Rugby World Cup

Argentina and New Zealand go largely unchanged for semi-final

Argentina have made just one change to their starting line-up for Friday’s semi-final against New Zealand, who have only made two...

By Nick Powell

Series 3, Episode 13: The greatest quarter-finals in RWC history and a look to the semis

Wow. Just wow. The Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-finals certainly did not disappoint, with two all-time great matches in Paris accompanied...

By Nick Powell

Five semi-final shocks to inspire England and Argentina

The odds of both England and Argentina overcoming their semi-final opponents this weekend to reach the Rugby World Cup Final are...

By Nick Powell

Raiwalui confirms Fiji departure after World Cup exit

Fiji boss Simon Raiwalui has confirmed he will step down at the end of the year after his side’s Rugby World...

By Nick Powell

South Africa stun France to set up England rematch

By Nick Powell, Online Editor France………………………………………..28 Tries: Baille 4, 31; Mauvaka 22 Conversions: Ramos 5, 32 Penalties: Ramos 40+1, 54, 73...

By Nick Powell

England hold off Fiji fightback to reach semis

By Nick Powell, Online Editor England…………………………….30 Tries: Tuilagi 14, Marchant 23 Conversions: Farrell 24 Penalties: Farrell 11, 34, 38, 54, 78...

By Nick Powell

Care: Time to grab this chance of a lifetime

From ADAM HATHAWAY Danny Care has urged England to seize the day against Fiji this afternoon because it could be the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Gatland: Change of ref did not help

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Marseille Warren Gatland claimed a change of referee put a spoke in the wheels of his Wales...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Confident England set to get out of jail

From ADAM HATHAWAY PREVIEW... England v Fiji Today. Kick-off 4pm, Stade de Marseille Steve Borthwick and his coaching staff are on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Fairytale finale for revived Pumas

From NICK CAIN Wales.................................. 17pts Tries: Biggar 14, T Williams 57 Conversions: Biggar 16, 57 Penalties: Biggar 21 Argentina ......................... 29pts...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Unbelievable! It all ends in Irish tears

By TOM BRADSHAW Ireland............................ 24pts Tries: Aki 27, Gibson-Park 39, Penalty 64 Conversions: Sexton 29, 40 Penalties: Sexton 22 New Zealand...................

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sorry end for Sexton and his band of brothers as they fall short yet again

BRENDAN GALLAGHER No No No. Not again surely? After 36 years of trying to win a quarter-final Ireland have fallen short...

By The Rugby Paper Team

France put faith in Dupont return

By TOM BRADSHAW PREVIEW... France v South Africa Today. Kick-off 8pm, Stade de France France are preparing for a game of...

By The Rugby Paper Team

England must get best out of Smith

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK STEVE Borthwick does not have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting...

By The Rugby Paper Team

The twin pillars of England’s rebuild

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Ollie Chessum and Marcus Smith play with such enthusiasm when they pull on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Time to discover if spine is strong

NICK CAIN One of the oldest methods of assessing the strength of a team is to look at the 2-8-9-10-15 positions...

By The Rugby Paper Team

One Goon show we could all do without

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED It is just about possible, if you’re seriously odd, to imagine that Dan Cole might stand a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Travelling coast to coast is a delight

CHRIS HEWETT A good many moons ago, this column identified the No.14 shirt as the latest cutting-edge fashion garment in the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

A French-inspired XV to take on the world

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points The ProD2 Twitter account – sorry X account...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Why do Aussies let so many escape?

RUGBY MATTERS The problems facing Australian Rugby are many and numerous but a largely unmentioned issue would appear to be letting...

By The Rugby Paper Team

History backing France

PETER JACKSON For reasons that defy all logic, France have never failed to reach a World Cup final once every 12...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Blocking out the noise

PETER JACKSON The Springboks have been warming up for tonight’s semi-final against France to the overpowering sound of an ecstatic Gallic...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Banahan: England will reach the semis

By JON NEWCOMBE On the weekend that he started his own international coaching career, Matt Banahan is backing England to reach...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Big four are streets ahead

Paul Rees says the 40 group matches have highlighted the difference in the two sides of the draw World Rugby’s plans...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Ireland resist injuries to go unchanged against New Zealand

Ireland have overcome several knocks to name an unchanged XV against New Zealand for potentially the highest octane quarter-final in Rugby...

By Nick Powell

Farrell at fly-half, Smith full-back for Fiji quarter-final

Captain Owen Farrell will start at fly-half with fellow number 10 Marcus Smith at full-back for England‘s crunch World Cup quarter-final...

By Nick Powell

Biggar back for Wales as heavyweights return

Wales have brought several heavyweights back into the starting XV as Argentina name a largely unchanged side for their quarter-final clash....

By Nick Powell

Australia don’t have a style of rugby – Campese

David Campese admits Australia didn’t deserve to get through to the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup, but does not...

By Nick Powell

Shades of 2015 in current All Blacks team – Fitzpatrick

All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick sees parallels between the current New Zealand team and their 2015 World Cup winning squad. Despite...

By Nick Powell

Series 3, Episode 12: RWC Pool review and QF preview with David Campese

The Rugby World Cup pool stages have come to an end, and what a way to finish! Portugal landed their first...

By Nick Powell

Ryan and Hansen unlikely to feature in Ireland’s quarter-final

Second row James Ryan and winger Mack Hansen are major doubts for Ireland‘s Rugby World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand this...

By Nick Powell

Portugal beat quarter-finalists Fiji to earn first World Cup win in classic

By Nick Powell, Online Editor Fiji……………………………………………23 Tries: Botia 48, Doge 68 Conversions: Lomani 49, 69 Penalties: Lomani 10, 74, 76 Portugal……………………………………24...

By Nick Powell

Tonga end tournament with exciting Romania victory

By Tom Jeffreys Tonga……………………………………………45 Tries: Kata 11, 66; Moala 15, Taumoepeau 22, Vailanu 49, Ahki 62, Taumoefolau 71 Conversions: Havili 13,...

By Nick Powell

Carreras hat-trick sends Argentina through with entertaining win

By Matthew Luddington Japan…………………………………………..27 Tries: Fakatava 16, Saito 38, Naikabula 65 Conversion: Matsuda 17, 39, 67 Penalties: Matsuda 52 Drop Goals:...

By Nick Powell

Farrell so sorry for shot clock blunder

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Lille Skipper Owen Farrell vowed never to repeat his blunder that could have cost nervy England victory...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Wales top pool but Faletau ruled out

By BEN JAYCOCK Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after breaking his arm in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

The Great Escape! Veteran Care gets England out of jail

By NICK CAIN England ........................................... 18pts Tries: Chessum 9, Care 73 Conversions: Farrell 74 Penalties: Farrell 18, 58 Samoa ............................................. 17pts...

By The Rugby Paper Team

/ 2 years ago

Majestic Ireland blow Scots away

By TOM BRADSHAW Ireland........................... 36pts Tries: Lowe 2, Keenan 26, 39; Henderson 32, Sheehan 44, Ringrose 58 Conversions: Sexton 27, 33,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby World Cup

/ 2 years ago

Carreras gets vote at No.10 for Pumas

PREVIEW... Japan v Argentina Today. Kick-off 12pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes It is winner takes all in Nantes today to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby World Cup

/ 2 years ago

Moala makes his World Cup debut

PREVIEW... Tonga v Romania Today. Kick-off 4.45pm Stade Pierre-Mauroy ROMANIA head coach Eugen Apjok has made nine changes as hooker Ovidiu...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby World Cup

/ 2 years ago

Fiji need just one point to qualify

Preview Fiji v Portugal Today. KO 8pm Stadium de Toulouse FIJI require one point from today’s match to qualify for the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Wales finish with a flourish

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales................................. 43pts Tries: Francis 16, Williams 23, Rees-Zammit 43, 67, 74; North 80 Conversions: Costelow 17, 24, 44,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeremy Guscott

/ 2 years ago

Epic match in store as Ireland sharpen claws

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK An Ireland v New Zealand quarter-final is a mouthwatering prospect, especially after Andy Farrell’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby World Cup

/ 2 years ago

Italy crushed by rampant France

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER France.................................60pts Tries: Penaud 2, 37; Bielle-Biarrey 12, Ramos 21, Jalibert 46, Mauvaka 53, Moefana 63, 75 Conversions: Ramos...

By The Rugby Paper Team