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Chris Hewett
/ 3 years agoThe day Mouritz showed his desire
CHRIS HEWETT Every so often, rugby sheds its hard skin and shows us its soft side. Not that Mouritz Botha was...
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English Championship
/ 3 years agoSmith’s backing Cov to get better
Coventry secured their highest ever finish in the Championship last season and young second row George Smith knows there’s added pressure...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 3 years agoAt last! Spain show us what they can do
RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S BEEN a bittersweet roller coaster five or...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 3 years agoThe time that Dixon bolted out of the blue
RUGBY MATTERS Bolters seem to be less common in top rugby these days but as teams finalise their World Cup squads...
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Peter Jackson
/ 3 years agoTop Cat: charisma, sermons and style
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW IF ONLY Mark Twain had been born half a century later, on the...
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Peter Jackson
/ 3 years agoNorton never forgot his friend Murdoch
PETER JACKSON Tane Norton never lost sight of one image from his first UK tour as an All Black, that of...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 3 years agoThe Rainbow Nation enjoys day of history
Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage Rugby World Cup has spawned many iconic moments...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 3 years agoJapan host great party as Boks snatch the glory
Japan, having been thwarted at the death in their efforts to stage RWC2011, finally achieved their aim in 2019 and made...
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National League One
/ 3 years agoHoney aiming to make his mark at Rams
By BEN JAYCOCK Dead-eye goal kicker Fraser Honey has taken the step up to National 1 side Rams and is hoping...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 3 years agoBorthwick deserves a chance to learn
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WITH England’s first warm-up game taking place this weekend, it brings home...
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English Championship
/ 3 years agoTwelvetrees keen to get Ealing firing
Ben Jaycock talks to the former England star as he prepares to help his new club fight to regain the title...
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James Harrington
/ 3 years agoPlaying numbers game at Castres
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN "Guys, you’re trying to replace Giambi. I told you we can’t do it. Now, what we might...
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National League 2W
/ 3 years agoChester ready for test against best in West
A re-shuffle of National Two meant much confusion during the off season for Chester but after receiving confirmation of a place...
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English Championship
/ 3 years agoBercis buzzing for a shot at big boys
By BEN JAYCOCK Joe Bercis is set to become the all-time appearance holder for Ampthill this season and aims to put...
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English Championship
/ 3 years agoCov sign up new talent to fill academy void
Coventry Rugby have stepped in to prevent the career hopes of aspiring teenage rugby players in the West Midlands being dashed...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoJack: I’m ready for furnace
By ADAM HATHAWAY Jack van Poortvliet insists England’s dismal Six Nations will help him cope with the furnace of the upcoming...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoHumphreys backing Plumtree to play major role for Wales
By BEN JAYCOCK Wales forwards coach John Humphreys says that new signing Taine Plumtree from New Zealand could play a big...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoEngland can go all the way, says Ojo
By BEN JAYCOCK Topsy Ojo believes England have a great opportunity in the World Cup to go deep in the tournament...
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Premiership
/ 3 years agoCodling can’t wait to take on ‘fantastic challenge’
By JON NEWCOMBE Having coached in multiple leagues in Wales, Northern Ireland, England and France, it is fair to say Alex...
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Premiership
/ 3 years agoTreat players well and they will stay here, says RPA’s Day
By JON NEWCOMBE RPA chairman Christian Day believes making English players the best-looked after in the world will help to combat...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 3 years agoEngland need to hit the ground running
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK WHAT England need to happen is for them to play exceptionally well in the...
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The Rugby Championship
/ 3 years agoWe let everybody down out there, admits devastated prop Bell
A DEVASTATED Angus Bell said the Wallabies had let Australia down after another miserable night in front of a huge crowd...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoAll Blacks pull Wallabies apart
By BEN JAYCOCK Australia.............................. 7pts Tries: Valetini 7 Conversions: Gordon 8 New Zealand .................. 38pts Tries: Frizell 3, Taylor 34, Jordan...
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News Extra
/ 3 years agoSummer Tests use ‘Bunker’ review system
NEWS EXTRA A FOUL play Television Match Official ‘Bunker’ review system is one of a number of innovations set to be...
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The Rugby Championship
/ 3 years agoArgentina send out World Cup warning
By PAUL REES South Africa .................... 22pts Tries: Etzebeth 19, de Allende 26, Libbok 69 Conversions: Libbok 27, 70 Penalties: Libbok...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoNo room for deals – time to get serious
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK MAKE no mistake, the 2023 World Cup starts for England this weekend. Even...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoWe should not wait so long for RFU review
NICK CAIN IT is inconceivable that in any other era in English rugby a vote of no-confidence in the governance of...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoScotland get best out of a mixed bag
By BEN JAYCOCK Scotland ........................... 25pts Tries: Graham 13, 56; Bayliss 80 Conversions: Healy 57, 81 Penalties: Healy 48, 74 Italy........................................
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Chris Hewett
/ 3 years agoThe greatest tour ever? Not likely…
CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED IT IS no exaggeration to place exaggeration very high on the list of rugby’s deadly sins. It...
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Chris Hewett
/ 3 years agoAlways room for Bakkies and Co
CHRIS HEWETT SAY what you like about Bakkies Botha – most people don’t, for reasons of self-preservation – but there are...
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Blindside - rugby transfers
/ 3 years agoHowley keen on replacing Young
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Rob Howley is interested in replacing Dai Young as the next...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoHalfpenny deserves to join illustrious 100 club
SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND IHOPE that Leigh Halfpenny’s name is the first put down on the team sheet by...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoHow the £1m man found true love in Llanelli
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE sorrow of Trevor Francis’ sudden death extended beyond the cavernous theatres of...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoThe day Sir Gregory tore Wales to shreds
PETER JACKSON LONG before they began losing their way on the field at the Arms Park, England once endured the absurdity...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 3 years agoEngland can be the dark horses at this World Cup
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME AS Aformer player, I find it difficult to understand the way the...
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James Harrington
/ 3 years agoBordeaux put their faith in Gazzotti
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN FRANCE U20 sensation Marko Gazzotti has swapped the Alps for the Atlantic and the ProD2 for the...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoAllan desperate to be starter at 10 for Italy
Tommaso Allan agrees his Italian side will have a tough job to get out of Pool A in the Rugby World...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoThe Rugby Championship final round preview
A resurgent New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to retain The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, but Eddie Jones‘ Australia will be...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoDarge in charge as Scotland take on Italy
By Nick Powell, Online Editor Rory Darge will captain Scotland as they get their World Cup warm-up campaign underway against Italy...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoSeries 3, Episode 1: Italy’s World Cup prospects with Tommy Allan
The Rugby Paper Podcast has officially entered its third season as we begin the run-up to the 2023 World Cup. The...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoYoung leaves Cardiff following investigation
Dai Young has left Cardiff Rugby despite being cleared after an independent investigation into bullying allegations against him. Young was suspended...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoLudlam: It’s all coming together
By ADAM HATHAWAY Lewis Ludlam insists England are not behind the eight-ball heading into the World Cup despite facing a race...
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Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One
/ 3 years agoAnscombe the latest to head for Japan
By SAM JACKSON Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is the latest Wales player to head to Japan by signing for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath...
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Premiership
/ 3 years agoFed-up Falcons angry over limited telly time
By JON NEWCOMBE Newcastle Falcons are said to be seething after what they perceive to be another snub in the 2023/24...
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Premiership
/ 3 years agoSale Sharks part company with chief exec Sutton
Sale Sharks CEO Sid Sutton has left the club after almost three years in the role. Sutton, who joined the club...
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Premiership
/ 3 years agoHill keen for a new adventure Stateside
By JON NEWCOMBE Bored with the Premiership rugby landscape, former Exeter and Sale Sharks centre Sam Hill is hoping for a...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoSmith has unfinished business at Quins
By BEN JAYCOCK Marcus Smith wants to repeat Harlequins 2021 Premiership triumph next season insisting he has unfinished business at the...
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Latest News
/ 3 years agoKolisi in line to face Wales
By SAM JACKSON South Africa captain Siya Kolisi is set to feature in the World Cup warm-up match against Wales on...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 3 years agoFarrell’s favourite to lead the Lions
By PAUL REES There has been little cheer for rugby in Australia in recent years, but the prospect of a Lions...
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Rugby World Cup
/ 3 years agoO’Brien: Sexton ban won’t affect World Cup prep
By SAM JACKSON Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been given a three-match ban that will see him miss his country’s three...













