admits it’s had its challenges. The Harlequins winger, who has...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoI can’t wait to learn from the best at Harlequins – Aofie Wafer
Six Nations player of the tournament, Ireland star Aoife Wafer, can’t wait to pick the brains of her new back row...
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Columnists
/ 8 months agoFrench Column: Fabien Galthie prepares to spring surprises for New Zealand tour
White smoke of a sort was spotted this week, heralding FFR and LNR agreement on tweaks to the player release deal...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoURC Semi-Finals: Kick-Off times, dates, how to watch
The URC semi-finals will both take place on Saturday, with Leinster hosting Glasgow Warriors and Bulls facing Sharks. Because of the...
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Premiership
/ 8 months agoCharlie Elliott: Best head-to-head matchups in the Premiership and URC semi-finals
The Premiership and URC semi-finals are taking place this weekend, pitting the best of the best against each other. Bath hosts...
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Premiership
/ 8 months agoPremiership and URC Semi-Finals Key Talking Points: Sharks without Eben Etzebeth
The Premiership and URC semi-finals are taking place this weekend, with the best of the two leagues battling it out. It...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 9 months agoLeinster vs Glasgow Warriors Preview – Leo Cullen delivers rallying call
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is rallying the troops and calling out to all fans to come down to the Aviva...
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English Championship
/ 9 months ago‘Rugby’s Been a Constant’: The Rise of Morgan Strong from Bridgend to the Championship
“There’s a place I know. There’s magic where the flowers grow and beauty where the rivers flow”. Of course, Scottish singer...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 9 months agoPete Ryan: Can the Dragons turn things around next season?
It has been a season to forget for the Dragons. The Welsh club finished bottom of the table in the URC....
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoPremiership Rugby Semi-Finals: Kick-off times, dates, how to watch
The Premiership’s semi-finals have been confirmed with the four highest-ranked teams from the regular season now battling it out to determine the overall...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoPremiership Team of the Season: Bath and Sale dominate 2024/25 best XV
The Premiership regular season has finished, and now is the perfect time to reflect on what has been a great season. Bath, Leicester...
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoBristol Bears set for a Bath showdown in Premiership Play-Offs
Fierce rivals Bath and Bristol will play off at The Rec on Friday as the Bears look to become the first...
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoOwen Farrell in line for a return to Saracens
Owen Farrell could be on his way back to Saracens after director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed the club has held...
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoAlex Dombrandt hoping for Harlequins link
Alex Dombrandt would relish the chance to play alongside his team-mates in an all-Harlequins England back row this summer.
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoTobias Elliott aiming to prove his worth for England
Tobias Elliott is delighted to find himself on England’s radar ahead of an action-packed summer. The 21-year-old Saracens wing has enjoyed...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 9 months agoOwen Farrell looks set for a return to the Premiership
Owen Farrell looks set for a return to the Premiership after expressing a wish to leave Racing 92 one year into...
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoKevin Sorrell leaves Saracens
Kevin Sorrell is leaving Saracens following a 30-year playing and coaching career at the London club. The 48-year-old defence coach made...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 9 months agoBath tempt Chris Harris from Gloucester
Gloucester star Chris Harris will make the move to rivals Bath next season as medical dispensation for Ollie Lawrence, who suffered...
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoGeorge Skivington backing for more one-club players
George Skivington believes the tighter finances in the Premiership will lead to more one-club players having reduced the threat of poaching.
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoRivalry with Kieran Hardy is pushing Reuben Morgan-Williams on
Reuben Morgan-Williams says the competition with fellow Ospreys scrum-half Kieran Hardy has driven the two of them on – a fact...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoBristol Bears 52-26 Harlequins: Gabriel Ibitoye makes sure Bears keep control
Bristol Bears ................... 52pts Tries: Kloska 2, Batley 5, Ravouvou 19, Mata 24, Ibitoye 46, 64; Grondona 57, van Rensburg 68...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoAJ MacGinty predicts Friday fireworks between Bath and Bristol Bears
AJ MacGinty has predicted there will be fireworks when Bath and Bristol meet in the play off at The Rec. Neither...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoJohann van Graan – Bath put on show for the future
Bath director of rugby Johan van Graan saw several reasons to be cheerful after defeat at the StoneX to Saracens. He...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoSaracens 36-26 Bath: For once, Sarries miss out on play-off party
Saracens .......................... 36pts Tries: Segun 9, George 19, 47; Daly 30, Dan 53, Burke 59 Conversions: Burke 20, 31, 60 Bath...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoWade pulls the curtain down in fine style
■By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ........................41pts Tries: Cotgreave 4, 24, 50; Wade 30, 79; Williams 32, Atkinson 53 Conversions: Carreras 4, 50,...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoWe struggled to replace our big names, says Northampton Saints boss PhilDowson
Northampton boss Phil Dowson was left to reflect on an eighth-placed finish in the Premiership. He said: “We wanted to make...
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Premiership
/ 9 months ago1989: The Lions Return to Australia
A Tour Years in the Making This article is adapted and extracted from the new edition of The British & Irish...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoExeter Chiefs 26-30 Sale Sharks: Sharks hold on to set up blockbuster finale
Exeter Chiefs .................. 26pts Tries: Brown-Bampoe 19, Hodge 49, Haydon-Wood 57, Capstick 77 Conversions: Hodge 50, 58, 78 Sale Sharks ......................30pts...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoRob Baxter can see shoots of recovery at Exeter Chiefs
Rob Baxter was ‘disappointed’ that his side could not quite overcome Sale in their final game of the season. After a...
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Latest News
/ 9 months agoNick Cain: This American dream will only end in tears
The Premiership/ RFU’s stampede for money, and the pitfalls that come with it, is reflected in the franchise fix proposed by...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoTigers make sure of home comforts
■ By ROB WILDMAN Leicester Tigers ............ 42pts Tries: Liebenberg 18, Bassett 32, Kata 52, Heyes 60, Rogerson 73, Hassell-Collins 77...
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Premiership
/ 9 months agoMichael Cheika quick to defend Ollie Hassell-Collins
Leicester boss Michael Cheika defended Ollie Hassell-Collins after his try-scoring wing was yellow-carded for a forearm chop on Alex Hearle. “I’m...














