Altier has a blast but Warriors in control

By ROGER PANTING @therugbypaper Richmond .........29pts Tries: Wakeling 23, Altier 31, 33, 75; du Randt 80 Conversions: Dennett 31, Grieve 80...

Walker hits quick double as Chinnor power clear

The Champ ■By CÓILÍN DUFFY CHINNOR strengthened their grip on a top six place in the Champ with a 30-point win...

Kelly the hero for Ireland

U18s Six Nations Festival U18 Men ■By BEN JAYCOCK IRELAND claimed a dramatic 36-31 victory over England in the U18 Men’s...

Wales leave it late to sink England

U18 Women WALES produced a late comeback to beat England 32-24 in a thrilling opening match of the U18 Women’s Six...

Flankers who can cause problems

A TROUBLESOME breed, openside flankers of the silver-ferned variety – especially the top one per cent. The wonderful New Zealand captain...

How National League play-offs will work

WITH just three rounds of the regular season remaining, anticipation is building for an exciting conclusion to the National League campaign....

Penfold glad to be calling the shots for Bury St Eds

By BEN JAYCOCK Focused: Bury St Edmunds fly-half Ben Penfold BURY St Edmunds flyhalf Ben Penfold admits this season has already...

Nonu just keeps on rolling along

ONE man has survived for so long on the higher grounds of the global game that he makes grand old footballing...

New Green Wave is gaining power

by Ben Jaycock IRELAND Erin King is spearheading an Ireland side no longer rebuilding but beginning to believe. New captain King,...

Les Bleues enjoy new energy burst

FRANCE Under fresh leadership, France have their sights fixed on finally bridging the gap to England. Captain Manae Feleu, the 26-year-old...

Fukofuka keen to build on World Cup

SCOTLAND Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka begins his reign, but the Australian has been hampered by injuries to key players. Back...

Azzurre want to be quick off the mark

ITALY Silvia Turani’s Italy outfit are determined to shed their underdog tag with the women’s team taking inspiration from the men’s...

Brunel on top form to move up into the elite

BUCS RUGBY By JOSEPH TERRY BRUNEL have been promoted into Men’s BUCS Super Rugby after defeating Newcastle 29-25 in a promotion...

Taylor leads from front as Crusaders hit their century

Super Rugby By BEN JAYCOCK Delight: Codie Taylor celebrates one of his four tries CRUSADERS signed off from Apollo Projects Stadium...

It’s about time rugby started to beat its chest

I DON’T know Eddie Hearn from Adam but I doff my hat to the influential boxing promoter for boldly signing up...

YOUNG GUNS

Feature FREDDIEJONES SARACENS & ENGLAND U19 LOCK Freddie Jones is embracing every moment of his England U19s experience, with the young...

Another blow for Steelmen

Welsh Rugby Super Rygbi round-up nBy CARL FIELD LEADERS Ebbw Vale crashed to a second straight home defeat – and a...

Swannack at double for Merthyr

Premiership round-up nBy CARL FIELD DEFENDING champions Merthyr made it 18 wins from 19 in this season’s Welsh Premiership with a...

Bordeaux ready to run their marathon

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN All set: Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and, inset left to right, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and head...

Forthcoming fixtures Week beginning Sunday, April 5, 2026

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs SUNDAY, APRIL 5 EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS Champions Cup Bordeaux Bègles...

Memory of her brother lifts Powell

TRP nBy LAURA HOWARD Jackson: Lion king George North faces the final curtain THE sudden death of her brother is driving...

Ducker: We’re team they all want to beat

nBy BEN JAYCOCK CAMBORNE winger Alex Ducker believes consistency and raised training standards have been the driving forces behind his side’s...

So why did Quins decide to fight?

RING-FENCE reality hit home last weekend with the recognition that with six regular season Premiership matches remaining the last third of...

New Rugby Paper Roundup: Red Roses selection! Six Nations 2026 + PWR insights ft Claire Thomas

In this week’s episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by TNT Sports and BBC Radio...

Navigating South Africa’s 2026 iGaming Shakeup

Following a landmark Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling and aggressive new directives from the National Gambling Board (NGB), the South...

2026 Super Rugby Americas – Round Six summary: Tarucas dominate Cobras as Pampas snatch late win over Selknam

In round five of the 2026 Super Rugby Americas, Tarucas flexed their attacking muscles in their 52-22 victory over visiting Cobras in...

Why rugby needs more superstars like Henry Pollock

When asked to think of a sporting superstar, the obvious names that appear first are the likes of Lionel Messi, Lewis...

How To Rank Up Faster in MLB The Show 26

MLB The Show 26 is one of the deepest sports games available right now, and that depth cuts both ways. Road...

The Most Iconic Rugby Stadiums in the UK For Fans to Visit in 2026

Rugby holds a special place in sporting life across the United Kingdom, and nowhere is that more obvious than at its...

Mobile Application Technologies and the Future of Digital Ecosystems

Most of what you can do on your device is handled by your mobile phone, with apps controlling nearly everything you...

Mastering the Grid: A Complete Guide to Rugby Union Positions

For those just beginning to follow the sport, the various roles on a rugby pitch can seem remarkably complex. Unlike football,...

Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling’s TNT Sports outburst – overreaction or justified?

The Slater Cup, contested between Gloucester and Leicester Tigers, is one of the highlights of the Premiership season.

RFU: Cash will keep on coming in despite England slump

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney insists England’s current dismal form has not hit the union in the pocket and he is...

Phil Dowson concerned over Fin Smith injury after Northampton Saints beat Saracens

Phil Dowson hailed his Northampton Saints side for navigating through the early loss of fly-half Fin Smith on route to securing...

England ‘superstar’ Henry Pollock joins Eddie Hearn’s agency

Henry Pollock’s rapid rise continues off the field as well as on it after the England back row signed a major...

Jeremy Guscott: Now Bath need to be serial winners

Having played rugby at Bath since the age of seven, and been at The Rec as a one-club-man for the duration...

Northampton Saints prop Manny Iyogun determined to prove a point after England snub

Manny Iyogun is looking to make up for his disappointment at missing out on Six Nations action by helping Northampton Saints...

Jason Gilmore: I’ll bring the good times back to Harlequins

Jason Gilmore has vowed to bring back success to Harlequins sooner rather than later after being appointed head coach for next...

Louie Hennessey: Wales are ‘dark horses’ for 2027 Rugby World Cup

Louie Hennessey has warned England to watch out for Wales in next year’s World Cup.

Prem clubs agree on a minimum level of players’ wages

Prem clubs have agreed to introduce a minimum amount each team must spend on players’ wages from next season in a...

Brendan Gallagher: Referees must control the advantage law fairly

Every four or five years or so, it seems, rugby gets its knickers in a twist over the advantage law, how...

Peter Jackson: Eye-gouging Oscar Jegou sparks more anger

The strange case of Oscar Jegou has become stranger still, its verdict provoking another heavyweight ex-referee to weigh into the row...

Women’s Six Nations 2026: Meg Jones – There’s a lot more to come from England

Meg Jones will have an extra spring in her stride and bigger smile on her face when she walks proudly out...

Paul Rees: Rugby union has been rocked by a points explosion

Paul Rees looks at the challenges facing defence coaches as they try to counter the rise in try scoring...

Josh King is happy to be leading Cornish Pirates

Cornish Pirates lock Josh King feels stepping into a leadership role has given him a renewed sense of purpose this season.

Cornish Pirates 7-29 Worcester Warriors: Five-try visitors too strong for Pirates

Second-placed Worcester Warriors proved too strong for a combative Cornish Pirates side as they delighted their big away fan following with...

Durban Sharks 21-15 Cardiff: Mason Grady’s in place to grab a point for the Welsh side

Cardiff came away with what could prove to be a crucial point in the URC play-off race after defeat to Durban...

Nick Cain: RFU ‘whitewash’ is already under way

As a broadcast pundit, Chris Ashton provides many sharp insights on back play, but often, like many former internationals now in...

Sale Sharks vs Bath: Johann van Graan rolls the dice as Miles Reid takes charge for the champions

Miles Reid will lead the Blue, Black and White to Salford, aiming to continue Bath’s momentum after last week’s home victory...

Sale Sharks vs Bath: Alex Sanderson wants his side to ‘put noses out of joint’

Sale Sharks’ title hopes may have evaporated but Alex Sanderson wants his players to “put a few noses out of joint”...