Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Be quick! McKellar’s lowdown on Leinster

By PAUL REES Northampton had the chance last night to quiz Dan McKellar about their Champions Cup semi-final opponents Leinster but,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Furbank: We were spoonfed too much

By PAUL REES George Furbank feels Northampton’s rise this season is down to a pre-season meeting when the players resolved to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Exeter forward Davis shocked by cancer diagnosis

By MARK STEVENS Such is the nature of rugby union, players often tend to think lumps and bumps are part and...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Johann has brought us true belief, says Bayliss

By PAUL REES Bath have turned themselves from also-rans to title contenders in less than two years under Johann van Graan...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

We knew we had to swing the bat – Porter

By PAUL REES Few gave Harlequins a chance at Bordeaux-Begles last weekend, but where there was a Will Porter there was...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Sorrell pleased to see English clubs stand up

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite their fierce London rivalry with Harlequins, Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell is pleased two Premiership sides reached...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeremy Guscott

/ 2 years ago

Barrett’s Leinster move seems strange to me

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK JORDIE Barrett’s signing by Leinster on a six-month contract from December until the end...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Sanderson: We can’t fall in closing stages

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Sale Sharks v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, AJ Bell Stadium SUCCESSFUL Grand National punter Alex Sanderson knows...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Wilson: Our test is to back up victory over Bordeaux

By PAUL REES Return: Joe Marler NEVER mind the 50-22, it is the 80-20 that is commanding the attention of Harlequins...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Lam knows Diamond’s Newcastle will be tough to crack

By PAUL REES Ready: Virimi Vakatawa PAT Lam has told his players to be aware of the Steve Diamond effect when...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Top 14

/ 2 years ago

I’m loving every single minute

Mark Stevens finds former Exeter Chiefs playmaker Joe Simmonds enjoying his new life in France In the picturesque town of Pau...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Try-fest with big issues below the surface

The Paris Games, more formally known as the XXXIII Olympiad, are almost upon us and the Rugby Sevens schedule is full...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 years ago

S Africa is crying out for its own league

RUGBY MATTERS - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IF I remember my A level geography...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Nominees listed for top award

Northampton pair Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith, and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith have been nominated for the Champions Cup player of...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 2 years ago

JIFF looks likely to play a vital role

JAMES HARRINGTON - FRENCH COLUMN It's logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins –...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Premiership previews: Round 15

The Gallagher Premiership returns this week after a two-week Champions/Challenge Cup hiatus, and with teams second through to eighth all on...

By Nick Powell

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

England didn’t understand Sinckler – Crane

Jordan Crane feels England have failed to get the best out of Kyle Sinckler during his international career, with the tighthead...

By Nick Powell

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Wales legend Owens retires at 37

Former Wales captain Ken Owens has retired from professional rugby aged 37. The ‘Sheriff’ was the oldest ever-player to hold the...

By Nick Powell

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 years ago

Leinster sign Barrett for 2024/25 season

Leinster have confirmed the signing of experienced All Black utility back Jordie Barrett on a short-term deal from December to the...

By Nick Powell

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Toulouse hammer Exeter to set up semi-final against Quins

By NICK POWELL Toulouse……………64 Tries: Ntamack 8, Willis 32, Kinghorn 48, 56; Ahki 51, 75; Dupont 58, Malia 67, 79 Conversions:...

By Nick Powell

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Baxter backs world club champs

By SAM JACKSON Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter welcomes plans for a new club world championship providing it is financially...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 2 years ago

Coming to grief on the road to Morocco

Mark Stevens talks to Exeter chairman Tony Rowe about his love of classic rallying across all corners of the world WIDELY...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

All over for Lewington

Saracens wing Alex Lewington will retire at the end of the season. The 32-year-old, who was part of Saracens’ Champions Cup...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Ramm: We are up for a fight to the finish

By PAUL REES James Ramm believes Northampton’s exploits in the Champions Cup will boost their bid to not only make the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Hendy making most of having his legs on ‘back to front’ – Dowson

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson believes George Hendy is a wing unlike any other – because he has his legs on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Green seizes day for dazzling Quins

By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ...........41pts Tries: Lucu 19, Buros 24, Depoortere 42, Bielle-Biarrey 59, Tambwe 64, 75 Conversions: Lucu 25, 43,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Millard: We knew we had to dig deep

Billy Millard said Harlequins knew they would have to dig deep to reach their first Champions Cup semi-final after travelling to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Saints on rampage as Bulls fall apart

By GARY FITZGERALD Northampton Saints..... 59pts Tries: Ramm 10, 47; Lawes 15, Sleightholme 20, Mitchell 24, 67; Coles 40, Dingwall 50,...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Chris Hewett

/ 2 years ago

Time for props to take their share of the glory

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED OVERMATCHED teams usually find themselves facing the music without having to listen to any. It was different...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Peter Jackson

/ 2 years ago

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Paul Rees

/ 2 years ago

Time to create a new dynasty

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Series 3, Episode 33: Matt Dawson on England, Northampton and the Champions Cup

This is a big one! Plenty on the menu for host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris...

By Nick Powell

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Northampton Saints player ratings vs Munster

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints produced a memorable display to earn their first Champions Cup knockout victory in 13 years against...

By Nick Powell

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Dowson impressed by ‘freak athlete’ Hendy

Northampton Saints head coach heaped praise on George Hendy after his two second half tries sealed a 24-14 win over Munster...

By Nick Powell

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Saints battle past Munster to secure quarter-final spot

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints……………………………….24 Tries: Ramm 10, Freeman 35, Hendy 60, 72 Conversions: Smith 10, 36 Munster………………………………………………..14 Tries: O’Brien 15,...

By Nick Powell

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 years ago

Loader still has England in sight

Ben Loader still dreams of playing for England and is hoping his performances in Cape Town for the Stormers will one...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Manny stars for Baxter’s battling Chiefs

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ...............................21pts Tries: Vintcent 23, Fisilau 56, Roots 66 Conversions: Slade 23, 56, 66 Bath ...................................15pts Tries: du...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

‘It came down to small margins’

Disappointed Bath boss Johann van Graan insists his side will ‘regroup’ in the wake of their Champions Cup exit. “We are...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Riley crashes over to snatch Stoop thriller

By NICK POWELL Harlequins ....................... 28pts Tries: Esterhuizen 23, Smith 34, Murley 40+2, Riley 76 Conversions: Smith 25, 35, 40+3, 78...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Leinster march on to face old foes

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster............................. 36pts Tries: Gibson-Park 12, 23, 29; Henshaw 49, Conan 71 Conversions: R Byrne 13, 30, 50; H...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Powerful Bulls lay down a marker

By BEN JAYCOCK Bulls ..................59 Lyon................... 19 The Bulls reached the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history...

By The Rugby Paper Team