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

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 […]

Who has improved or decreased their British and Irish Lions tour chances after the Six Nations?

18 March 2025 0 comments

Now that the dust has settled on the Six Nations and club rugby is back, it is time to set our international focus to the […]

Super Rugby Americas: Round Five Review

18 March 2025 0 comments

Joe Santamaria reviews the fifth round of the SRA, in which Selknam outgunned Tarucas in an entertaining encounter Pampas 19-7 Yacare Pampas managed to subdue […]

Six Nations 2025: Each nation’s grade relative to expectations

17 March 2025 0 comments

There are always some surprises in the Six Nations. This year, it was the fact that Ireland didn’t win it again, with France pipping them to the […]

Six Nations 2025: Team of the Tournament

17 March 2025 0 comments

France have been confirmed as Six Nations champions after their win against Scotland at the Stade de France, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of a […]

Six Nations: England’s demolition crew roar like Lions

16 March 2025 0 comments

Adam Hathaway in Cardiff England head coach Steve Borthwick saw Maro Itoje lead from the front in this 68-14 demolition of Wales – then tipped […]

New free-to-air deal sees England on ITV for Six Nations

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Sam Jackson The BBC and ITV have agreed a new four-year deal for the Men’s Six Nations to remain on free-to-air TV until 2029. […]

Cambridge’s steep learning curve

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Cambridge have endured problems on and off the pitch this term, with COO Rowland Winter revealing they can’t rely on any income […]

Tom Curry urges George Martin to avoid the phone

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Tom Curry has told sidelined George Martin to stay off his phone as the Leicester lock bids to return to fitness and […]

Ex-Aussie flanker Rocky Elsom faces jail in France

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Former Australia flanker Rocky Elsom has been sentenced to two years in prison after a French court found him guilty of misusing […]

Six Nations: Rampant England find new ways to impress against Wales

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Nick Cain Wales …………………………….14pts Tries: B Thomas 31, 77 Conversions: Anscombe 32, J Evans 77 Tries: Itoje 3, Roebuck 10, Freeman 34, Cunningham-South 38, […]

England’s three-card trick comes up trumps in Six Nations finale

16 March 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees England have long been advised to use their heads and how they did as they turned what was expected to be a cauldron […]

Wales all washed up with nowhere to go…

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Peter Jackson Every living English Grand Slam captain, from Sir Bill Beaumont to Dylan Hartley via Will Carling and Martin Johnson, shares another common […]

Six Nations: Battling Italy make it tough for Ireland

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Italy ………………………………. 17pts Tries: Ioane 12, Varney 63 Conversions: Allan 13, 65 Penalty: Allan 33 Ireland…………………………. 22pts Tries: Keenan 24, Sheehan 40, […]

That was closer than it should have been, admits Simon Easterby

16 March 2025 0 comments

Ireland head coach Simon Easterby was pleased to sign off with another bonus but said it was closer than it should have been. “There’s a […]

U20s Six Nations: Opening blitz gives Italians vital edge over Ireland

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Italy ……………….. 15pts Tries: Drago 7, Caiolo-Serra 12 Conversion: Celi 13 Penalty: Celi 2 Ireland…………… 12pts Tries: Walker 47, Wood 62 Conversion: […]

U20s Six Nations: Tempers flare as England fail to get better of dogged Wales

16 March 2025 0 comments

By George Wellbelove Wales …………………………. 23pts Tries: Emanuel 34, Rees-Weldon 41 Conversions: Wilde 34, 42 Penalties: Wilde 18, 30, 69 England ……………………….13pts Try: McEachran 2 […]

U20s Six Nations: France take title after Scotland push them all the way

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Ethan Bents France……………… 45pts Tries: Daunivucu 1, Akrab 12, Tilloles 19, Cowie 22, Echegaray 33, 45 Cotarmanac’h 58 Conversions: Cotarmanac’h 1, 12, 23, 34, […]

U20s Six Nations: Defeat has fuelled World Cup desire for England

16 March 2025 0 comments

Tom Burrow – England U20 Captain We’re all pretty gutted, that’s the biggest loss a lot of us have had to take in our careers […]

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 – […]

Fans wil get chance to invest in London Irish

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Sam Jackson London Irish plan to return to competitive rugby under a fan ownership model in September 2026 – ruling them out of the […]

Gareth Anscombe eyes 2027 World Cup

16 March 2025 0 comments

Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe wants to play at the 2027 World Cup having returned to the side during this year’s Six Nations. Former head coach […]

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 […]

Oscar Jegou shows the All Blacks how it’s done

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed All the talk down New Zealand way is of “Succession”. No, they haven’t made a unilateral declaration of insubordination […]

Let me tell you a secret (…but keep it quiet)

16 March 2025 0 comments

HISTORIC! Momentous! Unique! Extraordinary! You know it’s a British and Irish Lions year when the word “extraordinary” fails to secure a place on the podium […]

Rob Farrar: Ealing Trailfinders can take on the best

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Mark Stevens Ealing Trailfinders captain Rob Farrar believes his side have what it takes to compete with the very best in English rugby having […]

Waisea Nayacalevu hits the right notes as he prepares for battle with Ospreys

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Waisea Nayacalevu is yet to play for the Ospreys, but the Fiji captain has already made his presence felt with his new […]

British and Irish Lions’ support team keeps on growing

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Peter Jackson – The man truly in the know The 1974 Lions took off from Heathrow with a management team of two. No specialist […]

Rassie Erasmus still has faith in Deon Fourie

16 March 2025 0 comments

Deon Fourie began the week back on Springbok duty, at 38 going on 39 still refusing to abandon hope of socking it to Father Time […]

If you lose all five in the Six Nations, then you should be bottom

16 March 2025 0 comments

The Six Nations eventually acted when it was pointed out that a team could win the Grand Slam but not the title. Five victories without […]

Time to talk about the 1995 you-know-what

16 March 2025 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S ODD how some Grand Slams get lost in the mists of […]

No Grand Slam is good for the Lions

16 March 2025 0 comments

NO Grand Slam for anybody this year … but that might be a decent omen for the Lions. In the last 50 years there have […]

Sorry, Benhard, but stick with the Springboks

16 March 2025 0 comments

I WISH Benhard Janse van Rensburg no ill, in fact I thoroughly enjoy watching him play for Bristol and I admire his retro mullet, but […]

Easson’s impressed by strength in depth

16 March 2025 0 comments

SCOTLAND SCOTLAND head coach Bryan Easson believes for the first time he’s been awarded the luxury of leaving good players out of his squad due […]

Celtic Challenge stars get chance

16 March 2025 0 comments

IRELAND HAVING taken notable scalps in 2024, a much-improved Ireland go into this year’s tournament without talismanic skipper Sam Monaghan. The Gloucester-Hartpury PWR winner, who […]

Red Roses want to make it seven in a row -Mitchell

16 March 2025 0 comments

ENGLAND ENGLAND head coach John Mitchell has had to prepare for his title defence without players in the PWR final. Mitchell called up 12 players […]

Lynn plans to bring calm to troubled waters

16 March 2025 0 comments

WALES Positive: Wales captain Hannah Jones SEAN Lynn’s first week in charge of Wales sees him instantly thrown into the coalface as his side take […]

Feleu: We just need to get back to basics

16 March 2025 0 comments

FRANCE FRANCE will be desperate to end England’s grip on the Six Nations and win a first Championship since 2018. Last year’s runners up, who […]

Roselli excited as she gets ready for debut

16 March 2025 0 comments

ITALY FABIO Roselli takes charge for the first time next weekend as her Italy side visit serial winners England. Roselli took over at the start […]

Strength in numbers is proving key for Albion

16 March 2025 0 comments

■By CIARA FEARN PLYMOUTH Albion captain Jack Oulton believes his side has what it takes to challenge for promotion this season, with squad depth and […]

Samir feeling the love as Bury backs Algeria dream

16 March 2025 0 comments

By CHRIS COLLYER Looking forward: Samir Kharbouch BURY St Edmunds inside centre Samir Kharbouch’s passion and abilities are not limited to the rugby field; they […]

Russell keeping it positive for struggling Port

16 March 2025 0 comments

By TOM KELLY SITTING bottom of the table can be tough, but Devonport Services head coach Ben Russell is trying to reflect on the positives […]

Loughborough take title in their stride

16 March 2025 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS LOUGHBOROUGH hammered Swansea to reclaim the BUCS Super Rugby title, despite intense pressure from Hartpury. It was one of the most thrilling […]

Hawkins signs for Scarlets

16 March 2025 0 comments

JOE Hawkins will be able to resume his Test career after signing for Scarlets from Exeter. The 22-year-old Wales centre, who can also play at […]

England’s defence too good for Italy

16 March 2025 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Out on his own: Marcus Smith breaks clear to score England’s fourth try against Italy PICTURES: […]

Belcher: We are heading in the right direction

16 March 2025 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Confident: Cardiff skipper Liam Belcher BY his own admission, it’s been a nightmare season for Liam Belcher so far, but now the […]

You need a clear sense of purpose

16 March 2025 0 comments

Steve Hill talks to Dom Waldouck, the defence coach at Gloucester Rugby Tell us about your rugby playing career and how you transitioned into coaching. […]

Chiefs are too good for Blues in thriller

16 March 2025 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Hat-trick man: Len Ititau on the attack for Brumbies PICTURES: Getty Images IN a repeat of last season’s final, the Chiefs beat […]

Mo’unga leads way for Brave Lupus

16 March 2025 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Breaking free: Brave Lupus’s Richie Mo’unga RICHIE Mo’unga scored two tries to lead champions Brave Lupus Tokyo to a 33-22 win over […]

King’s rally to take the honours

16 March 2025 0 comments

by Tom Jeffreys King’s Glouc……29 King Edward’s..16 KING’S School, Gloucester staged a stunning second-half comeback to beat King Edward’s School, Birmingham and win the Vase. […]

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