New Zealand - News, interviews, reports, analysis and opinion

Gregor Townsend insists he’s still the right man to lead Scotland

International Rugby

/ 1 day ago

Gregor Townsend wants to stay on as Scotland boss despite Six Nations setback

Scotland crashed to defeat in Rome yesterday to heap more pressure on head coach Gregor Townsend ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Louis Bielle-Biarrey runs in for France’s opening try

International Rugby

/ 1 day ago

France 36-14 Ireland: Matthieu Jalibert leads the musketeers to Six Nations opening win

France, save for one stodgy period in the second half, produced sublime rugby in tricky wet conditions to blow Ireland away...

By Brendan Gallagher

Louis Lynagh enjoys scoring Italy’s opener

International Rugby

/ 1 day ago

Italy 18-15 Scotland: Azzurri beat the deluge to stun Scots with Six Nations victory

Pressure continues to intensify on Gregor Townsend as, on the second wettest day in Rome’s history since records began, Italy caused...

By Ben Jaycock

Latest News

/ 1 day ago

DREAM TEAM

FORMER LUCTONIANS, NORTH OTAGO, PLYMOUTH ALBION, DONCASTER KNIGHTS AND NEWCASTLE BACK ROW JOHN KELLY CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 day ago

Trefor to miss reunion for the boys of ’76

IN A perfect world, Trefor Evans would be back on the big stage next weekend for the first time since he...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 day ago

Another son follows in father’s footsteps

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Family tie: France’s Hugo Auradou breaks through against Ireland in Paris PICTURE: Alamy...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 day ago

McCall leaves a lasting legacy

PAUL REES LOOKS BACK AT THE IRISHMAN’S TIME IN CHARGE AT SARACENS AND SAYS HE IS ONE OF THE GAME’S KEY...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 day ago

Wilson happy with law tweaks ahead of the big kick-off

Super Rugby Pacific Preview ■By BEN JAYCOCK Champs: Crusaders celebrate last year’s success PICTURE: Getty Images WALLABIES skipper Harry Wilson has...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 day ago

MATTHEW BOWLER

YOUNG GUNS BRISTOL BEARS BACK Bristol back row Matthew Bowler has opted for a demanding five-month programme in South Africa to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been ruled out of England’s match against Wales

International Rugby

/ 3 days ago

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to miss England’s Six Nations opener against Wales due to injury

England enter Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales without the electric Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in a late change that sees Tom...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 7 days ago

Six Nations predictions: Odds for winners, Grand Slam and Triple Crown with France favourites

France enter the 2026 Six Nations as the bookies’ favourites to retain the crown - however they are not fancied to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Henry Arundell will start England’s Six Nations opener

International Rugby

/ 7 days ago

Steve Borthwick names his England team for Six Nations opener against Wales

Henry Arundell will make his first England start since the 2023 World Cup after being named on the left wing for...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Fraser Dingwall says the sky is the limit as England aim to hit the Six Nations ground running against Wales on Saturday.

International Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Fraser Dingwall: England are ready for take-off in the upcoming Six Nations

Fraser Dingwall declared the sky is the limit as England aim to hit the Six Nations ground running against Wales on...

By Adam Hathaway

England celebrate scoring during their record win in Cardiff last season

Columnists

/ 1 week ago

Jeremy Guscott: Foursome! I can’t pick out a winner for Six Nations

Based on where England have gone since the last year’s Six Nations fixture against Wales in Cardiff, and where the Welsh...

By Jeremy Guscott

International Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Will Greenwood tips the ‘spiky bunch’ England for Six Nations glory

England’s “spiky bunch” are preparing to pump up the physicality and aggression in the Six Nations and lay down a real...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Columnists

/ 1 week ago

Nick Cain: We don’t want these front row giants

It is dire news when a player is forced to retire due to health issues, as happened last week when France’s...

By Nick Cain

Club Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Hartpury hooker Will Crane glad to learn the Gloucester way in the Champions Cup

There are few players in the country who have put in more hours to make their rugby dream a reality and...

By The Rugby Paper Team

England head coach Steve Borthwick during a training session

Columnists

/ 1 week ago

Nick Cain: England must ditch the hype and make history

The Six Nations decision to play this season’s tournament opener between reigning champions France and Ireland in Paris on Thursday evening...

By Nick Cain

Fluent: Jamison Gibson-Park PICTURE: Alamy

International Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Six Nations guide – Ireland: Andy Farrell will need to cover the cracks

Brendan Gallagher predicts a testing Six Nations campaign ahead for the men in green

By Brendan Gallagher

Leader: Sione Tuipulotu PICTURE: Getty Images

International Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Six Nations guide – Scotland: Gregor Townsend’s men have to convert hope

Paul Rees says it is too often like Groundhog Day north of the border as the Six Nations looms.

By Paul Rees

Noah Caluori on his way to scoring four tries for Saracens

International Rugby

/ 1 week ago

U20s Six Nations preview: Saracens wing Noah Caluori looks to get party started for England

England head coach Andy Titterrell believes the Prem’s top try scorer Noah Caluori can use the U20s Six Nations as another...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 week ago

Henry heads to Newcastle

On the move: Stade Francais fly-half Zack Henry and, inset, left to right, Will Rigg, George Turner, Max Hicks and Joji...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 week ago

Christmas break came at right time – Muir

■ By BEN JAYCOCK ENGLAND and Gloucester-Hartpury prop Maud Muir admits the Christmas break came at the perfect time after the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 2 weeks ago

Why England need to prove they have class, not just form ahead of the Six Nations

When Steve Borthwick took the England head coach role from Eddie Jones, the Red Rose were not in a good position.

By Will Judd

Columnists

/ 2 weeks ago

Jeremy Guscott: A fit Fin Smith gets my vote for the No.10 role with England

England’s 9-10 combination of Alex Mitchell and George Ford were at the heart of a strong Autumn series in which they...

By Jeremy Guscott

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Newcastle boss Alan Dickens admits uncertainty over his future amid Red Bull rebuild

Newcastle Red Bulls’ blizzard of signings for next season means a number of players will be looking for a new club.

By Paul Rees

Features

/ 2 weeks ago

Paul Rees: All Blacks on the hunt for a redeemer like Rassie Erasmus

Paul Rees looks at the problems facing New Zealand rugby and why that led to Scott Robertson's dismissal.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 weeks ago

Lions NZ tour dates confirmed

THE British and Irish Lions will play three Tests in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on their landmark first women’s tour to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Mr Angry: All Black Grant Batty PICTURE: Getty Images

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 weeks ago

Brendan Gallagher: Small in stature but big on talent

Back in the day it became almost a cliché that All Blacks forwards were all rugged frontiersmen and farmers – world...

By Brendan Gallagher

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 weeks ago

16 teams to battle it out in Georgia

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER ONE thing you can always be sure of in rugby is that it will make a mess...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 weeks ago

Galthie’s ready to look at options

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN SIX Nations champions France cut vice captains Gael Fickou and Gregory Alldritt, as well as the country’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Mark Nawaqanitawase of the Sydney Roosters

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Why rugby union can’t get enough of league imports

Recent developments in the so called silly season of transfer rumours, stories and embargos have shown a huge link in rugby...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 3 weeks ago

Glasgow Warriors vs Saracens: Scottish side will be a tougher challenge – Fergus Burke

Fergus Burke helped guide Saracens to an epic 20-14 win over six-time Champions Cup winners Toulouse last weekend, but predicts they...

By Adam Hathaway

Club Rugby

/ 3 weeks ago

George McGuigan extends his Newcastle Red Bulls deal

Hooker George McGuigan has signed a contract extension at Newcastle Red Bulls.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Scott Robertson after his last game in charge of the All Blacks against Wales

Columnists

/ 3 weeks ago

Nick Cain: Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson fails to produce a cutting-edge strategy

Scott Robertson’s ‘windmill’ spin breakdancing celebrations were shelved during his tenure as All Blacks head coach.

By Nick Cain

Some kind of athlete: Lock Junior Kpoku in action for Racing 92 PICTURE: Getty Images

Chris Hewett

/ 3 weeks ago

Chris Hewett: Junior Kpoku on course to power up Red Roses

On the basis that Junior Kpoku is 6ft 8ins and 120kgs, his opponents must be dreading the day they run into...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 weeks ago

Now the All Blacks need to crack on

THERE is something of the Clive Woodward about Scott Robertson, whose coaching career at international level has just disappeared off a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 3 weeks ago

Kieran is so cool as Dale edge key clash

Scunthorpe......... 7pts Rossendale......13pts By GARETH LYONS Well held: Jonny Leota is stopped short KIERAN Tyrer kept his nerve with two second-half...

By The Rugby Paper Team