Billy Sela: U20s World Championship last dance is something I’ll remember

It was emotional going into yesterday’s game knowing it was the final time I would pull on an England U20 jersey....

Paul Rees: England’s aim must be 2027 World Cup final

Paul Rees says that Steve Borthwick's men must build on their series success in Argentina, and aim for glory at the...

Cuts are an admission of failure

THE goings-on in Wales bring to mind the book Agatha Christie said was the one she found the most difficult to...

Bordeaux get a hard start against the Bulls

Champions: Bordeaux Begles celebrate CHAMPIONS Cup holders Bordeaux Bègles will begin their title defence with a tough away fixture in South...

Dream Team – Markus Burcham

Markus Burcham, the Blackheath and former Ealing Trailfinders & England Counties centre, chooses the best XV he has played with or...

Chris Hewett: France v the British and Irish Lions would be a stretch

Suddenly, rugby’s 24-hour news cycle is full of chatter about a French seat at the British and Irish Lions table. Abdel...

Tier Two nations given second-class care

IMAGINE, if you have nothing better to do, a top-of-the-bill catchweight bout between recent world champion Tyson Fury – a favourite...

Gloucester’s all-time XV: Heroes to rock the Kingsholm

What would be the greatest All-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody...

I’ve shared some of my best times with Maro

MY LIFEIN RUGBY NATHAN EARLE THE FORMER ENGLAND U20, SARACENS, HARLEQUINS, NEWCASTLE AND EALING WINGER AFTER 13 years of dodging tackles,...

Peter Jackson: Wales, a once-proud nation with nothing to offer for the British and Irish Lions

When the Lions last won a series in Australia, they picked a starting team borrowed so heavily from one small country...

A class act from old Tiger Bay

CARL Smith arrived in Cardiff from St Kitts as a boy and survived the culture shock to make a name for...

Ireland’s one-way snooze

THE world’s No.1 golfer breezed into Royal Portrush at the start of the week posing a rhetorical question which intrigued his...

Argentina make old times roll

HUGO Porta, still the most majestic of South American fly halves, will be pleased that Argentina has reclaimed its long-lost record...

Paul Rees: With the stars they have, Harlequins should be winning many more games

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Harlequins It is only four...

Peter Winterbottom: To win a series in Argentina is huge

Ben Jaycock catches up with legendary openside Peter Winterbottom to discuss his thoughts on England’s win over Argentina, the back row...

Matt Riley is backing Richmond to do well in Champ Rugby

Former National League stalwart Matt Riley believes Richmond are well-equipped to test themselves in The Champ next season, but says how...

Matt Kvesic excited to be a Worcester Warrior again

Matt Kvesic has seen a lot in his career – Test rugby, European and Premiership competition, even clubs in crisis –...

New guys know the step up will be tough

Ben Jaycock catches up with three players from teams promoted to Nat 1 - Leeds Tykes, Tonbridge Juddians and Clifton NEXT...

A question over Farrell selection

Well, finally the wait is over and the Lions have played their first Test match in Australia with all the pre-match...

YOUNG GUNS

AJAYEDWARDS NEWCASTLE & ENGLAND U18 FULL-BACK Newcastle Falcons’ South African-born full-back Ajay Edwards is quickly making a name for himself in...

Ensure sessions are fast-paced and engaging

Coach to coach Steve Hill puts the questions to Mark Deaville, below, head Coach at Belgrave RFC in Counties 2 Midland...

Archie McParland: I want to be Northampton Saints’ No 1 scrum-half

  England U20s graduate Archie McParland is enjoying working under his mentor at Northampton, Alex Mitchell, but is determined to oust...

French Colummn: Bayonne in the fast lane for No.9 Leo Coly

It was mid-August last year – the 13th, to be precise – when Racing 92 suddenly confirmed their highly rated and,...

Joseph Dweba enjoying warm welcome from Exeter Chiefs

Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba has touched down in Devon and is wasting no time getting stuck into life with Exeter Chiefs....

Crake keen to raise her game with Saracens

SARACENS have signed England loosehead Liz Crake from Trailfinders for the 2025-26 Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season. The 30-year-old dentist, right,...

France unbeaten after overcoming England

By BEN JAYCOCK FRANCE U20 finished unbeaten for the second year running in the Six Nations Summer Series after a pulsating...

Charlie Elliott: My Lions vs Wallabies first Test predictions

The British and Irish Lions kick off their three-Test series against Australia this Saturday in Brisbane, aiming to make a strong...

British and Irish Lions vs Wallabies: Five key head-to-head matchups in the first Test

On Saturday, a storied rivalry reignites as the British and Irish Lions take on Australia in Brisbane for the first Test...

British and Irish Lions vs Wallabies first Test: Key talking points and where the game will be won and lost

After five straight wins on tour, the British and Irish Lions face their biggest challenge yet as they open their three-Test...

3 uncapped players from England Team Will Start the Match Against the USA

Steve Borthwick retained just three England players from last week’s series-clinching victory over Argentina. He made 12 changes to his squad,...

Living with the British and Irish Lions: What really happens on tour

Sky Sports has released a tongue-in-cheek mockumentary that takes fans deep inside player preparations for the British & Irish Lions tour....

British and Irish Lions vs Wallabies Preview: Tom Curry favoured over Jac Morgan in first Test

Head Coach Andy Farrell has revealed a fearsome lineup for Saturday’s first Test match against Australia, featuring a record eight Irish...

Rugby Icon Will Greenwood on Resilience, High Performance and Leading with Heart

Widely recognised as one of the UK’s most insightful rugby speakers, Will Greenwood has built a career on teamwork, tenacity and...

Marcus Smith keeps Owen Farrell out of British and Irish Lions squad for first Test in Australia

Marcus Smith has defied expectations by winning a place on the bench for the British and Irish Lions’ first Test against...

Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualification Preview: South American sides looking to make history

Over the coming weeks, four South American sides will battle it out in search of a spot at the 2027 World...

Charlie Elliott: My British and Irish Lions squad for the first Test vs Wallabies

The British and Irish Lions head into their first Test against Australia in Brisbane with some momentum. Unbeaten on tour so...

Charlie Elliott: Were the Springboks tactics against Italy genius or too far?

South Africa have split opinions this past weekend with a couple of new tactics implemented, that push the limits of what...

Summer Internationals Team of the Week: All Blacks dominate in big win over France

International rugby action took place for the second weekend in a row over the past few days, with the Summer Series...

Rugby’s Social Media Moments of the Week: Rassie Erasmus and Springboks produce new controversial tactics

The second full weekend of summer rugby took place, and, as always, there were plenty of things to talk about after...

Darcy Graham among Scottish trio called up to British and Irish Lions squad ahead of Wallabies series

The British and Irish Lions have called up Scotland trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham ahead of their series...

Jack van Poortvliet – Argentina series shows the quality of depth in England

Patience was the watchword for Jack van Poortvliet and England as they completed a 2-0 series win over Argentina in the...

Jamie George in as British and Irish Lions hit by double injury blow

Andy Farrell’s Lions suffered a savage double injury blow with hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie set to miss Saturday’s first Test and centre...

England snatch victory with late Jack van Poortvliet try to take series sweep in Argentina

Jack van Poortvliet scored a last-gasp try as England secured a 2-0 series win in Argentina. Steve Borthwick’s side will head...

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...

Dean Richards: Pollock has to do tough stuff for the British and Irish Lions, too

Dean Richards has warned rising star Henry Pollock that he must show the physical attributes to accompany his undoubted natural talent....

Harlequins can capitalise in Kent, says Mike Friday

Former Wasps scrum-half Mike Friday says the continued silence surrounding the club’s return to professional rugby could be telling and says...

Ben Earl is enjoying the coolest British and Irish Lions tour

Ben Earl now knows you don’t have to live like a monk to be at the top of your game –...

Kevin Sinfield is backing Seb Atkinson to make 12 shirt his own for England

England arrived in Argentina with Steve Borthwick looking for young players to make a statement and prove they could cut it...

Johnny Sexton’s sure Joe Schmidt has something up his sleeve for British and Irish Lions

Johnny Sexton knows all about Joe Schmidt and fears the Wallaby coach has something up his sleeve ahead of the Test...

Lions 48-0 AUNZ Invitational: It’s time to get serious as British and Irish Lions step up

Invitational AU & NZ ........ 0pts British & Irish Lions ..... 48pts Tries: van der Merwe 7, 21, 64; White 10;...