International Rugby

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s International Rugby news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Good news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain, my first reaction to […]

Steve Borthwick backs new skipper Maro Itoje to lead England at 2027 World Cup

15 January 2025 0 comments

Steve Borthwick insists Maro Itoje can lead England into the next World Cup after appointing him captain for the upcoming Six Nations at the expense […]

Handre Pollard: Argentina will test Steve Borthwick’s England

12 January 2025 0 comments

England have been warned to expect “tough battles” when they enter the backyard of the Pumas later this year.

Bill Sweeney facing SGM following Six Nations

12 January 2025 0 comments

The RFU will hold a special general meeting after the men’s Six Nations with chief executive Bill Sweeney facing demands for his removal.

Sam Underhill to undergo surgery and miss Six Nations

12 January 2025 0 comments

England flanker Sam Underhill is an injury doubt for the Six Nations after Bath announced that he requires ankle surgery.

Jack Singleton on breaking into the England set-up, again

12 January 2025 0 comments

Much time has passed since Jack Singleton’s leg break sustained against Northampton two years ago and the hooker is looking to move on.

Jeremy Guscott: Four changes to fire up England

12 January 2025 0 comments

Whoever makes the England Six Nations squad, to be announced on Tuesday by Steve Borthwick, I cannot imagine much in the way of change.

Wales prop Leon Brown forced to retire after multiple neck surgeries

8 January 2025 0 comments

Wales and Dragons prop Leon Brown has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect because of a neck injury. Brown won the last of […]

Stick with Marcus Smith, he’s the best in England

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Steve Borthwick has put three outside halves on hybrid contracts and he has less than a month to decide which one to […]

Steve Borthwick and England facing historic USA test

5 January 2025 0 comments

EXCLUSIVE By Jon Newcombe England’s summer tour will include a historic Test against the USA, as well as the already announced two-match series against Argentina. […]

Six uncapped Welsh youngsters ready to break out

5 January 2025 0 comments

As the new year gets underway, Simon Thomas looks at six uncapped youngsters who could have big Welsh futures Dan Edwards (Ospreys) No one has […]

George Ford set to follow family line and take up coaching

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Ross Heppenstall George Ford admits he sees himself following in the footsteps of his father and two brothers by moving into coaching one day. […]

Ollie Sleightholme is the right man for England

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Jeremy Guscott – Outspoken and unmissable every week… Since Ollie Sleightholme won his first two England caps against New Zealand last summer, and then […]

Matt Sherratt backing Taulupe Faletau to hit the heights

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Taulupe Faletau has been tipped to move on up through the gears as he continues his long-awaited comeback. The Wales and Lions […]

No Franco Mostert? That’s got to be a mistake

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed Here’s a funny thing: one of the more prominent rugby sites on the worldwide web super information highway thingy […]

Warren Gatland to stay as Wales coach but must ‘change fortunes on the pitch’

20 December 2024 0 comments

Warren Gatland is to remain in charge for the 2025 Six Nations following a review into Wales’ slump but has been warned by the Welsh […]

Grassroots revolt triggers vote over futures of RFU chief executive and chairman

19 December 2024 0 comments

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney and chairman Tom Ilube are facing motions calling for their removal after a grassroots revolt gathered enough support […]

Bundee Aki and James Ryan commit to Ireland by signing new deals

17 December 2024 0 comments

Bundee Aki and James Ryan have signed contract extensions with Ireland. Aki has agreed a new one-year deal that will keep him at Connacht until […]

Start with Tom Roebuck, Ben Curry tells Steve Borthwick

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ross Heppenstall Steve Borthwick has been urged to make in-form Sale star Tom Roebuck a starting winger in the Six Nations. Roebuck enjoyed an […]

Scotland will benefit from winning habit – Blair Kinghorn

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Blair Kinghorn has been getting into the winning habit with Antoine Dupont and co at Toulouse and reckons that could spell bad […]

Georgia just want a fair chance – Richard Cockerill

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Jackson – The man truly in the know One day soon, Josef Tkemaladze will renew his presidential invitation to Wales requesting the pleasure […]

Jack Crowley or Sam Prendergast – Who is Ireland’s true number one fly-half?

13 December 2024 0 comments

Much has been made of Sam Prendergast’s recent arrival on the international scene, with fans and pundits alike quick to point out comparisons with Ireland’s […]

Ronan O’Gara would ‘bite hands off’ for top Test coach role – but not Wales job

10 December 2024 0 comments

Ronan O’Gara says there are international jobs he would “bite people’s hands off for” as he underlined a burning desire to coach at Test level. […]

England were not too far off – Henry Slade

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens Henry Slade believes England deserved more credit for their performances this autumn, insisting it was ‘small margins’ that prevented them from truly […]

Tommy Freeman is happy to have a crack at centre

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Tommy Freeman has started all of England’s internationals this year on the wing but fancies having a crack in the centre. Freeman […]

Fit-again Alex Mann is planning to come back with a bang

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas After a year of ups and downs, Alex Mann is back bigger and better than ever and determined to return to the […]

France won’t play All Blacks in USA

8 December 2024 0 comments

French Column – By James Harrington The FFR has rejected a proposal from New Zealand to relocate the third Test of next July’s tour to […]

Autumn Nations Series grades for each team

2 December 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott No one could have expected some of the results that happened over the Autumn Nations Series, with Australia overperforming and Wales furthering […]

The best XV of the Autumn Nations Series

2 December 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott After an Autumn filled with drama, where underperformances from home nations were compounded by Southern Hemisphere brilliance, here is the best XV […]

150th party nearly ends in tears for sloppy Irish

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Ireland…………………………. 22pts Tries: van der Flier 23, Doris 49, G McCarthy 73 Conversions: Prendergast 50, Crowley 74 Penalty: Prendergast 43 Australia……………………….. 19pts […]

Andy Farrell: It can’t be all singing, all dancing all of the time

1 December 2024 0 comments

Head coach Andy Farrell signed off from Ireland duty with another win as he turns his attention to the British and Irish Lions tour in […]

Springboks going to need a bigger trophy cabinet …

1 December 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson looks back on a season where, once again, South Africa proved to be the best team on the planet Now that they have […]

My body is telling me to quit, says Rob Evans

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Jackson – The man truly in the know Wales are about to be hit by another loss despite spending the final weekend of […]

Ireland vs Australia – Autumn Nations Series Match Preview

29 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports As Ireland prepares to host Australia this Saturday, both teams are coming off contrasting results. Under Andy Farrell’s leadership, Ireland […]

Could Toby Booth be Wales’ next head coach?

28 November 2024 0 comments

It’s safe to say the sun isn’t shining on Welsh rugby right now. Warren Gatland’s team suffered a record 12th consecutive defeat to South Africa […]

The most surprising results of the Autumn Nations Series

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott A combination of strong teams underperforming and perceived ‘weaker’ teams overperforming has resulted in a lot of shocks over this Autumn Nations […]

Autumn Nations Series: Biggest Stock Risers and Fallers

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott This Autumn Nations Series there have been plenty of moments and performances which are enough to define a career, and here are […]

Autumn Nations Series Team of the Week: England trio impress in final game of disappointing campaign

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott England managed to salvage some dignity in their final game against Japan, while Australia failed to continue their form over the home nations. In the […]

Eddie Jones fires back at Danny Care as Steve Borthwick vows to persist with blitz

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys In typical Eddie Jones fashion the Japan head coach, following his side’s 59-14 defeat to England on his Twickenham homecoming, teased at […]

England solidify flat-track bully status to spoil Eddie Jones’ comeback

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys England……………… 59 (35)Tries: Earl 10, Underhill 14, George 24, 31, Sleightholme 37, Furbank 53, Cowan-Dickie 60, 65, Roebuck 68Conversions: M. Smith 11, […]

England vs Japan – Match Betting Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports England, currently on a five-game losing streak, is in a crucial position as they prepare to face Japan at Twickenham. […]

Scotland vs Wallabies – Match Betting Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports As Australia head to Murrayfield in pursuit of a clean sweep in the autumn series, both teams are riding high […]

We’ll reject changes to promotion, vow Championship clubs

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain Championship clubs are refusing to accept late changes to promotion-relegation regulations. They assert it contravenes the RFU Council’s decision in June to […]

Future is out of my control – Warren Gatland

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Roger Panting Wales head coach Warren Gatland indicated that he was still in the dark as to his future but despite a 12th successive […]

Shadow of Eddie Jones still hangs over Steve Borthwick – England vs Japan Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway PREVIEW… England v Japan Today. Kick-off 4.10pm, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Steve Borthwick is in the ultimate no-win situation today against Japan at […]

Wales are battered by force of Storm Sprinbok

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Wales ……………………………. 12pts Tries: Dyer 40, Botham 80 Conversion: B Thomas 80 South Africa ……………….. 45pts Tries: Mostert 6, Etzebeth 9, Arendse […]

Sione Tuipulotu: This is where I’m supposed to be – Scotland vs Australia Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer PREVIEW… Scotland v Australia Today. Kick-off 1.40pm, Murrayfield Sione Tuipulotu’s journey from the suburbs of Melbourne to the Scotland captaincy will come […]