United Rugby Championship
This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s United Rugby Championship news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.
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Champions Cup
/ 4 days agoThe Rugby Paper Roundup: Champions Cup returns! Prem attendance issue, Wales back row + England v Canada
The Champions Cup returns, but are Prem rugby’s attendances becoming a concern? Ben Jaycock and Paul Williams discuss the big talking...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoPrendergast conducts a Leinster masterclass
■By SIMON THOMAS Leinster ............29pts Tries: Keenan 9, J O’Brien 17, 37; Conan 19, Osborne 76 Conversions: S Prendergast 39, 77...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoUlster grab a share of spoils
Ulster ..............26 Munster ..........26 ■By JACK JONES IRELAND centre Stuart McCloskey scored at the death to earn Ulster a share of...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoCostelow steps up to save the day for Scarlets
■By ROGER PANTING A LATE 40m penalty from Sam Costelow deprived Benetton coach Wayne Pivac of a happy homecoming as Scarlets...
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Club Rugby
/ 1 week agoDragons 31-38 Ospreys: Morgan Morris at the double for derby day success
Morgan Morris struck twice in the closing stages as Ospreys came from behind to beat Dragons 38-31 at Rodney Parade and...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoWarriors power pack is on a roll
Glasgow .........36 Connacht ........19 ■By GARY ROSE GLASGOW maintained their unbeaten start to the URC with a bonus-point win at Scotstoun....
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoSuperb Stormers get their revenge
Stormers ........39 Sharks ............22 ■By OLLIE FRY HACJIVAH Dayimani grabbed a try-double as Stormers ended Sharks’ unbeaten start to the season...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoHanekom stars as Bulls run riot
Bulls ................57 Lions ................15 ■By HUW GEORGE CAMERON Hanekom scored twice as the Bulls ran riot in a one-sided South African...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoEveritt’s boys sit pretty at the top
Zebre ...............12 Edinburgh .......29 By MARK RICHARDSON EARLY season pacesetters Edinburgh secured a bonus-point victory at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi to continue...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoOspreys can’t handle the Lions power show
■By HUW GEORGE LIONS’ powerful pack took control after half-time as they made it two wins from two in the URC...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 weeks agoDragons 38-26 Scarlets: Filo Tiatia’s side come out on top in the end
Dragons edged Scarlets 38-26 in a thrilling Welsh derby at Rodney Parade, with Elliot Dee scoring twice in a 10-try contest.
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Club Rugby
/ 3 weeks agoFormer Scotland wing Thom Evans believes rugby is a safer sport today than it was
Thom Evans believes the tackle-law changes introduced since the neck injury that ended his career have made a significant difference to...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 weeks agoScarlets 15-21 Cardiff: Evan Lloyd has the last word for the Blue & Blacks
Cardiff fought back from behind to claim a hard-earned Welsh derby victory over Scarlets, with their forwards dominating after the break.
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Club Rugby
/ 3 weeks agoLions vs Leinster preview: Leo Cullen hands new faces chance to shine ahead of URC opener
Leinster open their URC campaign against the Lions as Leo Cullen begins his final season in charge.
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Club Rugby
/ 4 weeks agoURC 2026-27 preview – Cardiff Rugby: Title odds, key players and additions
Cardiff Rugby head into the 2026-27 URC season after finishing sixth last term, with Corniel van Zyl’s side strengthened by a...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 weeks agoURC preview: Leinster aim to defend their crown as Welsh clubs face a fight for survival
Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the United Rugby Championship with Leinster aiming to make it three in a row.
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Club Rugby
/ 1 month agoRugby bosses welcome idea for Welsh clubs in the expanded Prem
West Country rugby bosses have welcomed the idea of Welsh clubs joining an expanded Prem.
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Club Rugby
/ 1 month agoAll Stars XV: Cardiff – A team packed full of greatness
Brendan Gallagher selects his greatest-ever Cardiff XV, featuring club legends including Bleddyn Williams, Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and Martyn Williams.
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoScott Forrest: Glasgow Warriors can still compete despite star losses
Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Scott Forrest believes a blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent can help the club go one...
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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 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
/ 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 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 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 agoNigel Davies: Tom Allen is hungry to improve at Scarlets
Scarlets have bolstered their pack with the signing of New Zealand lock Tom Allen from Super Rugby Pacific champions the Hurricanes.
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoLeo Cullen’s Leinster legacy ‘unmatchable’ as end of era approaches
Chris Collyer on Leo Cullen’s unmatchable Leinster legacy as the Champions Cup-winning coach prepares to depart after a trophy-laden reign.
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoLeinster 36-7 Bulls: Sam Prendergast stars as the Dubliners retain their URC crown
Sam Prendergast shone as Leinster retained their URC crown in emphatic fashion with a dominant victory over the Bulls at Croke...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoLeinster vs Bulls preview: Evenly poised matchup takes Grand Final stage
Once again, the home of the GAA opens its doors to the Grand Final of the United Rugby Championship as the...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoLeinster vs Bulls: James Lowe leaves with parting tribute to club
James Lowe aims to sign off in style by helping Leinster defend their URC crown before he departs after nine years...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoLeinster vs Bulls: Handre Pollard – It’ll be all right on the night this time from the tee
Handre Pollard admits he was ‘terrible’ off the tee against Glasgow Warriors last weekend but backs himself to respond in Friday’s...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoIreland wing James Lowe departs Leinster without “fairytale ending” in emotional farewell
James Lowe reflected his time with Leinster and Ireland in an emotional farewell as he prepares for a new chapter in...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoSouth Africa star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu picked as best in the URC
Stormers fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been crowned the URC’s players’ player of the season in a poll of the captains and...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoLeinster 20-11 Stormers: Tempers flare as Leo Cullen’s side battle to get over the line
Leinster booked their place in a second successive United Rugby Championship final after edging out the Stormers in a tense, fiery...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoGlasgow Warriors 21-22 Bulls: Warriors are broken by Bulls fightback
The Bulls produced a stirring comeback to stun Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield and book their place in a fourth United Rugby...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoNew Rugby Paper Roundup: Play off chaos! Exeter Chiefs v Saracens Prem shootout + URC semi finals
In this week’s episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by TRP writer Chris Collyer to...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoStormers 44-21 Cardiff: South African giants too good for brave Blue & Blacks
Cardiff were left “gutted” as their historic season came to an end despite a brave effort in this URC quarter-final clash...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoLeinster 59-10 Lions: Leo Cullen’s side get straight back to winning ways
Defending champions Leinster bounced back from their Champions Cup final thrashing by Bordeaux with a comfortable win in Dublin over Lions.
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United Rugby Championship
/ 5 months agoBulls book semi-final spot as Munster fade
■By SIMON CASEY MUNSTER’S title challenge came to a bruising end as last season’s finalists Bulls powered to victory in Pretoria....
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United Rugby Championship
/ 5 months agoSteyn grabs try double as Warriors march on
■By SAM JACKSON GLASGOW booked their place in the semi-finals after holding off a spirited Connacht at Scotstoun with Kyke Steyn...
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Champions Cup
/ 5 months agoLeinster’s focus turns to the URC after Champions Cup heartbreak
Despite being significantly higher in the attack statistics Leinster once again came out on the wrong side of the Champions Cup...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoCardiff flanker Dan Thomas insists 6,000-mile trip won’t bother the Welsh side
The URC reaches knock-out phase next weekend with Cardiff facing the journey to Cape Town to take on the Stormers.
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Challenge Cup
/ 5 months agoSouth African Rugby Union could withdraw its sides from Europe
South African Rugby will hold a strategic planning session with its member unions and directors of rugby to review the current...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 5 months agoCardiff 22-16 Stormers: Cardiff forwards muscle up to seal play-off spot
Cardiff saved their best for their last home game by qualifying for the URC play-offs for the first time in a...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 5 months agoMunster 24-17 Lions: Munster’s hard-fought victory secures play-off spot
■By HOLLY DAISY Munster secured their place in the play-offs with a hard-fought victory at Thomond Park despite spending six first-half...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 5 months agoBulls 45- Benetton: Bulls power pack proves the difference
By SAM JACKSON The Bulls produced a powerful second-half display to strengthen their URC play-off position. Despite the scoreline, it wasn’t...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 5 months agoUlster 22-26 Glasgow: Glasgow finish top of the table as Ulster bow out
Glasgow secured top spot in the table after a pulsating encounter in Belfast which left Ulster sweating on their playoff fate
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoScarlets 35-35 Dragons: Thrilling derby day finale ends all square
Joe Hawkins missed a penalty from halfway in the final minute to prevent Scarlets from winning a game against all the...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 5 months agoEdinburgh 5-26 Connacht: Connacht grab bonus to keep season alive
Connacht booked their place in the play-offs with an impressive victory at Hive Stadium which lifts them into sixth place while...
Autumn Internationals
Ben Spencer targets 2027 Rugby World Cup place with England after surgery
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