Features

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

Dream Team – Come Joussain

23 March 2025 0 comments

COME JOUSSAIN, THE LEICESTER AND FORMER NOTTINGHAM, STADE FRANCAIS & CARCASSONNE LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. Nicky […]

England’s freedom fighters on the march for British and Irish Lions honours

23 March 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks back at the winners and losers in this year’s Six Nations and who will make it to be a 2025 Lion England […]

ISAAC KELLER

23 March 2025 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS NEWCASTLE FALCONS PROP Isaac Keller has a checklist of achievements he wants to make in the game over the next 12 months. Germany-born […]

I’ve really loved my 15 years as a professional

23 March 2025 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER SCARLETS, LONDON IRISH, CARDIFF, MONT-DE-MARSAN & EALING FLY-HALF/CENTRE WHO IS NOW PLAYING IN LEVEL 5 WITH LONDON WELSH STEVEN SHINGLER […]

Drovers run riot to seal Cup win

23 March 2025 0 comments

Welsh Rugby Super Rygbi Cymru round-up By CARL FIELD LLANDOVERY added another piece of silverware to the trophy cabinet at Church Bank where they defeated […]

Merthyr closing in at the top

23 March 2025 0 comments

Premiership round-up MERTHYR struck what could be a crucial blow in the Welsh Premiership title race after triumphing 33-19 at leaders Pontypridd. It moves the […]

Thomas: I’ll work hard

23 March 2025 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS WALES U20s star Harry Thomas says he and his triumphant team-mates need to be playing rugby week-in, week-out. The 19-year-old Scarlets hooker […]

BRITISH RESULTS AND FIXTURES

23 March 2025 0 comments

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PODCAST (S4, E27): Six Nations 2025 Review and picking our British & Irish Lions XV

18 March 2025 0 comments

What a Super Saturday to close what’s been a truly fantastic edition of the Six Nations! Drama, superb tries and headlines typified what’s been two […]

Matthew Tait Should I have focused on one position? I don’t know

16 March 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks back at Mathew Tait’s career and finds out how he – and his family – are now living and working in Dubai […]

Dream Team – Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas

16 March 2025 0 comments

OSKAR HIRSKYJ-DOUGLAS, THE BLACKHEATH AND FORMER WASPS, HENLEY HAWKS, CHINNOR, ENGLAND SEVENS, LOUGHBOROUGH, BEDFORD AND SALE FC CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED […]

Final laps for the Premiership wacky races

16 March 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees says that player welfare is taking a back seat as the Premiership prepares to resume this weekend So much for player welfare. Six […]

I joined in with La Marseillaise, but quietly – Florent Rossigneux

16 March 2025 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE FORMER RACING 92, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY, STADE FRANCAIS, RICHMOND, WASPS, BEDFORD & LONDON WELSH BACK-ROWER FLORENT ROSSIGNEUX As a player, you […]

Young Guns – Kepu Tuipulotu

16 March 2025 0 comments

Young Guns – England U20 & Bath hooker Kepu Tuipulotu could have played for Wales, Tonga or England but committed himself to the Red Rose […]

PODCAST (S4, E26): France target Six Nations title and Wales target England scalp with Alex Cuthbert

12 March 2025 0 comments

After a cracking weekend of rugby in which the championship tilted in French favour following their stunning win in Dublin, Ollie Little, Brendan Gallagher and […]

Dream Team – Josh McNally

9 March 2025 0 comments

Josh McNally, the Cardiff, RAF and former England, Bath, London Irish, London Welsh & Henley lock, chooses the best XV he has played with or […]

Josh Matavesi: I just loved sport, it was my get-out, my freedom

9 March 2025 0 comments

The former Fiji, Exeter, Racing 92, Worcester, Ospreys, Newcastle, Bath & Toyota Shokki Shuttles centre/fly-half Josh Matavesi For the last season and a half I’ve […]

Young Guns – Jos Gilmore

9 March 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Jos Gilmore has enjoyed imitating Sale Sharks’ opposition during midweek training but is now desperate for first team opportunities of his own. […]

PODCAST (S4, E25): Louis Lynagh on life in Italian Rugby and Six Nations Round Four!

5 March 2025 0 comments

A slightly new dynamic for you all today – host Ollie Little has given the columnists the week off! He is joined by Italy, Benetton […]

Dream Team – Dan Pullinger

2 March 2025 0 comments

Dan Pullinger, the long-serving Plymouth Albion and former Exeter and England counties prop, who is celebrating a testimonial this year, chooses the best XV he […]

Time to put foot down and let the turbo kick in

2 March 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks back on England’s performances so far and says they should take the hand brake off and race ahead WIN or lose, England’s […]

Exeter Chiefs close to deal for Wallaby midfielder Len Ikitau

2 March 2025 0 comments

Exeter look set to sign Australia centre Len Ikitau. The 26-year-old, alongside fellow Wallabies Jake Gordon and Julian Heaven, have been linked with a move […]

Blackheath’s James Shanahan – After seven years, it’s time for new challenge

2 March 2025 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to James Shanahan about his time as Blackheath coach and his move to Bury St Edmunds When James Shanahan says his seven-year […]

When Ireland’s warriors sent French packing

2 March 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher With eight wins against France since 2014, it’s sometimes difficult […]

Looking good! Ma’a Nonu could play again at 42

2 March 2025 0 comments

You learn not to make too many grandiose statistical claims in this business because there is always somebody or something you have forgotten but over […]

Now Philippines added to list of honour for the Varsity

2 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Back in the day, the Varsity Match on the second Tuesday in December was virtually an England trial game and often went […]

Ireland vs France – When two tribes prepare for war

2 March 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees says Saturday’s heavyweight clash between Ireland and France could be the match of the Six Nations The Six Nations threatened to come down […]

Moscow blizzards did not stop my Lions tour

2 March 2025 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER IRELAND, LIONS, SARACENS, MUNSTER & GARRYOWEN WINGER RICHARD WALLACE I WAS in Moscow of all places when I finally got […]

Young Guns – George Pearson

2 March 2025 0 comments

Tigers back three player George Pearson made his England U20s bow by scoring a try in last week’s win over Scotland. Pearson, the younger brother […]

Japan Rugby League One

2 March 2025 0 comments

BRAVE Lupus are within a point of leaders Wild Knights – who are in action today against Kobelco Steelers – with Richie Mo’unga among the […]

PODCAST (S4, E24): England regain Calcutta Cup, Wales show signs of life & France flourish in Rome, with Nick Heath

25 February 2025 0 comments

Three fixtures told three hugely different stories in the third round of the 2025 Six Nations. Ireland held off a promising performance from Wales, England […]

Ryan Lamb’s backing pair of 10s to be England aces

23 February 2025 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to the Plymouth coach who says Fin and Marcus Smith will be in charge for the next two World Cups Ryan Lamb […]

Dream Team – Alun Walker

23 February 2025 0 comments

ALUN WALKER, THE CHINNOR AND FORMER EDINBURGH, NOTTINGHAM, EALING & NEWCASTLE HOOKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Brett Wilkinson – […]

After delivering one miracle, a second proved impossible for Warren Gatland

23 February 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees says Gatland should be remembered for his remarkable achievements, not his second-term failings Timing is everything in sport, on and off the field. […]

It’s all adding up nicely for Steve Borthwick, says Chris Ashton

23 February 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to the former England winger who says the team’s age profile is looking good to challenge in RWC 2027 Chris Ashton believes […]

My Life in Rugby – Mike Hamlin

23 February 2025 1 comment

MIKE HAMLIN THE FORMER GLOUCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, SOUTH WEST AND ENGLAND B FLY-HALF I was born in Gloucester and grew up in Coney Hill, only a […]

Young Guns – Josh Mann

23 February 2025 0 comments

Beefy prop Josh Mann is using Asher Opoku-Fordjour’s rise to Test level as an inspiration for his own journey inside the England pathway having joined […]

Max Clark signs on for rest of season at Newcastle Falcons

23 February 2025 0 comments

Newcastle have extended centre Max Clark’s short-term loan to keep him at the club until the end of the season. The 29-year-old centre arrived from […]

PODCAST (S4, E23): Calcutta Cup and Six Nations R3 Preview with Scotland Great Craig Chalmers

19 February 2025 0 comments

It’s almost time for the third round of the 2025 Six Nations, and the headline fixture of the weekend takes place at Twickenham as England […]

Dream Team – Lee Dickson

16 February 2025 0 comments

LEE DICKSON, THE FORMER ENGLAND, NORTHAMPTON & NEWCASTLE SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. Sione Tonga’uiha – An […]

Felipe Contepomi – It will be an honour for Argentina to take on the British & Irish Lions

16 February 2025 0 comments

Joe Santamaria talks to Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi about the challenges of a tour by England – and the Lions The European teams are in […]

Josh McNally – Too tall to be a pilot, I found lift-off in rugby

16 February 2025 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to Josh McNally who says that, without the RAF, he would not have achieved anything in the game High flier: Josh McNally, […]

Two X-Factor players, one goal

16 February 2025 0 comments

PAUL REES SAYS ENGLAND’S NO.10 JERSEY WILL BE FIN SMITH’S FOR SOME TIME BUT MARCUS STILL HAS KEY ROLE TO PLAY IT WAS hard not […]

I don’t think I could have asked for a better finale

16 February 2025 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY CHARLIE HODGSON THE FORMER BRITISH & IRISH LIONS, ENGLAND, SALE SHARKS & SARACENS FLY-HALF MY playing career wasn’t always rosy – I […]

Young Guns – Noah Caluori

16 February 2025 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS SARACENS & ENGLAND U20 WING Noah Caluori’s try for England U18s sent the teenage sensation viral last year and he hopes to continue […]

PODCAST (S4, E22): Warren Gatland goes and England sink France with Jamie Noon

11 February 2025 0 comments

A weekend full of statement wins and in the aftermath, a mid-tournament coaching departure. Join the guys to review how England got the job done […]

Dream Team – Joe Snow

9 February 2025 0 comments

JOE SNOW, THE FORMER EXETER, COVENTRY & TAUNTON SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. Alec Hepburn – His […]

England must keep believing

9 February 2025 0 comments

>> PAUL REES LOOKS AT WHY STEVE BORTHWICK’S MEN KEEP FAILING TO GRASP THE NETTLE – AND SAYS IT IS NOTHING NEW DAVID Campese is […]

Chris Lilley – I did fulfuil my dream of playing at Twickenham

9 February 2025 0 comments

My Life In Rugby – Chris Lilley, the former Bath & Somerset prop My biggest claim to fame is I got Bath through to their […]

Scotland vs Ireland – The rivalry which is a little one-sided

9 February 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher The history books tell us that Ireland currently lead Scotland 71-66 […]

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