Summer Tours

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

Borthwick is right to keep faith with Smith

30 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees Looks at the challenges facing England in New Zealand… While another Aussie steps in at Leicester Steve Borthwick hopes to name an unchanged […]

Gatland hits the 50-mark for Wales

30 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Unless they change the habit of a lifetime in Australia over the next fortnight, Wales will be […]

England have enough to down the All Blacks

30 June 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Steve Borthwick’s England team have taken their first step of their summer tour and returned with […]

Try from the end of the world…

30 June 2024 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looks back to 1994 when New Zealand last lost at Eden Park, beaten by a brilliant French team that scored one of the […]

It means nothing – Mike Catt not interested in South Africa comments on Ireland

28 June 2024 0 comments

The Springboks camp have accused the Irish of being “arrogant”. Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt dismissed the significance of potentially provocative comments from the South […]

Jamie George wants his England team-mates to ‘love’ facing the All Blacks

28 June 2024 0 comments

England have only won two Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Jamie George has urged his England team-mates to embrace the challenge of […]

Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Conan to miss Ireland Tests against South Africa

19 June 2024 0 comments

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and back-rower Jack Conan will miss Ireland’s two-Test series against world champions South Africa, whilst head coach Andy Farrell has handed a […]

Eddie Jones’ mind games will not unsettle England against Japan – Jamie George

19 June 2024 0 comments

Jones’ seven-year Twickenham stewardship ended 18 months ago because of an ongoing decline in results and he is now back in charge of Japan. Jamie […]

Marcus Smith given the keys as Borthwick goes all guns blazing

18 June 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys Steve Borthwick has decided there is no room for experimentation as he names his strongest squad for this weekend’s fixture against Japan. […]

Carpenter looking to make his mark

16 June 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Sale’s Joe Carpenter is aiming for a cap with Steve Borthwick’s Red Rose touring side but admits his heart is […]

Borthwick: We want to get kids engaged

16 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Steve Borthwick has urged his side to help youngsters in England fall in love with rugby again after being blanked […]

Townsend targeting four wins out of four

16 June 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Scotland will have a target on their backs this summer but Gregor Townsend has urged his squad to front up and win […]

Thomas keen to make things happen

16 June 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS To get an idea of what Ben Thomas will offer as he returns to the Wales fold, it’s illuminating to consider who […]

Borthwick should go with Marcus first up

16 June 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK It will be a choice between Harlequins’ Marcus Smith and Northampton’s Fin Smith at fly-half for the first […]

Green tipped to take chance with England

16 June 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Key Harlequins figures believe that if Tyrone Green doesn’t get picked for the Springboks this summer, then he’ll turn his attentions to […]

All Blacks will be ready to roll

16 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Rumours that New Zealand are in a state of flux heading into their two-Test summer series against England should be handled with care. […]

The unexpected revolutionary

16 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says this should be a summer of opportunities for England and head coach Steve Borthwick Steve Borthwick is an unlikely revolutionary. When he […]

Hill’s recall flies in the face of loyalty

16 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Cory Hill walked out of the Wales squad last summer, preferring to join a Japanese team nobody […]

Bath prop Beno Obano handed four-match ban for dangerous tackle in final defeat

13 June 2024 0 comments

Beno Obano has received a four-match ban for his dangerous tackle in Bath’s defeat by Northampton in the Gallagher Premiership final. Obano was sent off […]

Gregor Townsend will not close the door on George Turner’s Scotland career

13 June 2024 0 comments

Gregor Townsend is adamant the door is not closed on George Turner’s Scotland career although he acknowledged it will be “challenging” for the hooker to […]

Gus Warr among 10 uncapped players named in Scotland squad for Americas tour

13 June 2024 0 comments

Sale scrum-half Gus Warr is among 10 uncapped players named in Gregor Townsend’s 37-man Scotland squad for the summer tour of the Americas. Nathan McBeth, […]

Tom Curry named in England’s summer tour squad despite limited game time

12 June 2024 0 comments

Tom Curry has been included in an England squad that contains seven players from newly crowned Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton. Curry features in the 36-man […]

RFU opens books to Team England Rugby as player contract talks reach key stage

11 June 2024 0 comments

The Rugby Football Union has opened up its books to Team England Rugby Ltd as talks over future player contracts reach a key stage. England […]

Fin Smith sets sights on England fly-half spot as George Ford ruled out of tour

11 June 2024 0 comments

Fin Smith intends on claiming England’s fly-half jersey once he has recovered from Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership title celebrations – a prospect that moved a step […]

England have no issues with taking Tom Curry and Maro Itoje on summer tour

11 June 2024 0 comments

England are comfortable taking Tom Curry and Maro Itoje on their summer tour to Japan and New Zealand after rejecting concerns over their involvement. The […]

Steward: Sinfield has given me belief

9 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Freddie Steward hopes to enjoy some Southern Hemisphere comfort after coming through what he admits has been one of the most “challenging” […]

Cane calls time on international career

13 May 2024 0 comments

New Zealand skipper Sam Cane will end his test rugby career at the end of the year and give up his captaincy of the All […]

New-boy Roots has his eye on NZ return

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES One of England’s Test debutants this year has a big incentive to make the summer tour to New Zealand – he would […]

Game in England is good, says Ford

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Ford feels English rugby is on the up after a testing couple of years on and off the field and has […]

England could be one of world’s best teams – Care

29 April 2024 0 comments

England legend Danny Care feels it is “frightening” to consider just how good the national team can become. Care called time on his glittering international […]

Quins duo tipped to power up England

21 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Will Collier and Fin Baxter could galvanise the England scrum with their technique and power, according to World Cup-winning scrum coach Phil […]

Malins keen to get back into England contention

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Malins will use the closing weeks of the season to give the England selectors a nudge ahead of the summer Tests […]

Domachowski has his eye on top spot

21 April 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Corey Domachowski is a man on a mission to be Wales’ number one No.1. The Cardiff prop now has 10 caps to […]

England must take Quins pair to NZ

21 April 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK WILL Collier and Fin Baxter have been showered with praise following Harlequins epic European Cup quarter-final away […]

Strawbridge appointed to England on permanent basis

9 April 2024 0 comments

Andrew Strawbridge will join Steve Borthwick‘s England coaching staff on a permanent basis as an assistant coach and coaching advisor. Strawbridge, 59, supported England in […]

England need access to their overseas stars

7 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK ENGLAND and New Zealand, who meet in a two-Test series this summer, find themselves in similar places due […]

Dingwall has his eye on All Blacks

1 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Fraser Dingwall is set on helping Northampton finish the season on a high and putting himself in contention for England’s summer tour […]

Japan rugby full of talent, warns Savea

31 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ardie Savea has issued a warning to England not to underestimate Japan in the two sides’ first ever meeting in Tokyo this […]

England A need to face ‘real’ Portugal

17 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Portugal face multiple champions Georgia in the Rugby Europe final at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris today, and the team that they […]

Second Barbarian chance for Mercer

3 March 2024 0 comments

Zach Mercer will pull on the famous Barbarians jersey again this summer in the Killik Cup clash against Fiji. Mercer, 26, joins England’s most-capped men’s […]

Wales to play Boks in double header at HQ

25 February 2024 0 comments

Four heavyweights of world rugby will grace the Twickenham turf in an historic double header on June 22 – with a clash between South Africa […]

Sinfield stepping down after England’s summer tour

4 January 2024 0 comments

Steve Borthwick‘s leading assistant coach Kevin Sinfield will step away from the England set-up after the World Cup bronze medalists’ summer tour to Japan and […]

Farrell set to remain Sarries marquee man

3 December 2023 0 comments

Saracens are closing in on agreeing terms to a new contract with skipper Owen Farrell, below, who is out of contract at the end of […]

Don’t get carried away with Ireland series win

24 July 2022 30 comments

COLIN BOAG In last week’s letters page a Mr Ireland (!) accused me of being curmudgeonly about Ireland beating the All Blacks, but the reality […]

Tiger Jack has all the attributes of a top 9

24 July 2022 24 comments

NEIL DE KOCK THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICA AND SARACENS SCRUM-HALF From a scrum-half perspective there were some real standout performers for the Home Unions over […]

Back tells ‘fickle’ England fans to give Eddie a break

24 July 2022 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Eddie Jones may have been targeted by an irate compatriot in Sydney but Neil Back has called for those “fickle” England fans […]

Chile stun States to spice up World Cup

17 July 2022 0 comments

USA 29-31 Chile (19-14 HT, 51-52 agg) Santiago Videla’s late penalty saw Chile beat The USA in a thrilling second leg to qualify for the […]

That was tougher than 2016 – Jones

17 July 2022 1 comment

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Sydney EDDIE Jones last night insisted England’s Test series triumph over Australia was “tougher’ than their victory against the Wallabies back […]

Pivac: We have much to build on

17 July 2022 0 comments

Wayne Pivac insists Wales are heading in the right direction despite getting battered into submission 30-14 by South Africa in Cape Town yesterday. Wales have […]

Mears: England showed grit beyond their years

17 July 2022 0 comments

Former England hooker Lee Mears was impressed by the fight shown by Eddie Jones’ side in the final Test but says they are still some […]

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