Six Nations

Cole’s wife gave him green light to carry on

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Dan Cole is gunning for Six Nations glory after revealing he got permission from his missus to continue his Test career after […]

Joe puts his faith in Martin to impress

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL MARTIN Joe Launchbury has backed the returning George Martin to make an instant impact in England’s Six Nations campaign. The Leicester forward, 22, […]

O’Shea wants more England A fixtures

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Twickenham is looking to arrange up to four England A fixtures in the coming years following the resurrection of the side this […]

Assiratti goes from novice to mainstay

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE A year ago Keiron Assiratti was wondering how he could prop up his family, never mind the Welsh scrum. Yet this weekend […]

Moody: Ireland hold the aces

18 February 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Lewis Moody still harbours doubts that England are ready to lift the Six Nations crown despite a confident and promising start to […]

England A told: Play what’s in front of you

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES England A will not be a replica of the senior side when they face Portugal at Welford Road next Sunday. Attack coach […]

Dutch and Germans proving their worth

18 February 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Round Three of the Rugby Europe championship concludes in Amsterdam this afternoon […]

England and Bristol Bears scrum-half Harry Randall

Five capped players named in England A squad

15 February 2024 0 comments

England have named five capped internationals in their ‘A’ squad to face Portugal on 25th February. Jamie Blamire, Nick Isiekwe, Tom Pearson, Harry Randall and […]

Tuilagi, Martin and Cowan-Dickie return to England squad

14 February 2024 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi, George Martin and Luke Cowan-Dickie have all returned to the England squad in preparation for their round three match against Scotland. The trio […]

Series 3, Episode 24: Round Two controversy with Peter Winterbottom

13 February 2024 0 comments

The second round of the 2024 Six Nations was marred by refereeing controversy, most notably TMO Brian MacNeice and referee Nic Berry not awarding a […]

Ireland’s sole focus is Wales – Conan

13 February 2024 0 comments

Ireland back row Jack Conan says his side’s focus “will be all about Wales” in the next fortnight with no danger of the reigning champions […]

Earl backing England temperament to help “right the wrongs” against Scots

13 February 2024 0 comments

Ben Earl has praised England’s improved ability to bounce back from pressure situations which he feels will stand them in good stead to end a […]

Ireland breeze past Italy to return to top of the table

11 February 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Ireland……………………………………..36 Tries: Crowley 7, Sheehan 24, 50; Conan 37, Lowe 62, Nash 78 Conversions: Crowley 25, 38; Byrne 79 Italy…………………………………………0 Ireland scored […]

We’re not far off the top teams – George

11 February 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY AT TWICKENHAM Skipper Jamie George claimed his England side were not a million miles off the top teams in the Six Nations […]

Townsend stunned by TMO decision

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER AT MURRAYFIELD Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend vented his frustration after his side were denied what he felt should have been a […]

Williams sets his sights on Wales return

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Liam Williams has left the door open on a return to the Test scene for Wales’ summer tour of Australia but faces […]

Once again, England escape to victory

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By NICK CAIN at Twickenham England ………………………… 16pts Tries: Earl 20, Dingwall 63 Penalties: Ford 48, 72 Wales…………………………….14pts Tries: Penalty 17, Mann […]

Are England in transition? Not really, and they should be kicking on purposefully

11 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Two very average teams produced a pretty sub par Test match in front of an intermittently mute Twickenham crowd with the volume only […]

Scotland heartbreak after TMO has the final word in late drama

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By BRYN PALMER Scotland ………………………. 16pts Tries: White 7 Conversions: Russell 9 Penalties: Russell 22, 30, 58 France……………………………20pts Tries: Fickou 31, Bielle-Biarrey […]

Russell: For me, that was a try at the end

11 February 2024 0 comments

Finn Russell felt Scotland were on the end of a wrong decision at the death of their defeat to France, but refused to directly criticise […]

That was a try – but the record will not reflect it

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 BRENDAN GALLAGHER THERE is a three-volume book to be written on false dawns, shattered dreams and broken hearts in Scottish rugby and […]

This Irish dynasty will keep on going

11 February 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WAS the speed of the Irish recovery after the World Cup surprising? No, because I don’t call it […]

Italy need to stay in the game – if they can

11 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW…Ireland vs Italy (Today. Kick-off 3pm, Aviva Stadium) DUBLIN has been anything other than a fair city for Italy in the last […]

Enough! No more ref chat

11 February 2024 0 comments

When is the incessant yapping between players and referees going to end? These appeals and “consultations” are becoming a blight at the professional end of […]

Second half revival gives Scots hope

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS U20S 2024 By SAM JACKSON Scotland ……….. 14pts Tries: Lock 52, Blyth-Lafferty 59 Conversions: Coates 53, 60 France…………….29pts Tries: Mousques 13, Bosmorin 19, […]

Battling England’s power is too much for Wales

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK England ……………………… 28pts Tries: Wills 10, McParland 15, Jones 29, Kirk 73 Conversion: Bellamy 74 Penalties: Taylor 45, Bellamy 59 Wales……………………………. 7pts […]

Sharp Italy push Ireland all the way

11 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL WILKINS Ireland………… 23pts Tries: O’Connell 20, O’Connor 28, Edogbo 73 Conversions: Murphy 21 Penalties: Murphy 3, 60 Italy…………….. 22pts Tries: Scalabrin 23, 30; […]

Reynolds: It’s fantastic to see George with England

11 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Rams director of rugby Seb Reynolds has praised England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft for his “refreshing” decision to pick George Makepeace-Cubitt […]

Short-term ban means Willemse is evading natural justice

11 February 2024 0 comments

Natural justice is conspicuous by its absence in the union game. Think of the relegation-free protectionism of the Six Nations and the Premiership, or the […]

Farrell’s England career is not over – Hartley

11 February 2024 0 comments

Dylan Hartley believes his successor as England captain Owen Farrell will come back from France a better player and does not think his international career […]

Now watch Dyer take off, says Thomas

11 February 2024 0 comments

By MEGAN ARMITAGE Gareth Thomas is backing Rio Dyer to fill the void left by Louis Rees-Zammit’s shock departure from rugby. The former Wales and […]

England stick, Wales twist for Twickenham test

8 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: England vs Wales (Saturday, 4:45pm) Wales have made seven alterations with England unchanged for Satuday’s crucial contest at Twickenham. The hosts stick with an […]

Scotland call in Darge for defining game against France

8 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Scotland vs France (Saturday, 2:15pm) Scotland have brought in Rory Darge to start ahead of the dropped Jamie Ritchie as they look to set […]

England youngsters look to get on a roll against Wales

8 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: England U20s vs Wales U20s (Friday, 7:15pm) England U20s will be looking to secure back-to-back wins in the Six Nations on Friday night for […]

Series 3, Episode 23: Six Nations latest and remembering Barry John with Jonathan Davies

7 February 2024 0 comments

The opening round of the 2024 Six Nations threw the script out the window as Scotland almost let a 27-point lead slip against Wales, Ireland […]

George demands England front up

4 February 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Stadio Olimpico New England skipper Jamie George laid down the law after England stumbled to a 27-24 win in Italy – […]

Russell relief as Scotland hold on to keep Wales at bay

4 February 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING at Principality Stadium Scotland captain Finn Russell was hugely disappointed with his side’s second-half performance yesterday after Wales nearly pulled off an […]

Dallaglio urges England to win more matches than they lose

4 February 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Lawrence Dallaglio has challenged England to “get some credit” back in the bank by winning more games than they lose in this […]

At last! Freeman and Roots give Borthwick reasons to be cheerful

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By NICK CAIN Italy………………………………. 24pts Tries: A Garbisi 11, Allan 26, Ioane 85 Conversions: Allan 13, 27; P Garbisi 86 Penalties: Allan […]

England look ready to throw off the chains

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 PAUL REES CLOSE yet comfortable summed up a contradictory England performance. Exposed in defence at times, they smothered Italy after the interval, […]

It wasn’t quite Bazball but George’s men did enough to get the job done

4 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER WELL, it wasn’t quite the ‘Bazball’ rugby that Jamie George apparently aspires to – did we really expect things to change overnight? – […]

Scotland hold off amazing Wales revival

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By PETER JACKSON Wales…………………………… 26pts Tries: Botham 47, Dyer 53, Wainwright 60, Mann 68 Conversions: Lloyd 54, 61, 69 Scotland ……………………… 27pts […]

Why you don’t give up on your dreams

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 BRENDAN GALLAGHER It’s been said before but needs reiterating on a regular basis but there is no sporting tournament quite like the […]

RFU double standards alive and well

4 February 2024 0 comments

Surprise, surprise, double standards are alive and well at the RFU. The latest example is the decision is to give a dispensation to Junior Kpoku, […]

France can only watch as Irish put on a show

4 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES France……………………………17pts Tries: Penaud 40, Gabrillagues 53 Conversions: Ramos 42, 53 Penalties: Ramos 27 Ireland…………………………. 38pts Tries: Gibson-Park 16, Beirne 30, Nash 46, […]

That was a must-watch match of real quality

4 February 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT SIX NATIONS 2024 THE Six Nations opener in Marseille between France and Ireland was a really good game of rugby in which the […]

Confident Crowley shows why he deserves the keys to No.10

4 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER SIX NATIONS 2024 Regular readers of The Rugby Paper will recall that I told you a very long time ago that Jack Crowley […]

I didn’t see that coming! France as flat as a crepe…

4 February 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Ireland’s trouncing of France in Marseille – a record Irish win on French soil – trashed most pundits prediction of a Gallic Grand […]

Pollock puts England on the front foot

4 February 2024 0 comments

U20s SIX NATIONS 2024 By NICK POWELL Italy…………………………….. 11pts Tries: Siciliano 67 Penalties: Pucciarello 10, 19 England……………………… 36pts Tries: Pollock 20, 34, 78; Carnduff 40, […]

Morse powers Wales on as Whiffin enjoys a winning start

4 February 2024 0 comments

U20s SIX NATIONS 2024 By BEN JAYCOCK Wales……………..37pts Tries: Anderson 17, Price 28, 71, Morse 32, Ackerman 60, Lewis 76 Conversions: Wilde 32, Ford 72 […]

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