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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSeries 3, Episode 16: Mark Evans on RWC format shake-up and World League introduction
In the Rugby Paper Podcast‘s final Rugby World Cup episode, it’s time to zoom out a bit and look ahead to...
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Premiership
/ 2 years agoEvans: It was good for Smith to play 15
By JON NEWCOMBE Harlequins attack coach Nick Evans believes Marcus Smith will be all the better for his full-back experience at...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoMarler: I’m gutted we blew our final chance
By GARY FITZGERALD Joe Marler has labelled England’s campaign in France “a decent journey” but concedes he is “gutted” they “blew”...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 2 years agoWhy refs must still have the final word
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE World Cup final was always going to be tense, and produce significant talking...
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Nick Cain
/ 2 years agoBarnes showed why he’s the best
Wayne Barnes retired at the top of his game on Thursday after taking charge of a record 111 internationals, the last...
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Nick Cain
/ 2 years agoPerfect Pollard was the key difference
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE aftermath of South Africa’s record fourth win in the World Cup final...
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Chris Hewett
/ 2 years agoBoks greater than sum of their parts
CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED THERE was much wailing and gnashing of teeth at the unveiling of the 2023 “supreme” side by...
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Peter Jackson
/ 2 years agoLike Dr Luyt, the game is still far too one-eyed
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE first World Cup dinner after a South Africa-New Zealand final since 1995...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 2 years agoWhen I was hit, I used to smile
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME With the World Cup finally over and an outcome that was half...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoThe biggest losers from the Rugby World Cup 2023
The dust has almost settled in the aftermath of the Rugby World Cup, but for many months to come there will...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoVenter: South Africa ‘unbelievably blessed’ in World Cup triumph
Brendan Venter feels South Africa benefitted from huge amounts of good fortune on their way to winning a fourth World Cup...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoThe biggest winners from the Rugby World Cup 2023
A World Cup that will rank as one of the most unpredictable and exciting has come to an end after eight...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBarnes calls time on long refereeing career
English veteran referee Wayne Barnes has retired after a distinguished 20-year career with the whistle. Barnes, 44, has refereed 111 test...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoMay joins Lawes and Youngs in international retirement
Jonny May has become the third England player to retire after the Rugby World Cup, joining Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSeries 3, Episode 15: RWC 2023 review with Brendan Venter
The sun has set on Rugby World Cup 2023, and in a thrilling finale the Springboks held onto their crown, edging...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoTop of the world
Springboks take fourth title after epic showdown From ADAM HATHAWAY Siya Kolisi and his Springboks joined the rugby immortals as they...
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Premiership
/ 2 years agoGeorge urges RFU to listen to old boys
By ADAM HATHAWAY Jamie George has urged the RFU to listen to England’s seasoned internationals before rubber-stamping proposals over new playing...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoMajestic Boks win in battle of Paris
By NICK CAIN New Zealand.................... 11pts Tries: B Barrett 57 Penalties: Mo’unga 16, 37 South Africa .....................12pts Penalties: Pollard 2, 12,...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoBrilliant Boks are worthy champions
BRENDAN GALLAGHER So they have only gone and done it! South Africa have become the first team to win four World...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoBronze beauties: Dan and Earl steer England to third in the end
By NICK CAIN England ............................. 26pts Tries: Earl 7, Dan 44 Conversions: Farrell 9, 45 Penalties: Farrell 3, 13, 30, 65...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoBorthwick quick to look to the future
From ADAM HATHAWAY Steve Borthwick finished his first World Cup campaign as England head coach and immediately put his business head...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoKamikaze Kids in unison once again
BRENDAN GALLAGHER OK, it wasn’t a cracker but nor was this play-off game a dud. In a tournament marked by a...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 2 years agoBorthwick needs to rebuild England pack
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK IT was a well executed England game-plan against South Africa in the semi-final, but...
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Paul Rees
/ 2 years agoBorthwick has tough decisions to make
PAUL REES FOURTH in the Six Nations, third in the World Cup. Redemption rather than progress for England given the pool...
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Nick Cain
/ 2 years agoEngland will struggle to replace Marler and Cole
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Here is a prediction. England will not win another World Cup, or Six...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoVillage teams which gave stars their start
SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WHEN the Principality Stadium crowd rises to salute Leigh Halfpenny as he makes his final...
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Peter Jackson
/ 2 years ago‘Pence’, the most humble superstar
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW When the curtain comes down on his international career next Saturday, Leigh Halfpenny...
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Peter Jackson
/ 2 years agoFinal bow for these veterans
PETER JACKSON Now that the World Cup has come and gone, so, too, has a distinguished team of veterans with matching...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoLagisquet’s effort cannot be ignored
RUGBY MATTERS World Rugby could desperately do with an injection of PR savvy not to mention a certain generosity of spirit....
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Jeff Probyn
/ 2 years agoEngland missed their big chance
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME I can't help thinking the disappointment that is currently being felt by...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoRugby’s greatest rivalry back on biggest stage
The Rugby World Cup‘s two most dominant teams will meet in their first final since 1995 this Saturday as New Zealand...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoYoungs to retire after Argentina play-off
Ben Youngs will retire after England‘s Rugby World Cup third-place play-off this Friday as his country’s most-capped player. Scrum-half Youngs, 34,...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoLawes left out for Curry in England’s final match of World Cup
Courtney Lawes has missed out on being selected for England‘s final game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Tom Curry...
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Latest News
/ 2 years ago24-team World Cup, Nations Cup and global calendar confirmed by World Rugby
World Rugby have announced there will be a new international league competition included in a global calendar from 2026, with a...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoKleyn could never have imagined final with South Africa
Former Ireland player Jean Kleyn has revealed that being involved in a World Cup Final for his native South Africa was...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSeries 3, Episode 14: Nick Easter on the World Cup final and what’s next for England
England so nearly pulled off a shock upset against the Springboks but it was Handré Pollard’s boot that condemned the Red...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoEngland legend Lawes to retire
England veteran Courtney Lawes has announced his retirement from international rugby, bringing to an end a 14-year career. 34-year-old Lawes, who...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 2 years agoIt’s heartbreak
England go so close but Springboks steal it From ADAM HATHAWAY Owen Farrell predicted great things for England despite their heartbreaking...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoGallant England cruelly denied by Boks
By NICK CAIN England ..............................15pts Penalties: Farrell 3, 10, 24, 39 Drop goals: Farrell 53 South Africa .....................16pts Tries: Snyman 69...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoAll Blacks move into the final but this was a sorry mismatch
From NICK CAIN at the Stade de France Argentina............................6pts Penalties: Boffelli 4, 34 New Zealand......................44pts Tries: Jordan 10, 61, 72 Barrett...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoPaying the price of a lopsided draw
BRENDAN GALLAGHER And there, ladies and gentlemen, we can see the mortal danger of having such a lopsided draw. We may...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 2 years agoMcKellar in frame for Jones position
ON THE BLINDSIDE Leicester Tigers boss Dan McKellar, above, has emerged as a potential target for the Australian Rugby Union if ...
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Nick Cain
/ 2 years agoWhy take off key players?
NICK CAIN The main factor in France being edged out by South Africa in last weekend’s quarter-final classic was that there...
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Chris Hewett
/ 2 years agoNext time, Dupont will take what is his
CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED DID the spirit of rugby romance go to meet its maker in the immediate aftermath of the...
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Paul Rees
/ 2 years agoCurtain falls on dynamic duo
Paul Rees sees Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar exit stage left as their epic international careers come to a close ALL...
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Peter Jackson
/ 2 years agoPut Kolbe fast show on the big TV screen
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Seven days on, Thomas Ramos will still be kicking himself over falling victim...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoWhy the final step is often one too many
RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER If I had a fiver for every time...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoPleased Dickson made the right call
Did you, like me, cheer inwardly when Karl Dickson could be heard on comms explaining that not all hits to the...
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James Harrington
/ 2 years agoI’m going nowhere, promises Galthie
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN "I have a contract that runs until June 2028, so no.” That was France head coach Fabien...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSteward in for one of three England changes for South Africa
Freddie Steward has replaced Marcus Smith in one of three England changes for their Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa,...












