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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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoPre-season round-up: Swashbuckling Gus Mawson the star for Cornish Pirates
Cornish Pirates and Bedford Blues enjoyed emphatic pre-season wins, with Gus Mawson and Marcus Kershaw among the standout performers in a...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoAll Stars XV: Coventry – David Duckham leads Cov dynamos
Brendan Gallagher picks his all-time Coventry XV, featuring club legends including David Duckham and Danny Grewcock.
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoChris Johnson is banking on Heath to dig deep ahead of National Two North campaign
Chris Johnson admits getting out of bed is becoming harder but is ready to keep playing at 39 as Heath prepare...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoVicky Macqueen: Putting on WXV in England is another huge opportunity for the women’s game
Vicky Macqueen MBE reflects on England’s continued dominance, the impact of WXV on the women’s game and the changes shaping the...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoDevonport Services ready to take on the big boys in National Two West
Devonport Services head coach Ben Russell insists the club will remain proudly amateur as they prepare for a second crack at...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoPWR Ins and Outs – Ellie Kildunne and Ruby Tui head the big-name moves as clubs get ready for blast-off
Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the Premiership Women’s Rugby season with a major All Black star looking to give Trailfinders a...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoWRU under pressure as Wales sports minister warns of growing disconnect
The WRU is facing renewed pressure over plans to cut Wales’ professional game from four teams to three after sports minister...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoJonathan Davies: WRU board must go now
Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies has backed growing calls for change at the Welsh Rugby Union, urging the organisation to appoint...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoPrem review: Champions Cup is the one Johann van Graan wants to add to his collection at Bath
Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Prem season, with the focus this week on Bath.
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoRichard Barrington: George Martin and Alife Barbeary will power Saracens
Former Saracens prop Richard Barrington, below, talks to Ben Jaycock about his move into coaching, the next generation of front row...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoNewcastle Red Bulls launch plans to make North East a ‘hotbed’ of rugby talent
Newcastle Red Bulls and Darlington Mowden Park have joined forces to develop local players and create a stronger pathway for emerging...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoNew Gloucester lock Joe Joyce wants to make friends in The Shed
Joe Joyce is targeting a top-four finish with Gloucester after returning to the Premiership, with the lock enthused by the club’s...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoKieran Marmion predicts big things for Bristol Bears next season
Kieran Marmion believes Bristol Bears can challenge for the Premiership title after injuries hampered their campaign last season, with the scrum-half...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoMichael Le Bourgeois: After defeat in last year’s final, we’re determined to go one better this year
Bedford Blues centre Michael Le Bourgeois is determined to turn last season’s Champ Rugby final heartbreak into motivation as Bedford target...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoFraser Honey: Joining Camborne was a ‘no-brainer’
Fraser Honey is relishing a return to Cornwall with Camborne after ending his long-distance commute and helping the club prepare for...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoAll Stars XV: Worcester Warriors – The legends standing loud and proud
From Chris Pennell and Andy Goode to Ollie Lawrence and Matt Kvesic, Brendan Gallagher picks his greatest All Stars-XV to pull...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoNational League 1 Ins and Outs – Plymouth Albion are ready to take on all-comers
Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the National League 1 season where Plymouth Albion have been recruiting well but will face no...
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Top 14
/ 2 months agoNice get their act
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Springbok women’s star Jakkie Cilliers is heading for Toulon, becoming one of the few South African women...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoFraser Dingwall takes the armband at Prem champions Northampton Saints
Fraser Dingwall has been named Northampton Saints captain for the new season, with Phil Dowson backing the England centre to lead...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoLeinster exodus could make Irish provincial battles closer than ever as Connacht strengthen
Chris Collyer looks at how Leinster’s summer departures could make Irish provincial battles closer than ever, with Connacht among those strengthened...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoNorthampton Saints centre Tom Litchfield targeting England call-up
Tom Litchfield is determined to build on an impressive season with the Prem champions and believes strong performances for Northampton Saints...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoChristian Wade: Newcastle Red Bulls will start to make strides this season in the Prem
The former England wing believes Newcastle’s Red Bull era can deliver a major transformation, with the club targeting sustained progress on...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoWill Trenholm is on a mission to build on Gloucester breakthrough
After fearing his professional career was at a crossroads, Will Trenholm found a new home at Gloucester and is determined to...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoJoe Jenkins hopes Leicester Tigers move can catapult him onto the international stage
Joe Jenkins is determined to make his mark at Leicester Tigers after leaving Bristol Bears, with the 22-year-old keeping his options...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoPrem review: Geoff Parling tells his Leicester Tigers players to build their own story
Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Prem season, with the focus this week on Leicester Tigers.
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoPaul Rees: The WRU’s licence to cull is really about control
Paul Rees argues the Welsh Rugby Union’s decision to reduce the country’s professional regions from four to three is ultimately about...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoAll Stars XV: London Irish – Exiles who can strut their stuff
Brendan Gallagher selects his all-time London Irish XV, featuring club legends Topsy Ojo, Brendan Venter and Paul Hodgson from the Exiles’...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoChamp Ins and Outs – Ealing Trailfinders add beef to get it right this time
Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the Champ season and says Ealing Trailfinders will once again be the team to beat as...
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Miscellaneous
/ 2 months agoRacing quick to swoop for Ramos
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOULOUSE’S messianic former coach Guy Noves brushed off Thomas Ramos’s Racing 92 switch at the end of...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoEmma Swords backs England star Ellie Kildunne to thrive at Bristol Bears
Former Harlequins team-mate Emma Swords believes England star Ellie Kildunne can thrive at Bristol Bears and help drive the growth of...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoJames Dun admits ‘clock is ticking’ on England dream after Harlequins move
James Dun admits time is against him in his push for England recognition but believes his move to Harlequins can give...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoPrem review: After 15 years as the boss, Mark McCall leaves Saracens in impressive shape
Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Prem season, with the focus this week on Saracens.
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoWRU: It’s either Ospreys or Scarlets
Scarlets insist they remain committed to being “at the heart of west Wales” after the WRU confirmed either they or Ospreys...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoGloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow sets his sights on pushing for the Prem title
Lewis Ludlow believes Gloucester can prove the doubters wrong after a summer of smart recruitment, with Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoGareth Anscombe says competition will bring the best out of Scarlets
Gareth Anscombe says he still has “a huge desire to compete”, while Nigel Davies explains the mentality Scarlets want to build.
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoURC Ins and Outs – Cardiff leading the Welsh challenge
Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the URC season with Jarrod Evans returning to the Blue and Blacks as Corniel van Zyl...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoPrem 2026/27 fixtures: Newcastle Red Bulls first up for Northampton Saints in their title defence
Northampton Saints will begin their Prem title defence at home to Newcastle Red Bulls, with the 2026/27 fixtures also featuring a...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoJoe Schmidt signs up for new Ulster role after Australia head coach exit
The former Ireland boss will help shape the next generation of coaches at Ulster, with his arrival offering the province a...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoYatte Minahare! James Lowe excited for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath move following Leinster exit
James Lowe says he is excited to begin a “new chapter” in Japan after joining Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoAll Stars XV: Wasps – Brave warriors with a will to win
Brendan Gallagher selects his all-time Wasps XV, featuring club legends Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw and Josh Lewsey from the Premiership giants’...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoRhys Tudor: People often describe fans as the 16th man but at Caldy it’s really true
Caldy winger Rhys Tudor speaks to Ben Jaycock about the demands of pre-season, the club’s Champ ambitions and the challenge part-time...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoBedford Blues are quick to tempt Marcus Kershaw
Marcus Kershaw says he is “really excited” to return to the 15-a-side game with Bedford Blues after impressing on the 7s...
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Features
/ 3 months agoRacing will have to get used to life on the road
FRENCH COLUMN JAMES HARRINGTON IT HAS been a relatively quiet summer at Racing 92’s Plessis-Robinson training campus, after their return to...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoCan Taranaki deny Canterbury National Provincial Championship glory for 2026?
Taranaki enter the 2026 National Provincial Championship season among the leading contenders as they look to challenge Canterbury for the title...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoWho are the favourites to retain the National Provincial Championship crown for 2026?
Canterbury enter the new NPC season as favourites to defend their title, with Richie Mo’unga’s return and a squad packed with...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoMike Tindall: R360 will transform our game
Mike Tindall says delaying Rugby R360 until after the 2027 World Cup was the right decision, insisting the breakaway competition can...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoPrem review: Pat Lam – It’s massive for us that so many of the squad are staying with Bristol Bears
Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Prem season, with the focus this week on Bristol Bears.
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoPrem ins and outs – Bath have some big holes to fill
Ben Jaycock looks at who has come in and who has moved on as preparations continue for the next Prem season.
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoSam Winters looking to kick on with Bath after standout U20s World Cup for England
Sam Winters reflects on England’s World Rugby U20 Championship campaign, the lessons learned from reaching the semi-finals and why he believes...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoJoe Carpenter agrees new contract to stay at Sale Sharks
Joe Carpenter has committed his future to Sale Sharks until 2029, with the England full-back convinced the club has what it...












