FANTASY RUGBY 2025/26

Welcome to the first update of this new season of TRP Fantasy Rugby which covers the period Friday September 5 to...

Results

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My Life in Rugby: Robin Wedlake – Cornwall’s where my story starts and where it ends

Robin Wedlake — former Redruth, Plymouth Albion, Cornish Pirates, Jersey Reds and Cornwall centre — now plays for Camborne in National...

Evans: Drovers face tough test

Super Rygbi ■ By ROB COLE EUROS Evans is under no illusions as to how precarious Llandovery’s two-point lead is at...

Ten-try Ponty crush Newbridge

Premiership round-up TABLE toppers Pontypridd ran in 10 tries on their way to a thumping 66-17 victory over Newbridge at Sardis...

Result

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Galthie gets set to brief his troops

JAMES HARRINGTON FABIEN Galthie and the France staff met up in person for the first time since the July tour of...

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, October 12, 2025 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs ... Continue reading......

Leinster vs Munster history: Ireland‘s Premier Interpro rivalry

Widely regarded as the biggest rugby rivalry in Ireland and to some, the greatest club rivalry of all time, these two...

Scrum Vs. Sideline: Why Rugby Betting Ain’t Just Football In Shorts

Okay, let’s be real. At first glance, rugby might seem like American football’s burlier, less padded cousin. You’ve got big dudes,...

Rugby’s international heavyweights join forces to deliver big blow to R360

Rugby’s international heavyweights have joined forces to deliver a significant blow to the proposed breakaway league R360 by declaring any player...

Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody diagnosed with motor neurone disease

Former England captain and 2003 World Cup winner Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Chile snatch their place at the top table to qualify for 2027 World Cup

Chile’s historic 31-12 victory over Samoa ensured South America will have three teams at the 2027 World Cup, with Brazil and...

Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Alan Dickens says he can call Gregor Townsend at any time

Gregor Townsend will be in regular contact with the new coaching set-up at Newcastle Red Bulls after the club abruptly sacked...

England close to deal for Byron McGuigan

Byron McGuigan is in talks to become the newest member of Steve Borthwick’s England coaching set-up.

Prem: 20-minute reds win support from clubs

Prem Rugby directors of rugby welcomed the 20-minute red card adopted by the league this season.

R360 will be bad for the game, says Rob Baxter

Rob Baxter believes the planned franchise league R360, which aims to kick off next September having secured funding for three years...

Ollie Hassell-Collins out to prove his Test worth with England

Ollie Hassell-Collins has sharpened his prolific Leicester Tigers try-scoring teeth again to prove to Steve Borthwick he deserves another chance on...

Prem news: Sale Sharks poised to make move for Chandler Cunningham-South

Sale Sharks are considering another raid on Harlequins following the close season signing of Nathan Jibulu with England forward Chandler Cunningham-South...

New deal will keep Smith at Saints

ENGLAND and British & Irish Lions fly-half Fin Smith has signed a multiyear contract extension with Northampton. The 23-year-old, who has...

Daniel Kasende: I’m the postman and will deliver for Ospreys

Daniel Kasende is certainly living up to his nickname as ‘The Postman’.

George Ford is still the best choice at 10 for England, says Toby Flood

Toby Flood believes England head into the Autumn Nations Series in the strongest position of all the home nations – and...

Bristol hit by triple injury blow

BRISTOL Bears have been dealt a major blow with Harry Randall, AJ MacGinty and Gabriel Ibitoye all facing long spells on...

Tshiunza is ruled out with broken foot

WALES back five forward Christ Tshiunza is set to miss the autumn internationals after breaking his foot playing for Exeter in...

Matt Rogerson: Worcester Warriors supporters will play a key role

Matt Rogerson says captaining returning Worcester Warriors feels like the “positive flip-side” of his London Irish heartbreak.

No-nonsense Steve Tandy will do well for Wales – Shane Williams

Shane Williams goes back a long way with Steve Tandy and insists he has complete faith in him as the new...

Plymouth fitter than ever, says Lamb

By MARK STEVENS RYAN Lamb believes the hard work of the past few seasons has put Plymouth Albion in their strongest...

Great to see Chile qualify for 2027

email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk CONGRATULATIONS to Chile from an England fan on their successful qualification for RWC 2027 after winning a two-legged playoff...

Clubs should aim to provide rugby for local players

IN response to last week’s letter regarding grassroots rugby, I would question whether it is time to rethink the league structure...

Prem: Marcus Smith’s raring to get back – Will Porter

Marcus Smith has been “tearing it up” in training and his Harlequins teammates are relishing his return to action.

Pellow to leave after 16 years at Exeter

LONG-SERVING Exeter coach Ricky Pellow is to leave the club next month. The former Bath, Worcester and Cornish Pirates scrum-half has...

DREAM TEAM

ALAN DICKENS, THE FORMER SALE, LEEDS, SARACENS AND NORTHAMPTON SCRUM-HALF, WHO IS NOW HEAD COACH AT NEWCASTLE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV...

Jeremy Guscott: It won’t surprise me if Springboks land a threepeat

South Africa have got people talking about the revolution in their back play in the Rugby Championship after their huge victories...

Leicester Tigers 29-19 Harlequins: Ollie Chessum leads way for Leicester revival

Ollie Chessum led by example in driving Leicester to victory in a dramatic second-half comeback.

Parling: I always believed we’d do it

LEICESTER’S new head coach Geoff Parling said he always “believed” that his team could overcome the Quins lead. “I’m really pleased...

Saracens 50-17 Bristol Bears: Owen Farrell in charge as Saracens hit the top

Owen Farrell’s first home game for Saracens for 504 days ended in an ominous warning for the rest of the Prem...

Lam: We need to find new players

BRISTOL director of rugby Pat Lam will launch an urgent recruitment drive as he bids to fill the holes in his...

Bath 28-16 Sale Sharks: Ben Spencer steers Bath through the storm

On a wet and stormy night at the Rec, skipper Ben Spencer plotted safe passage for the champions with yet another...

Happy with that, says van Graan

BATH head of rugby Johann van Graan was delighted with a second bonus point win and philosophical about what appeared to...

Exeter Chiefs 38-15 Newcastle Red Bulls: Red Bulls given the runaround by Chiefs

Exeter have more points after two rounds than they managed in the first eight last season, but for all of another...

There is more to come from this team, promises Baxter

ROB Baxter believes the best is yet to come from Exeter whose six-try win over Newcastle took them into the top...

Nick Cain: Great result but let’s stay ahead of pack

Congratulations to the England women’s team after winning the 2025 Women’s World Cup, and also going 33 matches undefeated during head...

Scottish trio will need to prove worth for Newcastle

STEVE Diamond’s rapid exit from his director of rugby role at Newcastle a few days after their first Prem defeat of...

Plans for franchises still face a tough battle

THIS weekend should herald a bright new dawn for the Champ, with clarity about the road ahead for the clubs in...

Ramm calling for 80-minute performance

■By PAUL REES PREVIEW... Gloucester v Northampton Saints Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm GLOUCESTER will face a smarting Northampton this afternoon after...

We won’t be so clunky this time, promises Skivington

■By PAUL REES DoR: George Skivington GEORGE Skivington is expecting a less clunky ride against Northampton at Kingsholm today after Gloucester’s...

Wainwright goes close to 1923 record

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW OVER the course of 10 seconds in Belfast last weekend, Aaron Wainwright may...

Peter Jackson: Saturday afternoons no longer for rugby

Back in the day when Cardiff ran the best club team in Europe, their fixture list guaranteed supporters 23 home matches,...

Treatment of Diamond another low for the game

WHEN Red Bull and their dredgers descended on Tyneside in mid-August to salvage Newcastle Falcons, they made it clear that Steve...

Bowen hits three to put Cardiff in the points

■By SIMON THOMAS Munster ............23pts Tries: Quinn 28, Coombes 52, Barron 61 Conversion: Crowley 53 Penalty: Crowley 67 Drop goal: Crowley...