Six Nations

Ford backing Hogg to race past his record

12 March 2023 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER PREVIEW… Scotland v Ireland Today. Kick-off 3pm, Murrayfield Scotland’s most capped men’s player Ross Ford has backed Stuart Hogg to “blow his […]

This is the best Scottish team I have faced – Sexton

12 March 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Johnny Sexton’s travelling in the Six Nations started in Paris 13 years ago and it is set to end today at Murrayfield, […]

Crowley deserves the credit for Azzurri surge

12 March 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN It is a travesty that Italy were fighting to avoid retaining the Wooden Spoon against Wales, because this Azzurri side has galvanised the […]

“Risky” to play with all-out flair against France – Cueto

9 March 2023 0 comments

Mark Cueto believes England have a tough balance to strike between playing a pragmatic or expansive game as they host France this Saturday at Twickenham. […]

Smith gets call over Captain Farrell for Le Crunch

9 March 2023 0 comments

Marcus Smith has been named ahead of skipper Owen Farrell to start at fly-half as England take on France in the Six Nations. Smith, 24, […]

Webb back in as Wales head to Rome

9 March 2023 0 comments

Rhys Webb makes his first Wales start in three years as they travel to Rome for a crucial game against Italy. Webb being handed a […]

Series 2 Episode 9 – Looking ahead to Six Nations Round 4 with Fran Cotton

8 March 2023 0 comments

Three difficult fixtures to call this weekend as England and Scotland bear home advantage in their challenges against France and Ireland, whilst Italy go into […]

Lawrence will take the blows

5 March 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Ollie Lawrence is prepared to enter his special inner “dark place” against France knowing his body will have to endure plenty more […]

Cotton: I can’t see Welsh win

5 March 2023 1 comment

By PETER JACKSON One of England’s all time greats has delivered a withering verdict on Wales as they struggle to stop their Six Nations rot. […]

‘Lewis’s drive has got him to the top’

5 March 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Following his standout performance in England’s win in Cardiff last weekend, Lewis Ludlam’s former youth coach Andy Howe believes the Northampton star’s […]

Delight for Grady after Xbox fantasy became reality

5 March 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Mason Grady has admitted he loved swapping video game idols George North and Taulupe Faletau for real live teammates when he made […]

Care puts his faith in Smith to return

5 March 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Danny Care is backing Marcus Smith to win his England place back and help the side become successful in the coming years. […]

Italian fire is starting to burn brightly

5 March 2023 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND I used to love playing against Italy. Nine tries in nine games! But I also never forget that there […]

The Rugby Paper Podcast: S2 E8 – The Ukraine war and Six Nations round-up with James Waterhouse

28 February 2023 0 comments

During the third round of the 2023 Six Nations, a minute’s silence was held before each game to commemorate the anniversary of the Russian invasion […]

Fantastic Fickou ends Scottish slam hopes

26 February 2023 0 comments

By Nick Powell, Online Editor France……………………..32 Tries: Ntamack 4, Dumortier 8, Ramos 19, Fickou 80 Conversions: Ramos 5, 20, Penalties: Ramos 36, 58, 80+2 Scotland………………..21 […]

Watson: Get ready for more

26 February 2023 2 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY IN CARDIFF Anthony Watson continued his scoring spree against Wales in England’s 20-10 win in Cardiff yesterday then insisted there was more […]

I’m proud we fronted up, says Wales captain Owens

26 February 2023 0 comments

Wales skipper Ken Owens refused to hide behind the turmoil of last week after his side’s 20-10 defeat to England in Cardiff. The match was […]

Lewis: I’d love to play for England with my brother

26 February 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The Chessums hope to emulate their childhood heroes, the Youngs brothers, by starring alongside each other for both club and country. Tyro […]

Steward rises to the occasion and puts England on right road

26 February 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Wales……………………………. 10pts Tries: Rees-Zammit 41 Conversions: Halfpenny 42 Penalties: Halfpenny 22 England …………………………20pts Tries: Watson 19, Sinckler 45, Lawrence 75 Conversions: Farrell […]

Plenty of effort but not much speed or sizzle

26 February 2023 1 comment

PAUL REES COMMENT A week that started with Wales’s players threatening to go on strike because of the way they were being treated by their […]

It’s do-or-die in Italy so we must pull together

26 February 2023 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS I know exactly how the Welsh players are feeling at the moment because I’ve been there. I came back into the side after […]

Gutsy Italy give Irish a Grand Slam scare

26 February 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Italy……………………………….20pts Tries: Varney 7, Bruno 41 Conversions: Garbisi 8, 42 Penalties: Garbisi 19, 56 Ireland…………………………. 34pts Tries: Ryan 3, Keenan 13, Aki […]

We gave everything, says Lamaro, but we must work on the details

26 February 2023 2 comments

Italy captain Michele Lamaro was frustrated by their defeat to Ireland but insists his players gave their all. “We’ve been talking about lots of same […]

Townsend: Gray in the form of his life

26 February 2023 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER PREVIEW… France v Scotland Today. 3pm, Stade de France, Paris SCOTLAND coach Gregor Townsend believes Richie Gray is playing the best rugby […]

France looking to return to best

26 February 2023 1 comment

Defending champions France are looking to bounce back after their defeat to Ireland in Dublin in round two of the championship. Gregor Townsend’s side beat […]

Sensational Prendergast does it again for Ireland

26 February 2023 0 comments

By CAM STEPHENS Italy………………..27pts Tries: Quattrini 13, Botturi 47, Mey 59, Gasperini 70 Conversions: Sante 48, 60 Penalties: Sante 24 Ireland………….. 44pts Tries: Gleeson 3, […]

Ruthless French have far too much in the tank for Scotland

26 February 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON France…………… 54pts Tries: Ferte 8, Mathiron 20, Carbonneau 24, Nouchi 34, 39, Jegou 54, Affane 63, Penalty 77 Conversions: Reus 9, 25, […]

England make their hopes of fast start to keep Grand Slam alive

26 February 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales…………………………………………….. 21pts Tries: Andrew 25, 58, Penalty 40 Conversions: Edwards 27, 59 England ………………………………………..37pts Tries: Hathaway 14, Woodward 21, Ma’asi-White 27, Elliott […]

Southern invasion gives no comfort

26 February 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW When the rest of Welsh rugby kept falling to its knees before their ‘Great Redeeemer’, one man […]

Even acting CEO Walker must wonder how it all came to this

26 February 2023 0 comments

Another week of crisis management brought another damning indictment of the Welsh Rugby Union’s policy to any bone of contention: ‘Say nothing, keep saying nothing […]

Podcast Predictions League: Week 3

24 February 2023 1 comment

After two weekends of Six Nations action, it is the guests who sit atop of The Rugby Paper Podcast Predictions League. Rather than making their […]

Wales strike threat was warranted – Davies

23 February 2023 0 comments

Jonathan Davies heavily criticised the Welsh Rugby Union’s handling of players’ contracts following the threat to strike ahead of Wales’ crucial Six Nations clash with […]

Itoje ready to silence Welsh roar

19 February 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Maro Itoje is fired up for England’s visit to Cardiff as they look for their first Six Nations win in the Welsh […]

£2m and rising – the cost of shambolic start to Six Nations

19 February 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Wales are paying a fearful price for their shambolic start to the Six Nations in lost prize money – £2m and rising. […]

Dowson: Mitchell will add to caps

19 February 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson has backed Alex Mitchell to add to his England caps after the Northampton scrum-half came off the bench against Italy […]

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson

Sanderson tips Ford and Curry to get England call

19 February 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson expects Tom Curry and George Ford to be recalled by England once they have proved their fitness. Flanker Curry, England’s […]

Robinson: Time for a ‘cultural reboot’

19 February 2023 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Steve Borthwick has been warned his England revival will not happen overnight and a “cultural reboot” is needed ahead of Saturday’s crunch […]

Tompkins set for Wales recall

19 February 2023 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE Saracens DoR Mark McCall says he will be surprised if Nick Tompkins was available to him in the coming weeks after tipping […]

Borthwick must build up England’s armoury

19 February 2023 3 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME I have to say last weekend’s Six Nations games disappointed me as it seemed the referee […]

Inexperienced Italians will improve – Castello

16 February 2023 0 comments

Former Italian international Tommaso Castello proclaimed that gaining experience is central to the development of the Azzurri’s squad following their 31-14 loss to England in […]

Improving England ease past Italy

12 February 2023 0 comments

By Nick Powell, Online Editor England…………………….31 Tries: Willis 13, Chessum 28, George 37, Penalty 50, Arundell 72 Conversions: Farrell 14, 29 Italy………………………..14 Tries: Riccioni 44, […]

Van Poortvliet relishing Six Nations chance

12 February 2023 1 comment

Playing in his first Six Nations tournament has brought back fond memories of boyhood rugby days for Jack van Poortvliet. The 21-year-old scrum half who […]

All set for Arundell to explode

12 February 2023 0 comments

By GART FITZGERALD Italy will feel the full, devastating force of “special” Henry Arundell when England unleash him at Twickenham. Attack coach Nick Evans insists […]

Gatland’s desperate to stop the rot

12 February 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Wales have suddenly turned into a penalty machine and Warren Gatland says he has got to find a way to stop the […]

Genge: We’re going to make Italy suffer

12 February 2023 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Ellis Genge insists England are in mean and hungry mood to make Italy suffer for their latest Calcutta Cup misery. However, the […]

Borthwick criticism was dig at Eddie – Marler

12 February 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Joe Marler has backed Steve Borthwick over his forthright condemnation of England’s Calcutta Cup flops. But even the gnarly Harlequins prop was […]

Outstanding Ireland come out on top in battle of the best

12 February 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ireland…………………………. 32pts Tries: Keenan 9, Lowe 21, Porter 26, Ringrose 72 Conversions: Sexton 11, 27; Byrne 74 Penalties: Sexton 41, Byrne 60 […]

Fighting spirit was good to see, says Farrell

12 February 2023 0 comments

Ireland coach Andy Farrell hailed his side’s fighting spirit as they confirmed their status as tournament favourites. “It was a huge game, two great teams […]

Russell puts on a show as Scots run riot

12 February 2023 1 comment

By PETER JACKSON Scotland ……………………… 35pts Tries: Turner 30, Steyn 51, 58; Kinghorn 71, M Fagerson 79 Conversions: Russell 32, 53 Penalties: Russell 9, 15 […]

King keeps his cool to seal it for Scotland

12 February 2023 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Scotland ……………………. 18pts Tries: Brown 10, Penalty 50 Penalties: Afshar 31, King 70 Wales …………………………. 17pts Tries: Morse 45, Andrew 56 Conversions: […]

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