Mark McCall surprised by timing of new law changes in Champions Cup

By Paul Rees Mark McCall is surprised law trials are being introduced to the Champions Cup this week halfway through the...

Ilona Maher named on bench ahead of Bristol Bears debut

Social media sensation Ilona Maher is set for her Bristol Bears debut after being named on the bench for Gloucester-Hartpury’s visit...

Risk and Reward: Why Rugby Players Thrive on Gambling-Like Strategies

Rugby players and gamblers share a common mindset—both thrive on calculated risks and high-pressure decisions. Success in both fields depends on...

Rugby Legends Reveal Casino Game Strategies and Winning Techniques

Rugby players often turn to casino games as a fun and engaging way to unwind. From poker to roulette, these games...

Top Rugby Players in NFL History: Bridging Two Worlds

Bringing Physicality to the USA What Rugby Players Have Flipped to American Football? The games are similar. So, rugby players in...

Japan League One – Round Three Preview

Division One A six-team finals series might afford more time to make up ground lost early in the season, but it...

Tips for Playing at Vegas Online Casinos

Do Your Homework Before Starting To Play Investing Time and Effort Can Lead To Better Chances for Success Vegas Online Casinos...

Gloucester vs Sale Sharks – Match Preview

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Gloucester will look to get back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat at Sandy Park...

Newcastle Falcons vs Harlequins – Match Preview

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Christmas is in the books, but we still have a tremendous weekend of rugby action from...

New Year’s Day URC action: 14-men Ospreys draw in Cardiff whilst Scarlets dispatch Dragons

Two fiery Welsh derbies kicked off 2025 with a bang as Ospreys managed a draw at third-placed Cardiff, despite playing more...

‘Trailblazer’ Ilona Maher showing the way, says World Rugby chief

World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin is convinced Bristol Bears TikTok sensation Ilona Maher is just what the sport needs as momentum...

Will the Metaverse Change the Way We Watch Rugby

Rugby is a traditional sport that has been played in virtually the same way for almost two centuries. Yet, in the...

Recap of New Zealand’s Rugby Team Performance in 2024

The All Blacks delivered another gripping season in 2024 under the guidance of new coach Scott Robertson. Competing against the world’s...

Rugby’s Rise in Popularity in GCC Countries

Rugby may not yet rival football in its fanbase or investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, but its rise...

Mark McCall: That was horrible and ugly

By Adam Hathaway at The Rec Thunderstruck Mark McCall urged his Saracens side to get off the canvas after they were...

Cool Handre Pollard levels it up for Leicester Tigers

Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard’s last-minute conversion rescued a draw for Leicester Tigers against Harlequins at Twickenham in front of 78,000 fans....

Steve Diamond is happy to stick with Newcastle Falcons

By Paul Rees Steve Diamond has committed himself to Newcastle long-term, as long he is wanted by the new owners when...

Dafydd Jenkins excited to be back

By Mark Stevens By his own admission, it’s been a ‘painful’ watch for Dafydd Jenkins so far this season. Sidelined after...

AJ MacGinty out for four months with knee injury

Bristol fly-half AJ MacGinty is to miss the next four months due to a knee injury that requires surgery. The United...

George Ford set to follow family line and take up coaching

By Ross Heppenstall George Ford admits he sees himself following in the footsteps of his father and two brothers by moving...

Freddie Steward prepares new plan of attack

By Paul Rees Freddie Steward has the safest pair of hands in the Premiership and is now set on finding his...

Strength in depth at Bath and Scotland is huge, says Josh Bayliss

By Jon Newcombe On form: Josh Bayliss Josh Bayliss enjoyed his best run in a Scotland jersey over the autumn but...

Danny Wilson backing Rodrigo Isgro to create havoc for Harlequins

By Gary Fitzgerald Rodrigo Isgro is a “physical specimen” who will become an even more destructive weapon for Quins once he...

£10 a month does not seem excessive

Don Pearson in a recent issue of The Rugby Paper complains about having to pay extra for European games on Premier...

Sale Sharks bring Bristol Bears crashing to earth

I fear Bristol’s bid for the title will be derailed by the injury to AJ MacGinty, expeially with Max Malins out...

Bill Beaumont will need all the help he can get

A massive thank you, to the three ex chairs of the RFU Messrs Thomas, Cattermole and Baister and ex CEO Baron,...

Wrong to have so many outsiders at London Scottish

Looking at the London Scottish side in yesterday’s game against Chinnor, I make it nine Harlequins in the starting XV and...

Sides are coming after us – Phil Dowson

By Gary Fitzgerald Phil Dowson concedes his Saints are still struggling to cope with being targeted by rivals desperate to stick...

Dream Team – Dave Lewis

DAVE LEWIS, THE FORMER GLOUCESTER, EXETER AND HARLEQUINS SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST... Forwards 1....

Ollie Sleightholme is the right man for England

By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week... Since Ollie Sleightholme won his first two England caps against New Zealand...

Bath give Saracens lesson in finishing

By Adam Hathaway Bath .................................... 68pts Tries: Penalty 3, Du Toit 14, Redpath 23, Muir 36, 55, 78; Cokanasiga 45, 75;...

It’s never done until it is done, warns coach Johann van Graan

Bath boss Johann van Graan was desperate to keep a lid on fans’ expectations after his side’s 10-try romp at The...

Harlequins are denied as Leicester Tigers snatch draw

By Brendan Gallagher Harlequins ....................... 34pts Tries: Walker 4, Murley 28, 70; Northmore 38 Conversions: Smith 5, 29, 39, 71 Penalties:...

Michael Cheika: We must be more ruthless

Leicester head coach Michael Cheika was proud of the fight shown by his Tigers. “It was a great crowd and a...

Alex Mitchell & Fin Smith get Northampton Saints back on track

By Rob Wildman Northampton .................... 61pts Tries: Coles 5, Davison 8, 10; Mitchell 15, Kemeny 30, Freeman 37, Pearson 53, 56;...

Phil Dowson: No more of Jekyll and Hyde

Northampton boss Phil Dowson wants his team to stop being a “Jekyll and Hyde” outfit after some mixed form so far...

Rampant Sale Sharks leave Bristol Bears with nothing

By Roger Panting Bristol ................................... 0pts Sale .................................... 38pts Tries: Quirke 2, Roebuck 24, T Curry 49, O’Flaherty 66 Conversions: R...

Pat Lam: It wasn’t a great day for us

Despite Bristol finishing scoreless for the first time in over seven years, their director of rugby Pat Lam indicated a line...

George Skivington: Balance is better but much to do – Exeter Chiefs vs Gloucester Preview

By Jon Newcombe Match Preview… Exeter v Gloucester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Sandy Park Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington is confident...

I tried to move too fast and that backfired, says Rob Baxter

By Paul Rees Rob Baxter remains confident Exeter will move up the Premiership table in the coming months after opening with...

Big Bill Beaumont must tell Bill Sweeney his time is up

Bill Beaumont will have to be at the top of his game early in the New Year now that an SGM...

Steve Diamond adjusts the cap to fit

By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The season of good cheer got a kick-start last week with...

No surprise as France show how it’s done

By Nick Cain Vannes versus Bordeaux is one of my highlights of the 2024-25 season so far, because if you want...

Edinburgh edge the honours in slug-fest

By Bryn Palmer Edinburgh ......... 10pts Try: Schoeman 69 Conversion: Healy 70 Penalty: Thompson 23 Glasgow .............. 7pts Try: Penalty 68...

Dragons still can’t get better of Cardiff

■By ROGER PANTING Dragons ........................... 22pts Tries: Wainwright 14, Dyer 19, Williams 68 Conversions: O’Brien 14, 68 Penalty: O’Brien 17 Cardiff...

Timoney leads the charge as Ulster  close out Connacht

■By JOHN FALLON Connacht ............ 7pts Try: Hansen 35 Conversion: Carty 36 Ulster ................. 17pts Tries: O’Sullivan 10, Timoney 54 Conversions:...

Prendergast guides Leinster to perfect 10

■By JOHN FALLON Munster .....7pts Try: Ahern 45 Leinster .. 28pts Conversion: Burns 46 Tries: McGrath 9, Prendergast 32, Van der...

Leicester Tigers are still a work in progress, says Michael Cheika

By Mark Stevens Michael Cheika has never been one to shy away from a challenge – and his latest venture as...

Ethan Roots looking to find his old form

By Paul Rees Ethan Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but...

Let’s hope Brizball can stay in fashion

By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed This is not obviously the time to be talking balls – the Twickenham elite have...