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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Club Rugby
/ 1 week agoTaine Basham hails influence of Cardiff team-mate Taulupe Faletau ahead of Wales return
The back row has been driven on by competition at the Arms Park and is enjoying the best form of his...
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Club Rugby
/ 1 week agoOspreys 0-26 Cardiff: Rampant Blue & Blacks demolish Welsh rivals
Tom Bowen’s first-half brace and a commanding display from Steff Emanuel laid the foundations for Cardiff’s first away derby win over...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoScarlets left behind as Bulls power to the finish Scarlets left behind as Bulls power to the finish
■By DAVE FRANCIS Bulls ................. 54pts Tries: Rudolph 11, Le Roux 17, Maart 27, 74; Coetzee 45, 58; De Klerk 62,...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoTuitavuki’s purple patch has Dragons in the pink
■By SAM JACKSON Dragons .............35pts Tries: Richards 6, Tuitavuki 28, Inisi 55, Evans 72, penalty 81 Conversions: De Beer 7, 29,...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoGlasgow ………29 Lions……………..20 Smith races to the rescue
FLEMING OLLIE Smith’s late try escued Glasgow to claim bonus-point victory nd move top on Friday ight. Franco Smith’s side ad...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoCarbery opens door for Leinster
By TOM CLEMENT @therugbypaper Connacht ......... 5 Leinster ...........50 JOEY Carbery scored 20 points as Leinster demolished Connacht to climb to...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 1 week agoBenetton deliver Edinburgh shock
■By DAN KALINOWSKI penalty. Springbok Nick Hatton - Sharks Benetton ........ 31 Edinburgh ......12 EDINBURGH suffered their first URC defeat of...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 weeks agoIan Madigan: URC teams are better prepared than Prem sides for Europe
Ian Madigan explains why the United Rugby Championship’s mix of playing styles and conditions gives its sides an advantage over Prem...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoResilient Leinster roll over Munster
Leinster ......... 24 Munster ..........18 ■By JOHN WILSON LEINSTER launched a stunning fightback to take the spoils at the Aviva Stadium...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoHat-trick for Roberts as Scarlets go down fighting
■By LUKE JARMYN Stormers ..........52pts Tries: Porthen 11, Pead 15, Mchunu 27, Senatla 33, Fourie 40, Reid 54, Ahmed 73, 80...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoTyro sensation Siyaya stars as Cardiff hit for six
By LUKE JARMYN Cardiff ...............21pts Tries: Adams 10, Botham 46, 58 Conversions: Evans 11, 46, 59 Sharks ...............36pts Tries: Hooker 2,...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 weeks agoOspreys 31-14 Dragons: St Helens homecoming celebrated in style
Reuben Morgan-Williams marked Ospreys’ long-awaited return to St Helens with a brace, as Dragons’ errors and three yellow cards helped the...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoHector’s the hero as Scots press on
By PAUL ROGERS Edinburgh ......31 Lions................. 10 HECTOR Patterson scored twice and created two more tries as Edinburgh maintained their perfect...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoCoetzee delivers against old mates
By DAVE FRANCIS Bulls ............... 34 Ulster .............. 26 MARCELL Coetzee scored twice as Bulls won a bruising encounter to leave...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoWarriors hit back to stun Benetton
By NICK FLEMING Benetton ........20 Glasow ...........24 GLASGOW pulled off a spectacular second-half comeback to triumph at Stadio Comunale di Monigo...
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United Rugby Championship
/ 2 weeks agoFive-star first half secures a bonus
By TOM CLEMENT Connacht ...... 48 Zebre ................27 DAVE Heffernan marked his first start of the season with two tries as...
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Champions Cup
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 4 weeks 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
/ 1 month 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
/ 1 month 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
/ 1 month 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
/ 1 month 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
/ 2 months 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
/ 2 months 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
/ 2 months 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
/ 2 months 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
/ 2 months 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
/ 3 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
/ 3 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
/ 3 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
/ 4 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
/ 5 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
/ 5 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
/ 5 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
/ 5 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
/ 5 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
/ 5 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
/ 5 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...
Autumn Internationals
Steve Borthwick explains how England predecessors helped him block out the noise
Autumn Internationals
Steve Borthwick: I know vast majority of my England selections for 2027 Rugby World Cup
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