Brendan Gallagher

When the selectors made the right calls

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S 2024 – a belated Happy New Year...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Probyn: It’s tough to take charge of a team at prop

The Rugby Paper Podcast On this week’s edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast, Jeff Probyn joined host Ollie Little and our...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Series 3, Episode 20: 2023 in review with Jeff Probyn

Happy New Year from the Rugby Paper Podcast! As 2024 dawns, host Ollie Little and Rugby Paper columnists Nick Cain, Chris...

By Jeff Probyn

Quins take honours in Big Game showdown

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ....................... 32pts Tries: David 7, 19, Dombrandt 23, Lamb 45, Care 54 Conversions: Smith 46, 55 Drop...

By The Rugby Paper Team

When Merlene Ottey’s leotard grew nine sizes

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points NEW Year’s Eve and rugby always brings to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Proud men who graced the game

Brendan Gallagher recalls the achievements of those from across the globe that the world of rugby lost in 2023 Sydney Millar...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sharks keep it tight to hold off Saracens

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Sale Sharks ..................... 22pts Tries: Creevy 17, Roebuck 43, Cowan-Dickie 48 Conversions: Ford 18, 48 Penalty: Ford 64...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Time of goodwill to all (well, nearly all)

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER hands out his Christmas goodies... HO HO HO. I’m normally more of a scrooge than a Santa...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Series 3, Episode 19: Champions Cup recap and Big Game preview with Joe Launchbury

The Rugby Paper Podcast’s final episode of 2023 looks back at two thrilling weekends of Champions Cup action as well as...

By Nick Powell

Bordeaux put Bears through the mixer

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux.......................... 36pts Tries: Lucu 4, Bielle-Biarrey 16, Penaud 32, Tapuai 55, Nanette 66 Conversions: Lucu 5, 33, 56;...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Saracens make it too easy for Bulls

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bulls ................................... 27pts Tries: Kriel 2, Swanepoel 39, Moodie 48 Conversions: Daly 61, McFarland 71 Goosen 3, 39,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Barton is on target to rescue Gloucester

■By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Black Lion .......... 10pts Try: Matkava 20 Conversion: Matkava 21 Gloucester ......... 15pts Penalty: Matkava 68 Penalties: Barton...

By The Rugby Paper Team

A team stuffed full of captains

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER I was having one final lingering look at...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Varndell: We need to help players to handle this abuse

By NICK POWELL FORMER Premiership top try-scorer Tom Varndell wants better training around coping with social media abuse for players in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Battling Saints too strong for Saracens

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens ........................... 12pts Tries: Parton 59, Lewington 72 Conversion: Vunipola 73 Northampton Saints...... 18pts Tries: Sleightholme 51, Mitchell...

By The Rugby Paper Team

A case of third time lucky for Neville

RUGBY MATTERS - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Sport is full of sliding doors moments,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Twenty years on and still looking good…

Brendan Gallagher looked on as England’s World Cup winners from 2003 got together recently WAISTLINES have expanded and hairlines receded while...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Seven-try Saracens too good for Bears

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens .......................... 39pts Tries: Farrell 7, Lewington 11, Vunipola 27, Lewington 44, George 53, 77; Willis 68 Conversions:...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Furbank in control as Saints hold on

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Northampton................... 36pts Tries: Sleightholme 8, 72; Ludlam 31, Mitchell 40+1, Coles 61 Conversions: Furbank 9, 32, 40+2, 62...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Our starting XV for 2027

NICK CAIN An England team for the 2027 World Cup is a long shot which would leave most snipers well wide...

By The Rugby Paper Team

A game in desperate need of some answers

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points IF THERE is one thing I have learned...

By The Rugby Paper Team

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 26/11/23

Following a consequential round of derby action in the Premiership, the league continues with four more reports and a preview in The...

By Nick Powell

Series 3, Episode 17: Picking an England XV to win RWC 2027 and remembering 2003

The Rugby Paper Podcast is back with a bang! Post Rugby World Cup and on the anniversary of England‘s iconic Rugby...

By Nick Powell

Ruthless Saracens demolish Harlequins

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ........................ 10pts Try: Esterhuizen 74 Conversion: Smith 74 Penalty: Smith 18 Saracens .......................... 38pts Tries: Gonzalez 19,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

When relegation battle was the key

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Twenty years on from England’s World Cup triumph...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sharks go on attack with Ford in control

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bristol .................................13pts Tries: Caulfield 9 Conversions: Sheedy 10 Penalties: Sheedy 42, 53 Sale .................................... 27pts Tries: Reed 24,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

/ 2 years ago

The Beast of Bezier broke the mould

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points French rugby said goodbye this week to the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Series 3, Episode 16: Mark Evans on RWC format shake-up and World League introduction

In the Rugby Paper Podcast‘s final Rugby World Cup episode, it’s time to zoom out a bit and look ahead to...

By Nick Powell

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

Marta try was my favourite moment

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points SO that’s a wrap and after this final...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 05/11/23

The Rugby World Cup has come to an end, but there’s plenty of action, reaction and analysis to look forward to in...

By Nick Powell

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

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...

By Nick Powell

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

England’s finest right to the end

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Now here’s a little in-house admission. A couple...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

Paying the price of a lopsided draw

BRENDAN GALLAGHER And there, ladies and gentlemen, we can see the mortal danger of having such a lopsided draw. We may...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby World Cup

/ 2 years ago

Italy crushed by rampant France

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER France.................................60pts Tries: Penaud 2, 37; Bielle-Biarrey 12, Ramos 21, Jalibert 46, Mauvaka 53, Moefana 63, 75 Conversions: Ramos...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Series 3, Episode 11: RWC Round 4 review with Sean Fitzpatrick

There is just one round of the Rugby World Cup pool stage remaining and it all hinges on week five! The...

By Nick Powell

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Series 3, Episode 10: RWC Round 3 review with Kobus Wiese

The third weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was absolutely blockbuster, with South Africa v Ireland living up to the...

By Nick Powell

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

Chile’s enthusiastic approach helps England rediscover their mojo

BRENDAN GALLAGHER CHILE have given us many things. Some of the greatest vineyards and wines on the planet; soaring belching volcanoes,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Aki gives Ireland reason to believe

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER South Africa .................... 8pts Tries: Kolbe 51 Penalties: Libbok 5 Ireland............................. 13pts Tries: Hansen 33 Conversions: Sexton 34...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

Time for Italy to play like big boys

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER AS keen observers of sport, we are all amateur psychologists and, with that in mind, it’s been...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby World Cup

/ 2 years ago

Ireland get in mood for Springbok clash

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Ireland............................ 59pts Tries: Beirne 21, Doris 26, Hansen 33, Sexton 38, Lowe 59, Aki 62, 69; Herring 79...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby Matters

/ 2 years ago

Wallabies benefit from Fiji brilliance

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER NATIONALITY is a pretty fluid concept in the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

When you go down to 14, it’s flight or fight… and England fought

BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOMETIMES a little adversity does you good and it certainly sparked a reaction from England in Marseille last night....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Argentina won't host Rugby World Cup in 2027

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Series 3, Episode 7: Rugby World Cup Preview with Jeremy Guscott

Here. We. Go. The Rugby World Cup 2023 is upon us, and we can’t wait! It’s time to look ahead the...

By Jeremy Guscott

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

At last! The old hands finally agree to come to the party

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Fired up: Jamie George found his second wind when England were on the ropes I THINK it’s the Buddists...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rugby World Cup

/ 2 years ago

Ramos steals it as Scotland go close

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER France............................. 30pts Tries: N’tamack 31, Penaud 42, Ollivon 43 Conversions: Ramos 32, 43, 44 Penalties: Ramos 7, 22,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

At 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...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Series 3, Episode 2: Ireland’s World Cup Prospects with Willie Anderson

As we continue our overview of how the major nations are shaping up for the World Cup in France later this...

By Nick Powell

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

Modern-day Lions seem to be tone deaf

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER So the Lions itinerary is out for their 2025 Australia tour and, although there is much to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Mo’unga in control as All Blacks look in the mood for World Cup

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER New Zealand................... 35pts Tries: Smith 4, Frizzell 15, Jordan 68, Mounga 76 Conversions: Mo’unga 4, 16, 69 Penalties:...

By The Rugby Paper Team