Club Rugby

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

Premiership Team of the Week: Leicester Tigers dominate after East Midlands Derby thrashing

24 March 2025 0 comments

The Premiership returned after the Six Nations with derby weekend, the favourite for most fans in which every game is a must-watch. Lots of exciting rugby was […]

Simon Halliday’s blast: The RFU keeps ignoring the Championship

23 March 2025 1 comment

By Nick Cain Simon Halliday has slammed the proposed loan bail-out for Newcastle Falcons, the Premiership’s basement club, and the continued lockdown on promotion-relegation. Halliday […]

Recruitment freeze as Newcastle Falcons look for £5m

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Newcastle have frozen recruitment until their finances are sorted out with other clubs considering a £5m loan to make sure the Falcons […]

Henry Slade: Exeter Chiefs want to finish with a flourish

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Mark Stevens Henry Slade aims to use the frustrations of missing England’s final two Six Nations matches as fuel for the remainder of the […]

Thomas du Toit’s ready for Afo Fasogbon challenge

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Thomas Du Toit has taken a keen interest in the development of another player who’ll be wearing No.3 today, Gloucester’s 6ft 4ins […]

Marcus Smith will come back bouncing, says Danny Wilson

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Gary Fitzgerald Danny Wilson insists Marcus Smith will “come bouncing back” into The Stoop ready to light up the Premiership and Europe after giving […]

Saracens 12-23 Harlequins: Jamie Benson keeps nerve to kill off Sarries

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Saracens ……………………… 12pts Tries: McFarland 4, Elliott 39 Conversion: Burke 5 Harlequins ………………….. 23pts Tries: Waghorn 60, Porter 78 Conversions: Benson 61, […]

Harlequins boss Danny Wilson: Resting our stars worked

23 March 2025 0 comments

Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson was delighted his decision to rest three returning England squad members paid dividends. “Last season we put too much pressure […]

Bristol Bears 52-38 Exeter Chiefs: Hat-trick for Jack Bates but little to savour

23 March 2025 1 comment

By Paul Rees Bristol Bears ………………. 52pts Tries: Bates 2, 27, 56; Williams 6, 15; van Rensburg 10, Randall 40+2, Luatua 46 Conversions: Slade 6, […]

Rob Baxter planning for next season for Exeter Chiefs

23 March 2025 0 comments

Rob Baxter said Exeter’s second coaching shake-up of the season had nothing to do with the heavy Premiership Cup final defeat to Bath last Sunday. […]

We’ve left ourselves a mountain to climb, admits Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson

23 March 2025 0 comments

Phil Dowson vowed champions Northampton would learn from the “harshest of lessons” dished out by Leicester. “We going to have to have a long hard […]

Northampton Saints 0-33 Leicester Tigers: Spirited Tigers too smart

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Rob Wildman Northampton Saints …….. 0pts Leicester Tigers ………… 33pts Tries: Radwan 4, van Poortvliet 10, Cracknell 13, Clare 75 Conversions: Pollard 10, 75 […]

Newcastle Falcons 15-39 Sale Sharks: George Ford leads from the front for sharp Sale

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Newcastle Falcons ……..15pts Tries: Neild 21, Palframan 80 Conversion: Connon 22 Penalty: Connon 32 Sale Sharks ………………… 39pts Tries: Rodd 9, R […]

Steve Diamond: That was not good enough

23 March 2025 0 comments

Newcastle chief Steve Diamond had a face like thunder and insisted the off-field issues reported earlier in the week “gave no excuses”. If new investment […]

Bath vs Gloucester: Seb Atkinson keen to get it right against Bath

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe PREVIEW… Bath v Gloucester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Recreation Ground Seb Atkinson says Gloucester will look to take inspiration from Bristol’s 36-26 win […]

Injuries to big names won’t stop Bath, says Johann van Graan

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Johann van Graan has batted away suggestions that Premiership leaders Bath will have to adapt their power-based game plan after losing Ollie […]

Rob Baxter puts his faith in England U20s stars for Exeter Chiefs

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Rob Baxter expects the seven Exeter players who were involved in England’s recent Under-20 Six Nations campaign to be pressing for first-team […]

Ambitious Will Porter keen to show he deserves to start for Harlequins

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Gary Fitzgerald Will Porter is dreaming of following some of his team-mates on the senior international stage. But the scrum-half admits he first needs […]

United Rugby Championship: Super-sub Scott Wilson grabs late winner for Ulster

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Dragons …………30pts Tries: Owen 1, Anderson 20, Williams 34 Conversions: Reed 1, 21, 35 Penalties: Reed 14, 47, 63 Ulster …………… 34pts […]

United Rugby Championship: Stormers too good for gallant Scarlets

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Roger Panting Scarlets ………… 17pts Tries: Mee 29, Nicholas 48 Conversions: Lloyd 29, 48 Penalty: Lloyd 68 Stormers ………..29pts Tries: Loader 13, Fourie 16, […]

United Rugby Championship: Ospreys hold on in ‘crazy match’ against Connacht

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Ospreys ……………………….. 43pts Tries: Giles 16, 32; Hardy 34, Kasende 36, 57; Walsh 44 Conversions: Edwards 17, 33, 35, 37, 45 Penalty: […]

United Rugby Championship: Harri Millard snatches it for Cardiff

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Roger Panting Cardiff ……………20pts Tries: Donnell 21, Millard 63 Conversions: Sheedy 21, 63 Penalties: Sheedy 31, 50 Lions………………. 17pts Tries: Ntlabakanye 11, F Horn […]

United Rugby Championship: Slack Edinburgh let it slip

23 March 2025 0 comments

Benetton………. 21 Edinburgh…….. 18 By Bryn Palmer Edinburgh’s play-off prospects were dealt a major blow by Alessandro Izekor’s late breakaway try to move the Italians […]

United Rugby Championship: David Kriel hits the target for Bulls

23 March 2025 0 comments

Bulls……………… 21 Leinster…………20 By Sam Jackson David Kriel’s last-gasp penalty ended Leinster’s unbeaten URC record as the Bulls edged a tight contest in Pretoria. From […]

United Rugby Championship: Glasgow Warriors have to dig deep against Munster

23 March 2025 0 comments

Glasgow………..28 Munster………..25 By Bryn Palmer Glasgow remain on track for a home quarter-final playoff but had to dig deep from 25-14 down with 15 minutes […]

United Rugby Championship: Siya Kolisi double sees Sharks edge past Zebre in thriller

23 March 2025 0 comments

Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi scored two tries as the Sharks edged a nine-try thriller at Kings Park. Kolisi finished off several forward drives to open […]

Three PWR titles in a row makes fine finale for Sean Lynn at Gloucester-Hartpury

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Zoe Aldcroft hailed her trailblazers after Gloucester-Hartpury secured an unprecedented ‘three-peat’ last Sunday to wave legendary head coach Sean Lynn off in […]

Michael Cheika determined to leave Leicester Tigers on a high

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Michael Cheika is determined to leave Leicester on a high having decided not to extend his one-year contract with the club. Cheika, […]

Cornish Pirates flex muscles to put London Scottish on back foot

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Mark Stevens C Pirates ……….. 41pts Tries: Trewin 9, 35, Agbongbon 28, Moody 42, 49, Hiscocks 62 Conversions: Houston 10, 29, 36, 63 Penalty: […]

Ampthill take some time to get into their stride against Nottingham

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Ben White Ampthill ………. 43pts Tries: Marshall 9, 30; Barton 15, Mapapalangi 24, McNulty 69, Penalty 78 Conversions: Barton 16, 25, 31, 70 Penalty: […]

Hartpury 29-26 Bedford Blues: That was a step back for us, says Joey Conway

23 March 2025 0 comments

By William Bull Hartpury ………………………. 29pts Tries: Davies 2, Austin 16, 37; Holliday 50 Conversions: Bazalgette 3, 17, 51 Penalty: Bazalgette 13 Bedford ……………………….. 26pts […]

Jubilant Doncaster Knights do double over Ealing Trailfinders

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Guy Williams Doncaster ……… 20pts Tries: Holden 30, Mulipola 52 Conversions: Dolly 30, 52 Penalties: Dolly 68, 77 Ealing …………….. 18pts Tries: Kernohan 40, […]

Morgan Passman in place to steal it for Chinnor in a thriller

23 March 2025 0 comments

Caldy …………. Tries: Robinson 33, Bedlow 66 Conversions: Barker 33, 77 Penalties: Barker 10, 39, 54 Chinnor ………… 24pts Tries: Goss 12, Hughes 57, Passman […]

Jordan Poole at the double as Coventry knock off the rust

23 March 2025 0 comments

Coventry ………. 4 Tries: Poole 2, 22; Henry 12, Morris 17, Barton 40, Hutler 48, Ma’asi 71 Conversions: Mathews 2, 22, 40, 71 Cambridge …….33pts […]

Sale maul Lions and survive a dogged fightback

23 March 2025 0 comments

■By HOLLY DAISY Leicester L …… 31 Sale FC…………..37 SALE held off a second-half fightback from the Leicester Lions to secure a bonus point victory. […]

Richmond show their class in romp

23 March 2025 0 comments

■By JOE BARNES TAYLOR Sedgley Park ……..26 Richmond …………… 50 LEAGUE leaders Richmond handed Sedgeley Park a second-half beating at Park Lane. The visitors’ upfront […]

No sympathy as Darlo crushed

23 March 2025 0 comments

■By JON MEADOWS B Moseley …………..69 Darlington MP …….14 WITH their relegation from National One confirmed, it was a depleted Darlington squad that travelled to […]

Rosslyn make Albion pay in second-half comeback

23 March 2025 0 comments

■By PADDY MARSH Plymouth A ….. 24pts Rosslyn Park …30pts Tries: Williams 16, Boughton 40, Hill 65 Conversions: Putt 16, 40, Eastgate 65 Penalty: Putt […]

Bishop’s pack lead the way as Esher flounder

23 March 2025 0 comments

■By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S ……………52 Esher ……………………28 BISHOP’S Stortford’s powerful pack proved the difference as they took advantage of some sloppy Esher defending to […]

Blackheath ease to convincing win

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy BAZ JOHNSON Dings Crusaders…26 Blackheath………….43 A POOR start for the visitors, kicking the ball dead from the start, was probably the only error they […]

Sensational Rams down the Titans

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy RICHARD ASHTON Rams…………………….30 Rotherham T………. 19 A SENSATIONAL Rams’ performance saw the hosts stun second-placed Rotherham Titans in an againstthe-odds 30-19 bonus-point victory at […]

Minikin makes the hosts pay for slow start

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale……….28 Hull Ionians…..33 TYNEDALE paid the price for a woeful first half, and although they improved in the second period, they left […]

Dale celebrate a magnificent seven

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy EDWIN WILLIAMS Wharfedale……….. 44 Lymm……………………27 WHARFEDALE scored a magnificent seven tries to beat Lymm in a cracking encounter. There was some fast open rugby […]

Ross is top of the Bill with a late try

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy MIKE BROWN Billingham…………..29 Chester…………………23 BILLINGHAM secured a dramatic victory after a tense and thrilling encounter. Chester started the game in frantic style, with Richard […]

Archer on target as the Tigers triumph

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy RICHARD GORE Hull…………………. 21pts Sheffield T……..29pts SHEFFIELD Tigers took the honours in a clash between two teams attempting to move away from the bottom […]

Pack takes the Tykes forward in promotion bid

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy BEN CROPPER Leeds Tykes………..35 Fylde……………………. 15 LEEDS Tykes took a giant step towards their promotion target with a forward-orientated win over a resilient Fylde. […]

Maycock’s magic is key for Gate

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy NICK DOYLE Otley…………………….. 17 Harrogate…………….24 HARROGATE secured the bonus-point win in the first half, taking them out of the immediate relegation zone. Otley started […]

In-form Fisher is the hat-trick hero

23 March 2025 0 comments

nBy MIKE PILLBEAN Sheffield………………40 Preston G…………….. 18 SHEFFIELD turned on the style in difficult conditions to grab yet another five-point win at home. It was […]

Coach thanks crowd for lifting Havant over line

23 March 2025 0 comments

■By PETE MAYHEAD Havant…………….25pts Oxford H…………. 19pts Holding firm: Havant’s Will Perry fighting for a cross field kick against Quins Harry Davies and, right, Havant’s […]

Heartache for Barnes after late penalty drama

23 March 2025 0 comments

■By MICHAEL WHITFIELD Barnes………………….24 Old Albanians……..26 IN a cracking open game played partially in an electrical storm, OAs deservedly won 24-26 although Barnes had a […]

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