LETTER: Premier Sports is not what rugby needs

Once again, the powers that be in rugby have decided to reduce the potential audience for our beloved sport.

LETTER: Ten teams is perfect number in Premiership

With the start of the new Premiership season only a month away, we are all excited to see how it will...

South American sides facing unfair hurdles

AFTER World Rugby confirmed the qualification process for the 2027 World Cup, frustration among South American nations was tempered only by...

England U20 star Zach Carr picks his career dream team

Harlequins, London Scottish & England U20 back row, Zach Carr, chooses the best XV he has played with or against.

Aussies on a long road to recovery

EXPECTATIONS in Australia will be pretty low after back-to-back defeats to South Africa in the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship,...

Classy Jordan shows the way as All Blacks get back in old routine

By ADAM HATHAWAY New Zealand................... 42pts Tries: McKenzie 6, Savea 17, Clarke 24, Jordan 30, 42; B Barrett 36 Conversions: McKenzie...

Savea: We need to produce the goods everywhere

NEW Zealand captain Ardie Savea warned his side they should not need a painful defeat to spur them into action. The...

Once again, Pumas fail to back it up

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Running riot: All Blacks No.8 Ardie Savea ONE of the most question able truisms in rugby is that wet...

Etzebeth glad to see the depth in squad

EBEN Etzebeth was delighted to secure back-toback victories and is eagerly anticipating their New Zealand showdown in a fortnight. Etzebeth, who...

Boks put on the burners to deck Aussies

By BEN JAYCOCK Australia............................ 12pts Penalties: Lolesio 3, 21, 36, 47 South Africa .....................30pts Tries: Fassi 17, van Staden 43, Marx...

No scrums? No problem for Springboks

BRENDAN GALLAGHER LAST week in Brisbane Pieter Steph Du Toit famously asked Luke Pearce: “Where’s the scrum?” when presented with a...

Titans hit six ahead of return to National One

By BEN JAYCOCK Run in: Gethin O’Callaghan scores for Dings Crusaders PICTURES: Baz Johnson FOLLOWING their enthralling National Two North title...

Pre-season: Premiership, Championship, National League fixtures

A pre-season fixture list involving teams from the Premiership, Championship, National Leagues, and Regional Leagues.

An age-old problem for Farrell and Lions

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK ‘Dad’s Army’: Bundee Aki will be 35 when the Lions arrive in Australia....

Poor terrestrial coverage is doing the game no favours

NICK CAIN THE NFL has infiltrated free-to-air broadcast channels in the UK, such as the BBC and ITV, using weekly content...

Erasmus now the creator supreme

NICK CAIN RASSIE Erasmus is a breath of fresh air, a coach who combines innovative out-of-the-box thinking with a detailed understanding...

FANTASY RUGBY 2024/25

PRIZE MONEY WINNER £500 SECOND £250 THIRD £125 LAST £250 MANAGER OF THE MONTH £25 SECOND £10 THIRD £5 LAST £10...

Age of protectionism must come to an end

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Powered up: Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou celebrates victory over the All Blacks last weekend PICTURES: Getty Images...

Glad to see clock ticking on scrum

CHRIS HEWETT THOSE of us who have spent our entire careers writing against deadline know all there is to know about...

Good value for money’s key in battle for eyeballs

PAUL REES LOOKS AT HOW TV COVERAGE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS AND HOW IT HAS AFFECTED THE SUPPORTERS Top of...

I just want my players to realise their full potential

Steve Hill puts the questions to former England Saxons fly-half Ryan Lamb, below, the head coach at Plymouth Albion RFC Why...

Prop Tayack returns after horror year

By MIKE SINCLAIR JAY Tayack, grateful to be back fit and healthy, was unveiled to supporters as Cornish Pirates’ latest signing...

As fit as a Lion in the Congo

PETER JACKSON THEY stood outside a 7th century church perched above St Bride’s Bay for hours on Friday, the old Lions...

Eight reasons to be cheerful for Cardiff

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW What a start: Efan Daniel playing for Cardiff last season PICTURE: Getty Images...

Bath out to go one step further this time around

PAUL REES LOOKS AT HOW JOHANN VAN GRAAN HAS TURNED THE WEST COUNTRY SIDE INTO TITLE CHALLENGERS TWO years after finishing...

Playing England 7s was an incredible experience

MY LIFEIN RUGBY MARK BRIGHT THE FORMER ENGLAND SEVENS INTERNATIONAL AND TASMAN, REDRUTH, LONDON SCOTTISH, RICHMOND & EALING TRAILFINDERS BACK ROW,...

Vivre Le Stade! I’m smitten by fabulous stadium

RUGBY MATTERS Stunning: The Stade de France during the Olympics closing ceremony PICTURE: Alamy IT has taken decades to fall in...

Road to next World Cup lacks jeopardy

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points UNLESS I’ve missed something pertinent – and it’s...

Sheedy heads the list of star signings

Ben Jaycock looks at the big names on the move - including some surprises - in the 16-team URC Benetton Ins:...

ARTHUR GREEN

YOUNG GUNS BATH & ENGLAND U20 NO.8 Arthur Green hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and one day win a...

England get in right mood for SA crunch

By BEN JAYCOCK England U18.....27pts Georgia U18 ..... 20pts ENGLAND overcame a shaky first half to score 17 unanswered second half...

Caluori grabs his chance but Ireland on top

By BEN JAYCOCK England U18...........28 Ireland U18 ..... .......42 NOAH Caluori burst onto the scene on his inter national debut but...

I can’t remember a thing after I was kicked in head

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME AS WE all take a break for the summer and thoughts of...

The good, bad and the ugly…

BRENDAN GALLAGHER RECALLS THE MOST TUMULTUOUS TOUR BY NEW ZEALAND EVER IN 1972-73 Brendan Gallagher looks back at the highs and...

The mystery of Keith Murdoch, sent home early only to become a nomad

THE fate of Keith Murdoch has always captivated the rugby world but when he died in 2018 many questions were left...

Racing 92 confirm Le Garrec is leaving

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN On the move: Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec will be joining La Rochelle PICTURE: Getty Images YES, it’s...

Mehrtens reported to lead group out to buy Beziers

JAMES HARRINGTON LESS than two weeks before the new ProD2 season kicks off, overseas buyers have officially submitted a bid to...

Champions set to take on Leicester in opener

By SAM JACKSON GLOUCESTER-Hartpury will open their title defence at home to Leicester Tigers on the opening weekend of the Premiership...

Women aiming to hit 100,000 mark by World Cup

By BEN JAYCOCK ENGLAND women returned to their roots, visiting local clubs across the country with Alex Teas-dale, executive director of...

Potent Rawlins helps England U18s bounce back with victory over Georgia

England overcame a shaky first half to score 17 unanswered second half points to beat an impressive Georgia 27-20 as Jonathan...

2024 Six Nations Look Back and What’s To Come!

The 2024 Six Nations showcased the best of European rugby from the opening match to the final whistle.  Whether you’re a...

The Role of Mental Health Support in Professional Rugby

In the realm of professional sports, where physical prowess and athletic excellence are celebrated, the often-overlooked aspect of mental health has...

Why choose 7bet?

If you want a unique and reliable online gambling platform, 7bet is among the best choices. It is a simple place...

Scoring Big: Advanced Strategies for Dominating Rugby Video Games

Rugby video games provide a thrilling challenge for gamers looking to immerse themselves in the intense and strategic world of rugby....

Game Plan Excellence: Harnessing the Power of Digital Planners in Rugby

Discover how integrating digital planners can transform the strategic and logistical aspects of rugby, enhancing both team performance and fan engagement....

Halliday: I’m proud of united approach

EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE SIMON Halliday has left his role as chairman of the Championship Clubs’ board both proud and frustrated...

We must all share the blame -Youngs

By ADAM HATHAWAY BEN Youngs insists Leicester’s players only have themselves to blame for last season’s flop and not Dan McKellar...

Follow The Rugby Paper online…

Follow us at: @therugbypaper Follow us at: therugbypaper Follow us at: @therugbypaper Keep in touch with The Rugby Paper wherever you...

Easter ‘appalled’ by Prem Cup exclusion

By JON NEWCOMBE NICK Easter has described the decision to exclude his Chinnor side and Cambridge from next season’s Premiership Cup...

Sweeney defends change

CHIEF executive Bill Sweeney says the RFU has not “sold out” by renaming Twickenham in a sponsorship deal worth more than...