Six Nations

It’s time for Borthwick to ignite the backline

28 January 2024 0 comments

ADAM HATHAWAY Steve Borthwick has done the easy bit in picking a 36-man squad for the Six Nations, the hard bit is naming his 23 […]

Cool cat Crowley has to prove his worth

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Ireland Brendan Gallagher says coach Andy Farrell is spoilt for choice in nearly every position on the park THE time for […]

Why France are my favourites for the title

28 January 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT Peter O’Mahony’s appointment as Ireland captain for the Six Nations at the age of 34 was a little surprising, in much the same […]

Gatland: You write us off at your peril

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Wales Paul Rees finds the coach in bullish mood about his team’s chances in the coming weeks WELSH rugby is going […]

Galthie looking for mix of renewal and continuity

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: France James Harrington anticipates an Era of Expectation from the side who stalled at the World Cup Fracncehead coach Fabien Galthie […]

Time for Borthwick to deliver

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: England Paul Rees says that, this time around, the fixture list has been kind to the World Cup semi-finalists IT IS […]

Prodigal son needs to pull the right strings

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Scotland Paul Rees listens to Gregor Townsend as he admits that it’s about time his team got their act together GREGOR […]

Conquistador going in search of pot of gold

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Italy Brendan Gallagher predicts new coach Gonzalo Quesada could just be a very good appointment SO what next for Italy? What […]

The Grand Slam win in 2005 was a fairytale

28 January 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Mark Taylor – The former Wales, Ospreys, Sale, Swansea & Pontypool centre and now WRU performance pathway coordinator talks about […]

Millar Mills on course to emulate his star sisters

28 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Elliot Millar Mills this week joins up with the Scotland squad to prepare for the Six Nations little more than a year […]

How O’Mahony answered Ireland’s Call

25 January 2024 0 comments

In a tournament full of as many great moments as the recent World Cup, a handheld sign in the crowd wouldn’t ordinarily rank very highly. […]

Farrell Racing switch confirmed

22 January 2024 0 comments

Owen Farrell’s much-rumoured move to Racing 92 has been confirmed, ending his 15-year career at English champions Saracens. Farrell, 32, captained England in their most […]

I’ll protect new boys, promises Borthwick

21 January 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Steve Borthwick has vowed to protect his Six Nations rookies from the social media trolls and insists there will be time for […]

Rees-Zammit: I still can’t believe this is happening

21 January 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Louis Rees-Zammit is targeting a hybrid role in the NFL, combining the running back and wide receiver positions. His speed and catching […]

Beard: To get the call was a dream come true

21 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Oscar Beard missed the call he dared not expect. The Harlequins centre had shut himself in his room at home at the […]

It’s unbelievable! Mann delighted as he’s called into Wales squad

21 January 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Alex Mann hadn’t started a single game of regional rugby before this season – now he’s in the Wales Six Nations squad. […]

France have named their team to play Italy in the Six Nations

Alldritt to captain France

21 January 2024 0 comments

La Rochelle captain Gregory Alldritt will lead France in the absence of Antoine Dupont, who will miss the Six Nations to join France’s Sevens programme […]

Quesada turns to Vintcent

21 January 2024 0 comments

Exeter’s South Africa-born No.8 Ross Vintcent has been called up by new Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada. Vintcent joins prop trio Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli […]

Townsend: Important to strike right balance

21 January 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Gregor Townsend believes Ben White and Blair Kinghorn will become better players after experiencing French rugby but doesn’t want more of his […]

Willis rules himself out of England

21 January 2024 0 comments

England won’t have Jack Willis available for selection for at least another two years after he activated a one-year option in contract to remain playing […]

England must play with the ‘wow’ factor

21 January 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK ONE of the biggest talking points of Steve Borthwick’s 2024 Six Nations squad is the selection of Jamie […]

The talent is there – now let’s be bold

21 January 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK STEVE Borthwick talked of England “turning a corner” when he announced his preliminary England squad of 36 […]

Scots should focus on developing own talent

21 January 2024 0 comments

The international merry-go-round continues. After the best part of a decade of striving for England honours Exeter Chiefs prop Alec Hepburn has suddenly decided he […]

Magnificent tome tells fantastic tales

21 January 2024 0 comments

Take a bow Neil Fissler and Adam Hathaway – much respected members of this parish – for completing a definitive Who’s Who of English rugby […]

Borthwick puts club form at top of his list

21 January 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS COUNTDOWN Paul Rees says change will be gradual rather than sudden as teams renew after World Cup THE first Six Nations after a […]

Sad to think Feyi-Waboso felt more at home in England

21 January 2024 0 comments

Louis Rees-Zammit and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso share more than an X-factor ability and a double-barrelled surname. They grew up a year or so apart in the […]

Dupont leads the otherwise engaged XV

21 January 2024 0 comments

As the countdown gets ever closer to the launch of the grand old championship in Marseille on Friday week, it is almost possible to pick […]

Lucu the man to replace Dupont

21 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN An email drop and social media flurry confirmed the line-up of France’s 34-player training squad for the Six Nations, which kicks […]

Hutchinson glad to be back in the fold

21 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Much has been made of the five backs from free-scoring Northampton who have made the Six Nations squad, but just as deserving […]

Series 3, Episode 21: Rees-Zammit quits rugby, Six Nations squads and Portugal’s 2024 with Francisco Isaac

18 January 2024 0 comments

In a fascinating week in European rugby, amidst Six Nations and Women’s British and Irish Lions announcements, Welsh rugby superstar Louis Rees-Zammit has announced that […]

Rees-Zammit will have to go to a ‘dark place for months and years’ – Wade

18 January 2024 0 comments

Racing 92 winger and former Buffalo Bills practice squad member Christian Wade has backed Louis Rees-Zammit in his decision to try and forge a career […]

O’Mahony succeeds Sexton as captain in Ireland squad

17 January 2024 0 comments

Peter O’Mahony has taken over from Jonny Sexton as Ireland captain in Andy Farrell’s squad for the 2024 Six Nations. Flanker O’Mahony, 34, succeeds Sexton […]

George to captain England as Feyi-Waboso named in squad

17 January 2024 0 comments

Jamie George has been named England captain as Steve Borthwick handed opportunities to seven uncapped players, including Exeter’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, in his 2024 Six Nations […]

Rees-Zammit leaves Gloucester and Wales to pursue NFL ‘dream’

16 January 2024 0 comments

Gloucester and Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit has left his club with immediate effect to “pursue his dream” of playing in the NFL. The Rugby Paper’s […]

Jenkins takes Welsh captaincy in Six Nations squad announcement

16 January 2024 0 comments

21-year-old Dafydd Jenkins has been handed the Wales captaincy as Warren Gatland named five uncapped players in his Six Nations squad. The announcement was overshadowed […]

Mako is the latest to quit England

14 January 2024 0 comments

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola has announced his retirement from international rugby. He made his Test debut against Fiji in November 2012 and won 79 England […]

Faletau facing extended layoff

14 January 2024 0 comments

Wales’ injury hit Taulupe Faletau will not return to action before the Six Nations, ruling out any chance of the No.8 being named in Warren […]

This year, Scotland can take high road

14 January 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED HE was born in the Old Town of Edinburgh, died in the New Town and spent much of his life within […]

With Smith and Mitchell, there should be fireworks

14 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Topsy Ojo and finds the TV pundit in optimistic mood for both club and country Topsy Ojo gets a reminder every […]

Farrell’s choice: Stay and hope, or cash in

14 January 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME SO Owen Farrell seems like he may have called time on his England career by choosing […]

Mapletoft out to build next generation

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK As England’s U20s side prepare for the upcoming Six Nations, head coach Mark Mapletoft insists that the development of his players takes […]

Borthwick wants to dominate Six Nations

7 January 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY England boss Steve Borthwick has vowed to put his side back on the Six Nations map and leave thoughts of the next […]

Ruddock puts his son in the frame

7 January 2024 0 comments

Former Wales Grand Slam coach Mike Ruddock hopes Warren Gatland will consider his son, Rhys Ruddock, for an international return this year. The 33-year-old Rhys […]

Time for Borthwick to put faith in Itoje

7 January 2024 0 comments

nick cain READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK STEVE Borthwick struck a positive note this week when he made it clear that the here-and-now, as […]

Borthwick puts his foot on the accelerator

7 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at how England, without Owen Farrell at the helm, could turn into an attacking force Steve Borthwick’s England promise to look very […]

Time for new flier to make his choice

7 January 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW IMMANUEL Feyi-Waboso has been given a timely reminder that Wales wishes him to resist overtures from England […]

Probyn: It’s tough to take charge of a team at prop

7 January 2024 0 comments

The Rugby Paper Podcast On this week’s edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast, Jeff Probyn joined host Ollie Little and our regulars – Nick Cain, […]

Farrell’s future the only talk in town…

7 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Fabien Galthie will have a reduced training squad for the 2024 Six Nations after a player release agreement was reached between […]

Easter’s backing Alex to return

31 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Having unearthed a hidden gem for Harlequins in 2018 with the signing of Alex Dombrandt, Nick Easter is hoping the No.8’s blistering […]

England’s attack has to have a revamp

31 December 2023 1 comment

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK The England attack has been mediocre since 2019 – and that’s giving it some praise. Their ability to […]

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