Six Nations

Hunt is on for next generation of props

17 December 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Five years ago there was a scrum feature in The Rugby Paper which forecast that unless England […]

Farrell extends Ireland stay to 2027

14 December 2023 0 comments

Andy Farrell has extended his contract as Ireland head coach until after the next Rugby World Cup in 2027. With his previous contract expiring in […]

Robshaw: Farrell will take charge of England again

10 December 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Former captain Chris Robshaw is backing Owen Farrell to lead England into World Cup battle Down Under in four years’ time. A […]

Varndell calls for better training around social media abuse

7 December 2023 0 comments

Former Premiership top try-scorer Tom Varndell wants better training around coping with social media abuse for players in the professional game following Owen Farrell’s announcement […]

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 […]

Good on Farrell for putting his family first

3 December 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Owen Farrell’s decision to step away from England duty was a surprise, but almost all of the comments […]

Itoje is the best man to captain England

3 December 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN – READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Maro Itoje should be England’s next captain following Owen Farrell’s decision to make himself unavailable for […]

“Shameful” – McCall blasts treatment of Farrell

30 November 2023 0 comments

Owen Farrell’s club boss Mark McCall has described treatment of him as “shameful” and “not right” after the England captain announced he was taking a […]

Genge the favourite to take on captaincy from Farrell

30 November 2023 0 comments

Ellis Genge is the favourite to replace Owen Farrell as the next England captain after the fly-half decided to step away from international rugby. Farrell, […]

Farrell to sit out 2024 Six Nations and prioritise wellbeing

29 November 2023 0 comments

England captain Owen Farrell will miss the 2024 Six Nations as he takes a break from international rugby. The news was revealed by his club […]

Enjoy the ultimate Christmas present experience at Twickenham

28 November 2023 0 comments

As the days get colder and darker, many of us have started to focus our minds on Christmas. Christmas is a day that brings warmth, […]

Day Wales played a game of four halves

26 November 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW It’s built beneath the mountain, beneath the coal and clay, It’s where we make the outside halves […]

Surgery rules Curry out of Six Nations

22 November 2023 0 comments

Tom Curry will miss the duration of the Six Nations due to a hip injury that will require surgery. Curry, 25, played an integral part […]

Saracens confirm Earl will be available for Six Nations

21 November 2023 0 comments

Saracens have confirmed that Ben Earl will be available for the Six Nations despite suffering a knee injury in the build-up to their one-sided victory […]

We can’t afford a weak Six Nations

19 November 2023 0 comments

There was a ray of sunshine for the Lions this week when their preparations for the 2025 tour of Australia were given a boost. It […]

King plans Bristol visit to assess Sheedy

12 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Wales will be present at Bristol’s training ground this week to take a look at Callum Sheedy as they assess their outside-half […]

Borthwick begins work building partnership with Premiership

12 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Steve Borthwick is determined to usher in an era of co-operation with the leading clubs and has scrapped a two-day England training […]

England ‘A’ to get first run out since 2016 against Portugal

7 November 2023 0 comments

England ‘A’, formerly known as the Saxons, will play their first match in over seven years when they take on Portugal in February 2024. The […]

Quesada gets set for his ‘magnificent new adventure’

5 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL EDDISON Gonzalo Quesada has been coaching for a decade and a half and is confident now is the perfect time to get his […]

Lions of Europe would be a fine team to watch

5 November 2023 0 comments

A long time ago I concluded that the self-interest of the Six Nations runs so deep, and they are so frightened of rugby advancing elsewhere […]

24-team World Cup, Nations Cup and global calendar confirmed by World Rugby

24 October 2023 0 comments

World Rugby have announced there will be a new international league competition included in a global calendar from 2026, with a 24-team World Cup given […]

‘CVC deal is very bad for rugby’

11 June 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Francis Baron believes that the RFU is in the grip of a crisis which has been fuelled by the CVC Six Nations […]

Prem hoping to avoid Six Nations clashes

11 June 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES London Irish’s demise means the Premiership will be reduced to 10 teams next season and officials are looking to arrange the fixture […]

Wrong to sell the family silver

11 June 2023 1 comment

Francis Baron, former CEO of the RFU, is concerned with rugby’s deal with private equity firm CVC THE CVC ACQUISITION OF 14.3% OF THE SIX […]

Steward calls for red card ‘bunker’

16 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Freddie Steward welcomes the idea of a TMO bunker to help rid the game of unwarranted red cards like the one he received […]

England hit back with win over Italy

16 April 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK England got their U18s Six Nations Festival back on track with a 26-10 victory over Italy. Jonathan Pendlebury’s side lost their opening […]

Give refs more latitude on cards – Skivington

26 March 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Skivington believes referees should be given more latitude over challenges that involve head contact following Freddie Steward’s rescinded red card in […]

Dallaglio calls on Borthwick to pick a leader from pack

26 March 2023 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD England head coach Steve Borthwick has been urged to change his position over the England captaincy and give Ellis Genge a fresh […]

All eyes turn to the World Cup

26 March 2023 1 comment

Paul Rees sees the championship go to form with Ireland and France leading the way The Six Nations was for the second successive year decided […]

Series 2 Episode 11 – Ireland Grand Slam Glory with Willie John McBride

20 March 2023 0 comments

Congratulations to Ireland, who secured a deserved Grand Slam against England at on St Patrick’s day weekend – we can only imagine how the party […]

‘Steward red was not right’

19 March 2023 2 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Dublin Ellis Genge leapt to the defence of Freddie Steward after the full-back’s red card put England on the back foot […]

Gatland: We showed some real character out there

19 March 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Warren Gatland finally believes he has got something to build on after watching his side plunder four tries against one of the […]

Townsend poised to carry on

19 March 2023 0 comments

Gregor Townsend expects his future as Scotland head coach to be decided “soon” after revealing he has held initial talks about staying on beyond the […]

A party for the ages as Sexton brings Grand Slam joy to Ireland

19 March 2023 1 comment

By NICK CAIN Ireland…………………………. 29pts Tries: Sheehan 33, 68; Robbie Henshaw 62, Herring 77 Conversions: Sexton 35, 63, 70 Penalties: Sexton 19 England………………………….16pts Tries: George […]

Better, yes, but there’s still a long way to go…

19 March 2023 0 comments

PAUL REES A red letter day for Ireland who achieved a first Grand Slam victory in Dublin after a red card for Freddie Steward at […]

Au revoir! French requiem for old warrior

19 March 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON France……………………………41pts Tries: Penaud 10, 77; Danty 34, Atonio 44, Fickou 49 Conversions: Ramos 12, 35, 45, 50, 78 Penalties: Ramos 26, 30 […]

Scotland finish as best of the rest

19 March 2023 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Scotland ……………………… 26pts Tries: van der Merwe 13, Kinghorn 30, 44, 80+1 Conversions: Kinghorn 31, 46, 80+2 Italy……………………………….14pts Tries: Allan 62 Penalties: […]

Ritchie: I was never worried

19 March 2023 1 comment

Captain Jamie Ritchie insisted he wasn’t worried about defeat despite Italy being camped in their 22 late on. “We were confident in our defence and […]

Winless Wales know they will have to be at their best

19 March 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW… France v Wales Today. Kick-off 8pm, Stade Charles-Mathon France enter their final Six Nations fixture in a must-win situation if they […]

England on a mission to wreck Irish party

19 March 2023 0 comments

By CAM STEPHENS Ireland v England PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 5pm, Musgrave Park Ireland have the chance to become the first U20s side to win back-to-back […]

We need to cut out the basic errors, says Murray

19 March 2023 3 comments

By CAM STEPHENS PREVIEW… Scotland v Italy Today. Kick-off 2pm, Scotstoun Starter at 10: Scotland fly-half Richie Simpson Bragging rights are on the line in […]

Scotland 7-22 Ireland: Player ratings from Murrayfield

12 March 2023 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock, Assistant Editor at Murrayfield Despite a valiant first half performance from hosts Scotland, Ireland underlined their Grand Slam credentials yet again with […]

Ireland pull away to maintain Grand Slam charge

12 March 2023 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock, Assistant Editor at Murrayfield Scotland………………………………..7 Tries: Jones 16 Conversions: Russell 17 Ireland………………………………….22 Tries: Hansen 27, Lowe 56, Conan 61 Conversions: Sexton 57, […]

England’s historic humbling

12 March 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD at Twickenham Ellis Genge attempted desperately to rally England’s battered, bowed and bewildered troops after being taught a “painful lesson” by the […]

Cueto: Farrell’s the man for World Cup

12 March 2023 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Mark Cueto believes England have mistimed their transition from Owen Farrell to Marcus Smith at fly-half, backing the former as the best […]

Magnificent France run riot to destroy dreadful England

12 March 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN at Twickenham England ………………………… 10pts Tries: Steward 48 Conversions: Smith 49 Penalties: Smith 34 France………………………….. 53pts Tries: Ramos 2, Flament 26, 57, […]

There’s no quick fix for England’s woes

12 March 2023 1 comment

PAUL REES England picked a team to pull France from one side of the field to the other and so tire them out so that, […]

At last! Webb steps up to give Wales something to celebrate

12 March 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Italy………………………………. 17pts Tries: Negri 42, Brex 67 Conversions: Allan 43, 67 Penalties: Allan 15 Wales…………………………… 29pts Tries: Dyer 8, L Williams 17, […]

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 […]