Australia 38-22 South Africa: Springboks stunned by Wallabies fightback

South Africa ................22pts Australia .................... 38pts Tries: Arendse 4, Esterhuizen 13, Kolisi 18 Conversions: Libbok 5, 19 Penalty: Libbok 9 Tries:...

Brendan Gallagher: Red Bull may herald the start of something big

The Red Bull takeover at Newcastle Falcons is intriguing on many levels but the question I keep asking myself is why...

Zimbabwean who tried to broker peace within SA squad

JOY at Zimbabwe’s qualifying for the RWC2027 a couple of weeks back was tempered by the death of Des van Jaarsveldt,...

Sale Sharks Season Review: Feeling pressure lifts the players, Alex Sanderson says is a privilege

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Sale Sharks Sale were the...

Saints open up to beat Exeter in thriller

By BEN JAYCOCK DEFENDING champions Northampton opened their Premiership Next Gen campaign with a thrilling 64–51 win over Exeter. Despite missing...

I gave it my all and met brilliant people

MY LIFEIN RUGBY ROBIN ‘BOMBER’ HISLOP FORMER SCOTLAND A, EDINBURGH, ROTHERHAM, DONCASTER, SARACENS AND WASPS PROP APRO sports career is often...

South Africa turn screw on England

■ By BEN JAYCOCK South Africa.....69pts England............. 24pts A WINLESS England U18s were handed a tough lesson in Paarl as South...

Treacey steps up but France pull the strings

England....................20 France...................... 51 ENGLAND U18s fell to a second successive defeat in South Africa as a powerful France U18 side ran...

Testimonial delight for Adamson

Pre-season ■ By BEN JAYCOCK DEAN Adamson scored on his testimonial match as Bedford kick-started their preseason campaign with a 54-35...

Pre-season fixtures

THU AUG 21 Dorking v Havant (7.45pm), Oxford Harlequins v Henley Hawks (7.15pm), Billingham v Acklam (7.15pm), Cinderford v Newent (3pm),...

Champ Rugby Preview: Worcester Warriors aim to hit the ground running

Ben Jaycock previews the Championship season with Worcester unveiling 30 new signings as they prepare for their return Worcester Warriors have...

Young Guns – Ollie Streeter

From back row to tighthead, Ollie Streeter is rapidly emerging as one of England’s most promising young props, though it wasn’t...

Joe Santamaria: Uruguay closing in on World Cup 2027 spot

Joe Santamaria talks to coach Rodolfo Ambrosio about their potential RWC2027 showdown with Chile Having featured in the first-ever World Cup...

Jeff Probyn: Women’s World Cup accessing all areas is good for game

Just four days to go before the 10th Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off in the stadium of Light in Sunderland,...

Five to watch in National Two East

By CHARLIE STONE All set: Andy Key, boss at newly-promoted Oundle AS the 2025–26 National League 2 East season approaches, a...

Try to see things from a player’s perspective

Coach to coach Steve Hill puts the questions to Steve Collins, below, head coach at Rochdale What is your rugby playing...

Tuifua is keeping quiet on his plans

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Young talent: Patrick Tuifua in action for Hawke’s Bay PICTURE: Getty Images IN February 2024, the name...

Toulon keen on their youth policy

PATRICK Tuifua isn’t the only young player shipping up at Stade Felix Mayol this summer. Fellow new arrivals such as utility...

The best head-to-head Matchups in the Rugby Championship this Weekend: Eben Etzebeth and Will Skelton set for titanic clash

The Rugby Championship is back and looks set to produce some fireworks, with the best of the southern hemisphere battling it...

Sadia Kabeya is ready to have fun as the Red Roses seek World Cup glory on home soil

England rugby star Sadia Kabeya is ready to have fun as the Red Roses seek global glory on home soil. The...

Comedy King Chabuddy G announced as new “PR Manager” for the Red Roses

O2, Official Partner of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, has today announced an unexpected new signing as it appoints self-proclaimed Mayor...

Charlie Elliott: Owen Farrell’s Saracens return headlines best Prem Rugby signings ahead of the 2025/26 season

With new faces, fresh ambition, and plenty of movement across the league, this upcoming Prem season is shaping up to be...

Rugby Championship Opening Weekend Talking Points: Siya Kolisi at No.8 for the Springboks

The 2025 Rugby Championship kicks off this weekend, and it’s still South Africa and New Zealand setting the pace. The Springboks...

England’s Elite Player Squad Analysis: Eight new names including Henry Pollock and Tom Willis

Steve Borthwick has named the 25 players awarded enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts for the 2025/26 season, marking a key...

Maggie Alphonsi: Female Inspiration Driving Change On and Off the Pitch

Maggie Alphonsi, the trailblazing England rugby icon, has become a symbol of female inspiration on and off the pitch. A World...

Fantasy Rugby 2025-26 – Enter Now

For the latest updates and tables follow this link Do you fancy yourself as a Fantasy Rugby expert? Well, here is...

Red Bull complete ‘landmark’ deal to take over Newcastle Falcons

Energy drinks company Red Bull has completed its takeover of Newcastle Falcons. The Gallagher PREM club, who will continue to play...

Joe Santamaria: New South American faces in PREM Rugby this season

As the new Prem season draws near and teams begin to finalise their squads, The Rugby Paper takes a look at...

Pete Ryan: Freddie Thomas set to be a star of the future for Welsh Rugby

A fresh slate for a proud rugby nation, new faces will be looking to make a massive impact. Steve Tandy will...

The Prem is entering a new era this season, and so is Scotland’s Tom Jordan

A player with a fascinating career is adding a fresh chapter as he makes the move to Ashton Gate this season....

Pete Ryan: Ellis Genge – The unsung hero of the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour

Big players step up on the biggest stages, giving their all when the pressure is at its highest. It doesn’t get...

Ben Youngs gives his backing for R360 League

Ben Youngs claims the proposed breakaway league R360 could be just what rugby needs to help give it a major “shake...

British and Irish Lions Chief: No quotas on squad selection

Andy Farrell has been given the green light to pack his squad with Irishman again – if he gets the Lions...

Leading sports scientists calls for more holistic approach to welfare

Leading sports scientist Stephen Smith believes World Rugby’s guidelines on the maximum number of appearances made in a season are too...

I’ve learnt a lot from the Lions – Ben Earl

Ben Earl looked back on the summer when he became a Test Lion and revealed England will get an improved player...

Lions Tour was my best trip ever, says Bundee Aki

Bundee Aki had an eventful Lions tour to Australia, on and off the pitch, but rated the trip down under as...

Dragons swoop for scrum-half Niall Armstrong

Dragons have signed Irish scrum-half Niall Armstrong after his departure from Exeter at the end of last season. The 25-year-old has...

Dan Cole offered new role at Leicester Tigers

Former Leicester and England prop Dan Cole has become the recruitment and retention manager at Welford Road under new head coach...

Marlie Packer available for World Cup opener

Flanker Marlie Packer will not miss the start of England’s home Women’s World Cup after she was given a one-match ban...

Steve Tandy is ready to take the criticism as new Wales head coach

Steve Tandy says he is ready to deal with the criticism which will inevitably come his way as Wales head coach....

Louis Rees-Zammit tipped to get better by Jonathan Davies

Jonathan Davies believes the best is yet to come from returning Welsh superstar Louis Rees-Zammit, who he feels can be the...

Jason Robinson is full of praise for Henry Pollock

Henry Pollock has become so box office even Jason Robinson loves watching the England youngster strut his stuff on the field....

Australian Rugby cancel Giteau’s Law

Australian rugby officials have announced the removal of the so-called “Giteau’s Law”, which had previously limited the number of overseas-based players...

Four-week ban for Dan Sheehan

Hooker Dan Sheehan has been banned for four matches, which will be reduced to three if he completes World Rugby’s coaching...

Poppy Leitch calls for PWR clubs to work with universities

Poppy Leitch believes her England Students side can plug a crucial gap in the women’s pathway, having previously been overlooked. The...

Jeremy Guscott: Once a Lions series is won, it’s hard to go again

The sports science and analysis available in the game now would almost certainly tell us that the Lions were not anywhere...

Gladiator Meg Jones gets ready to go to war at Women’s World Cup

England's Meg Jones is polishing her weapons and suiting up to step out in the ultimate gladiator arena this summer. The...

Canada prove too good for Ireland with clinical attacking display

Ireland..............26 Canada ............ 47 Canada produced a clinical attacking display to claim victory over Ireland at Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium yesterday, running...

England 40-6 France: Ruthless forward power drives Red Roses to victory in final World Cup warm-up

France.................. 6pts Penalties: Bourgeois 35, 43 England .............40pts Tries: Talling 3, Cokayne 15, Muir 37, Jones 47, Davies 74, 77 Conversions:...

Nick Cain: Wallabies paid price for unprofessionalism during Lions Tour

The Lions are back on the winning trail, but the high stakes surrounding the 2025 tour, whether sporting or commercial, means...