Club Rugby - The Rugby Paper

Tag: Club Rugby

Barrett’s Leinster move seems strange to me

21 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK JORDIE Barrett’s signing by Leinster on a six-month contract from December until the end of next season looks […]

Robertson will cash in on Barrett move

21 April 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED LOOKING at it from Leinster’s point of view, the signing of the world’s best inside centre is a proper coup. Jordie […]

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

21 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]

Another barmy idea from the men in suits

14 April 2024 0 comments

The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame the unaccountable administrators turning […]

We need Biarrtitz back to their best

14 April 2024 0 comments

SERGE Blanco, the finest full-back ever to grace the union game, spent his entire club career at Biarritz. So did the celebrated loose forward Michel […]

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

14 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded a new title sponsor […]

We need a fairer deal for all levels

14 April 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME I cannot believe that there is any way an agreement between the Championship, Premiership and the […]

Saracens confirm signing of two fly-halves

7 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens have confirmed the signing of Newcastle Falcons fly-half Louie Johnson on a “long-term deal”. The 20-year-old has made 16 appearances for the Premiership side […]

James relishing the Munster challenge

7 April 2024 0 comments

■By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Northampton Saints v Munster Today. Kick-off 12.30pm, Franklin’s Gardens IT is games like this after noon’s Champions Cup Round of 16 […]

Scrums can provide the best attacking platform

7 April 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Why the scrum is having to fight to stay a part of the game seems to […]

TV deal to break €500m barrier

7 April 2024 0 comments

FRENCH COLUMN – JAMES HARRINGTON France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby hopes to pocket more than half-a-billion euros, after launching a call for tenders for Top […]

Halliday: New deal is within our reach

1 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Calls for a further relaxation of Premiership ground capacity rules appear to be gathering momentum as the protracted discussions over the new […]

With debts up to £300m, the game has lost its way

1 April 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WITH the international window now over for the men’s game, the focus has returned to club […]

Borthwick now spoilt for choice at 15, says Piutau

1 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Charles Piutau feels England’s decision to drop Freddie Steward in favour of George Furbank at full-back shows the embarrassment of riches Steve […]

Time for club owners to come clean on plans

31 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN – READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK SEETHING financial undercurrents are undermining the main pillars of the game in England, with the professional […]

Putting 50 points on the Aussies was a highlight

31 March 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Ruaridh Jackson – The former Scotland, Glasgow, Wasps and Harlequins fly-half talks about his career in the game IT was […]

Don’t get trapped in bowels of a big club

24 March 2024 0 comments

Diamond’s warning to his young guns By PAUL REES Steve Diamond has warned his young charges at Newcastle to beware of offers from other Premiership […]

Bristol put leaders Saints to the sword

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bristol………………………….. 52pts Tries: Batley 5, Randall 18, Sinckler 50, Dun 56, Malins 62, Davies 71, Ibotoye 79 Conversions: MacGinty 6, 19, 52, […]

It’s time to consider talent, not geography

24 March 2024 0 comments

If everyone is heading to French club rugby, including the England centurion Courtney Lawes, it makes Courtney Lawes right: rival unions need to rise above […]

Dream Team with Alex Day

17 March 2024 0 comments

The Bedford and former Cornish Pirates, Northampton & Saracens scrum-half chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Paul Andrew – I […]

Lalakai Foketi shock injury leaves the Waratahs short

6 March 2024 0 comments

The New South Wales Waratahs suffered a heavy blow last week when Lalakai Foketi, one of their star players, suffered a shock injury during a […]

Dump the old brigade, Steve

3 March 2024 0 comments

BRIAN Clough always told us: “Football is a simple game complicated by coaches. Ping the ball to teammates along the ground – short distances and […]

Borthwick should put faith in this trio

3 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED PETER Winterbottom knows a thing or three about our sport, so you would expect him to make some telling points over […]

Yet again, Ealing prove they have what it takes

25 February 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Ealing Trailfinders’ narrow defeat by Leicester in the Premiership Cup semi-final last weekend has blown most of […]

To have played 41 times for Wales is a blessing

Iain Sharpe makes some excellent points (Letters, Jan 7) in taking issue with views on the RFU’s second-tier revamp expressed in this column at the […]

Chessum hits 50 and links up with Martin in the row

31 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE As he prepares to make his 50th appearance for Leicester against Bath, Ollie Chessum is set for a new experience – a […]

Reasons to be cheerful for rugby’s year ahead

31 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees canvasses the views of Premiership directors of rugby and finds there is a fair amount of optimism IT IS another year the professional […]

TV deal for Tier Two

31 December 2023 1 comment

WITH Coventry attracting a record crowd of 5,047 to Butts Park Arena for the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham, Ampthill RFC attracting their largest ever […]

Proud men who graced the game

31 December 2023 1 comment

Brendan Gallagher recalls the achievements of those from across the globe that the world of rugby lost in 2023 Sydney Millar CBE (Ballymena, Ireland, Barbarians, […]

Talented players will still miss out

31 December 2023 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME With the start of a new year, it’s the beginning of a new RFU and Premiership […]

Day when the tears flowed for Devereux

24 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE Brewery Field in Bridgend last Wednesday night offered more than a few famous old faces in […]

Each day was filled with song, fun and laughter

17 December 2023 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Graham Dewes – The former Fiji prop and 2007 Rugby World Cup hero talks about his memories from the game […]

Ice-cool Sheedy the hero for Bears

10 December 2023 0 comments

By TOM BRADSHAW Bristol ………………………….. 36pts Tries: Lane 5, Luatua 23, Thacker 30, Randall 48, Oghre 53 Conversions: Sheedy 6, 24, 31, 49 Drop goals: […]