Halfpenny prepares to bow out against Baabaas

Leigh Halfpenny is set to make his final appearance for Wales, as Warren Gatland’s men prepare to take on a Barbarians...

Venter: South Africa ‘unbelievably blessed’ in World Cup triumph

Brendan Venter feels South Africa benefitted from huge amounts of good fortune on their way to winning a fourth World Cup...

The biggest winners from the Rugby World Cup 2023

A World Cup that will rank as one of the most unpredictable and exciting has come to an end after eight...

Barnes calls time on long refereeing career

English veteran referee Wayne Barnes has retired after a distinguished 20-year career with the whistle. Barnes, 44, has refereed 111 test...

May joins Lawes and Youngs in international retirement

Jonny May has become the third England player to retire after the Rugby World Cup, joining Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs...

Why Private Jets Are the Ultimate Way to Experience Away Games

Ah, rugby! It’s not just a sport — it’s a way of life. The rush of the scrum, the thrill of...

Series 3, Episode 15: RWC 2023 review with Brendan Venter

The sun has set on Rugby World Cup 2023, and in a thrilling finale the Springboks held onto their crown, edging...

Football Vs. Rugby: Whose Matches Are Easier To Make Predictions On

Football and Rugby are two very different sports with varying dynamics, from teams to scoring systems. However, both sports categories have...

The European Rugby Nations We Don’t Talk About Enough

All eyes are on France as the 2023 Rugby World Cup nears its conclusion. There are only a few matches left...

Saints earn first victory at soaked Newcastle

By Tom Jeffreys Newcastle………………………………….14 Tries: Stephens 75 Penalties: Connon 10, 26, 59 Northampton Saints……………………16 Tries: Langdon 53 Conversions: Smith 54 Penalties:...

Top of the world

Springboks take fourth title after epic showdown From ADAM HATHAWAY Siya Kolisi and his Springboks joined the rugby immortals as they...

George urges RFU to listen to old boys

By ADAM HATHAWAY Jamie George has urged the RFU to listen to England’s seasoned internationals before rubber-stamping proposals over new playing...

Roberts given new role on WRU Board

By ROB COLE Jamie Roberts has been selected for a new role in Welsh rugby after being appointed as one of...

Randall’s out to get the world at his feet

By PAUL REES When Harry Randall was released from the England squad in the summer, the scrum-half was told he needed...

Spencer’s aiming to follow in Dupont’s footsteps

By TOM BRADSHAW Bath captain Ben Spencer is taking a leaf out of the book of French maestro Antoine Dupont as...

Majestic Boks win in battle of Paris

By NICK CAIN New Zealand.................... 11pts Tries: B Barrett 57 Penalties: Mo’unga 16, 37 South Africa .....................12pts Penalties: Pollard 2, 12,...

Brilliant Boks are worthy champions

BRENDAN GALLAGHER So they have only gone and done it! South Africa have become the first team to win four World...

Bronze beauties: Dan and Earl steer England to third in the end

By NICK CAIN England ............................. 26pts Tries: Earl 7, Dan 44 Conversions: Farrell 9, 45 Penalties: Farrell 3, 13, 30, 65...

Borthwick quick to look to the future

From ADAM HATHAWAY Steve Borthwick finished his first World Cup campaign as England head coach and immediately put his business head...

Kamikaze Kids in unison once again

BRENDAN GALLAGHER OK, it wasn’t a cracker but nor was this play-off game a dud. In a tournament marked by a...

Borthwick needs to rebuild England pack

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK IT was a well executed England game-plan against South Africa in the semi-final, but...

Borthwick has tough decisions to make

PAUL REES FOURTH in the Six Nations, third in the World Cup. Redemption rather than progress for England given the pool...

French missing out at the chapel

FRENCH fans have had plenty of reasons to pray during this tournament. First Antoine Dupont got injured and had to be...

Love match in Paris

THE main media centre in Paris is located at Roland Garos the mecca of French tennis and home of the French...

It’s been a hell of a ride, Ben

WORLD CUP DIARY By Adam Hathaway Happy times: England’s Ben Youngs, left, and Ellis Genge with their bronze medals after the...

It’s raining beer! But we made it…

THE Rugby Paper nearly did not have a front-page quotes piece from last Saturday’s semi-final between England and South Africa. A...

Old boys keen to share memories

THE All Blacks have been tapping into the experience of their old boys with Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, right, and Conrad...

Schmidt is happy to stay in background

JOE Schmidt, the former Ireland coach now with New Zealand, has kept such a low profile in this tournament the only...

Horses for courses as All Blacks name team

NEW Zealand were based in a plush hotel, The Paris Country Club, in Saint-Cloud ahead of the final, bang on the...

Time for the boss to share a drink

JAMIE George revealed Steve Borthwick would change the habit of a lifetime on Friday night and have a beer with the...

Questionable energy

A FRENCH utility company were doing the rounds amongst fans on Friday night at the third-placed play-off between England and Argentina...

Some more bad timing

LAST Thursday, South Africa were announcing their team for yesterday’s final and the 7/1 bench split, no second scrum-half in the...

Aki on the shortlist

IRELAND centre Bundee Aki, right, is on the four-man shortlist for the World Rugby men’s player of the year award. France...

Isiekwe agrees to stay at Saracens

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England lock Nick Isiekwe is the latest player to agree to a new deal to...

Andrew pads up at ECB

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former England fly-half Rob Andrew is taking on a major role in English cricket after...

Hatley’s Aussie days look over

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former England and Bath scrum coach Neal Hatley, below, faces an uncertain future with Rugby...

Toulon have prop Sinckler in their sights

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Toulon have launched a double raid on Steve Borthwick’s World Cup squad to lure Kyle...

Sale let league boys in

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Sale Sharks answered an emergency cry for help from England’s rugby league team preparing for...

Campbell training with Fury

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former Glasgow Warriors and Jersey Reds lock Nick Campbell, the current Scottish heavyweight boxing champion,...

Dickens in jeopardy

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER LEICESTER are reportedly looking for a new backs and attack coach despite only appointing Alan Dickens...

England will struggle to replace Marler and Cole

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Here is a prediction. England will not win another World Cup, or Six...

Why wait until 2030? Get this contest going now

The closed-shop in international rugby union was reinforced this week after the second coming of the Nations Championship was announced by...

True leaders stay calm

WHEN are the authorities and referees going to stop the increasing dissent by players in games. The latest example was Owen...

Farrell’s time is done

I WISH to take issue with Ben Jaycock’s assessment of Owen Farrell as 9/10 last Saturday. His kicking from hand was...

SA quality counted

I FEEL that all England supporters need to pause, assess, and put things into perspective. Styles and factors make games, and...

I think Smith could be England’s Faf de Klerk

THEY say: ‘hindsight is a wonderful thing’... If only we could go back and NOT change the front row against South...

Don’t panic, Sarries

WITH regards to Nick Cain’s article last week, about Saracens’ poor start to the season, without wishing to sound like too...

No problem with draw

I DO wish that rugby correspondents would stop whining about the current World Cup draw! Yes, it was unbalanced so why...

Koch clearly coming in at wrong angle

Out of line: the England/South Africa final scrum I HAVE attached the aerial shot of the last scrum in the SA...

Dream Team with Lewis Moody

The RWC 2003-winning England flanker and former Bath and Leicester player chooses the best XV he has played with or against......