Club Rugby

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

Exeter Chiefs’ Ben Coen aiming to hit the heights

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Mark Stevens To become the ultimate leader in any sport, you need to learn from the best. The greatest players and captains don’t just […]

Northampton Saints boss calls for salary cap to be lowered

16 March 2025 0 comments

Northampton Saints chief executive Julia Chapman says the Premiership’s salary cap must be lowered again if the game is to become profitable. The cap – […]

Prem Rugby Cup Final Preview: Ruaridh McConnochie’s on a mission

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Match Preview – Exeter v Bath Ruaridh McConnochie insists Bath will be winners this weekend even if they don’t lift the Premiership […]

We’ll have this time, fire in the belly admits Roots

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By PAUL REES In the mood: Ethan Roots in action for Chiefs IT was 11 years ago today that Exeter won their first major trophy […]

PWR Final Preview: Sean Lynn’s hoping for fantastic farewell with Gloucester-Hartpury

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Gloucester–Hartpury have the chance to send boss Sean Lynn off with a perfect farewell as they chase an unprecedented hat-trick of consecutive […]

Cameron hat-trick decisive as Park hold edge

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By RHYS STRATTON Rosslyn Park ..29 B Moseley …….22 ROSSLYN Park held off a late charge by Moseley to secure a bonus-point win. The visitors […]

It’s many happy returns for Luckas

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By DAVID BEDDOWS Rotherham T ………38 Sedgley Park ……..29 WINGER Luckas Sableman-Blue marked his return to Rotherham Titans with a try as the promotion contenders […]

Half-century Sale celebrate success

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By GARETH DANIELS Harry G Sale FC…………………54 Dings Crusaders ..38 SALE notched up a half-century of points to beat Dings in a high-scoring encounter. The […]

Lions take a large leap to securing survival

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By JOE SANTAMARIA Esher ……………… 15pts Tries: Vajner 15, Walters 48 Conversion: Morley 49 Penalty: Morley 38 Leicester Lions…26pts Tries: Allen 24, 33; Crowley 36, […]

In-form Josh playing it Smart to inspire the hosts

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By GRAHAM COX Blackheath …………39 Rams ……………………33 THIS was a breathless encounter with an undercurrent of molten lava that threatened to erupt at any moment, […]

Smith treble does so much damage

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By JEAN BULL Darlington MP……. 12 Bishop’s S……………. 41 DARLINGTON Mowden Park were looking to bounce back from their heavy loss at Leicester against another […]

Magnificent Mond are just too strong

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By TIMOTHY FORRESTER Richmond…………….54 Plymouth A…………….0 TOP-of-the-table Richmond put in a real statement performance in beating a shell-shocked Plymouth Albion by eight tries to nil. […]

Bills land big shock as Lymm downed at home

16 March 2025 0 comments

■ By ETHAN BENTS Lymm……………..22 Billingham…….35 STRUGGLERS Billingham claimed a surprise victory over high flyers Lymm at Crouchley Lane. Billingham were rock bottom going into […]

Verity magic turns bruising contest

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By TOM KELLY Preston G…………….. 15 Wharfedale………… 19 IN A bruising encounter at Lightfoot Green, Wharfdale scraped to a narrow win over Preston Grasshoppers in […]

Tigers show the fight to beat drop

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield Tigers….38 Otley……………………..23 A BONUS point win for Sheffield Tigers eased their relegation jitters in an incident-packed game at Dore Moor. A […]

Tykes forwards and ref’s whistle defeat Chester

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By DESMOND HICKIE Chester………………… 26 Leeds Tykes……….. 41 THIS was a match of contrasts, with the first-half exciting and hotly contested, with the lead changing […]

Harrogate hopes left in balance after loss

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By MARK GARRETT Steal: Tynedale with a critical turnover and, below, Tynedale scrum-half James Telford clearing the ruck PICTURES: Daniel Kerr Harrogate………. 31pts Tynedale………..33pts IT […]

Ally’s Hoppers ready to make a big leap and climb higher

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By GEORGE WELLBELOVE Preston Grasshoppers captain Ally Murray ONE-club man Ally Murray has had a rugby career that most locals would only dream of. The […]

Ionians no match for Sheffield steel

16 March 2025 0 comments

By BRIAN NORMAN Hull Ionians………….. 6 S heffield………………45 SHEFFIELD dominated every facet of play to run out comfortable winners by seven tries to nil. Their […]

Fylde in dominant win as cards fly

16 March 2025 0 comments

By WILL JUDD Fylde…………………….35 Hull………………………. 13 FYLDE proved far too strong for Hull, cruising to a dominant win. Things opened brightly for the visitors, Fynlay […]

Forwards push Park over line as Barnes struggle

16 March 2025 0 comments

By JOHN VALLELY Westcombe P.24 Barnes…………… 19 WESTCOMBE Park’s powerful pack returned the Kent side to winning ways in a tight battle at Goddington Dene. […]

Brave fightback fails after poor half

16 March 2025 0 comments

By MO SHER Bury St Edmunds..38 Canterbury…………..40 A FIRST half in which they conceded 31 points cost Bury dear after a stirring second-half comeback fell […]

Injury mars fine Oaks comeback

16 March 2025 0 comments

By ED MARRIAGE Colchester…………..23 Sevenoaks…………..27 SEVENOAKS staged a storming second-half fightback to win a thrilling match against relegation rivals Colchester. Oaks drew first blood through […]

McRae grabs four as Dorking run riot in thrashing

16 March 2025 0 comments

By KEVIN BEAL Dorking…………………65 Worthing……………… 12 DORKING outscored Worthing Raiders by 11 tries to two, with the visitors overpowered in all departments. Toby McRae bagged […]

Quins rue lack of clinical edge as Ciaran runs riot

16 March 2025 0 comments

By HAMISH OGILVY Oxford H………… 34pts Guernsey………. 49pts Safe hands: Guernsey lineout and, right, John Hughes tackling Guernsey full-back Callum Roberts PICTURES: Les Gordon BOTH […]

Jones holds his nerve to steal win

16 March 2025 0 comments

By RICHARD HOMER Old Albanians……..29 Tonbridge J…………28 OLD Albanians pulled off a well-deserved win to inflict back-to-back defeats on the league leaders and dent their […]

Havant misery as Henley hang on

16 March 2025 0 comments

By ALISTAIR BEYNON Henley…………………. 20 Havant…………………. 13 HENLEY Hawks came out on top over a spirited Havant side in a tough, attritional contest. In truth, […]

There’s no doubting Thomas as Fogerty bags brace

16 March 2025 0 comments

By RORY MORROW O Redcliffians.45 Bournville…….. 20 OLD Redcliffians earned maximum points as they swept aside Bournville, with scrum-half Thomas Fogerty scoring a double. Initially, […]

Rowe scores four but is still a loser!

16 March 2025 0 comments

By ROGER OPIE Clifton…………………..60 Loughborough S….36 PERFECT conditions for running rugby set the scene for a high-tempo 16-try fest. The students trailed Clifton by only […]

On-song Oliver is at heart of victory

16 March 2025 0 comments

By JOSH THOMAS Devonport S…………24 Taunton Titans…..43 TAUNTON claimed their first win in three after beating Devonport. The Titans grabbed the first try through Oliver […]

Macc at their very best in top win

16 March 2025 0 comments

By DAVID WILKINSON Macclesfield…. 31pts Redruth………….. 14pts Flyer: Macclesfield’s Harry Oliver evades the tackle on his way to scoring a try PICTURES: Dennis Dixon MAGIC […]

Vickery hat-trick holds the key in Hornet triumph

16 March 2025 0 comments

By NIGEL WILCE Cinderford…………… 20 Hornets…………………26 HORNETS emerged as deserving winners at the Beavis Memorial Ground over an out-ofsorts Cinderford team, with Corey Baker pulling […]

Early scare can’t halt hosts Hinckley

16 March 2025 0 comments

By VICKY MACQUEEN Hinckley………………48 Exeter Uni…………….38 HINCKLEY recovered from an early Exeter scare to emerge victorious. The students flew out of the blocks with two […]

Heroic defence is suitably rewarded

16 March 2025 0 comments

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians…………..25 Camborne……………. 17 IF in life you are looking for heroes, then this performance by the home side was nothing short of […]

Byrne’s staying at Bristol

16 March 2025 0 comments

BRISTOL have extended four-cap Ireland fly-half Harry Byrne’s loan from Leinster until the end of the season. The 25-yearold has made six appearances since joining […]

Louw agrees deal with Sale

16 March 2025 0 comments

SALE Sharks have signed South African centre Marius Louw on a two-year deal from the Lions. Louw, 29, said: “It’s such a prestigious club with […]