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

Columnists

/ 2 days ago

Peter Winterbottom: Time to find out what Henry Pollock can do from the start as England’s No.8

The former England, Lions and Harlequins flanker believes Henry Pollock has done enough to earn a starting role at No.8, while...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Rieko Ioane breaks through for New Zealand

International Rugby

/ 2 days ago

Stormers 21-38 New Zealand: All Blacks fail to convince in opener

New Zealand survived a bruising battle with Stormers to begin their South Africa tour with victory, despite three yellow cards and...

By Ben Jaycock

Latest News

/ 2 days ago

Erasmus: Tougher than a World Cup pool

■By BEN JAYCOCK RASSIE Erasmus believes South Africa’s blockbuster four-Test tour of New Zealand will be even tougher to negotiate than...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 days ago

Players must stay within the laws

KYRAN Bracken talked in his column last week about how South Africa used around three various teams during the Nations Championship…...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Miscellaneous

/ 2 days ago

Spreading the wealth? That’s not how I see it

IT IS not necessarily Gianni Infantino’s fault that he looks suspiciously like a Bond villain, but the FIFA president’s undisputed claim...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Miscellaneous

/ 2 days ago

Diamond in Bristol’s pack

Fearless: Kevin Bogira was the fulcrum of a no-nonsense forwards unit LONG before Bristol rebranded themselves as the “Bears” – and...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 2 days ago

People are suffering so

PAUL REES ON THE LEGAL BATTLES OVER CLAIMS O Raging Bull: Phil Vickery in action for England against New Zealand PICTURES:...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 days ago

Exiles who can strut their stuff

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

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 days ago

Ealing add beef to get it right this time

Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the Champ season and says Trailfinders will once again be the team to beat as they...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Cameron Hanekom was at the heart of South Africa’s hard-fought victory over Argentina.

International Rugby

/ 2 days ago

Argentina 10-17 South Africa: Springboks survive Pumas fightback to edge Buenos Aires thriller

South Africa survived a dramatic late Argentina fightback to extend their winning run to 10 Tests with a tense victory in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Henry Slade: England have a real chance in the 2027 Rugby World Cup

Henry Slade believes England have all the ingredients to challenge rugby’s biggest nations at next year’s Rugby World Cup – if...

By Adam Hathaway

International Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Peter Winterbottom says England have made no progress under Steve Borthwick

Peter Winterbottom questions whether England have genuinely progressed under Steve Borthwick, with the former flanker also highlighting discipline issues and naming...

By Ben Jaycock

Bordeaux-Bègles and Perpignan players compete during a Top 14 clash.

Brendan Gallagher

/ 1 week ago

Brendan Gallagher: France are keeping the global game alive ahead of the Rugby World Cup

Brendan Gallagher examines how French rugby has become the driving force behind the global game, providing vital support for Tier 2...

By Brendan Gallagher

South Africa celebrate victory over New Zealand in the World Cup Final

Columnists

/ 1 week ago

Peter Jackson: All Blacks v Springboks – The thrilling series that will grip the rugby world

Peter Jackson says the return of a four-Test series between South Africa and New Zealand is the blockbuster rugby has been...

By Peter Jackson

Jac Morgan has been the best player in Wales for some time.

Chris Hewett

/ 1 week ago

Chris Hewett: Jac Morgan is the lad to get the Shed singing at Gloucester

Chris Hewett believes Jac Morgan can become a defining figure for Gloucester as the Wales captain joins a recruitment drive that...

By Chris Hewett

Gareth Anscombe will be playing for Scarlets next season.

Club Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Gareth Anscombe says competition will bring the best out of Scarlets

Gareth Anscombe says he still has “a huge desire to compete”, while Nigel Davies explains the mentality Scarlets want to build.

By The Rugby Paper Team

England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in action against Fiji.

Columnists

/ 1 week ago

Kyran Bracken: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso blew me away, he’s genuinely world class

World Cup winner Kyran Bracken believes England are heading in the right direction after their Nations Championship campaign, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Letters

/ 1 week ago

Fans should see more of All Blacks

NOVEMBER will see a whole raft of Test matches in Europe as the southern hemisphere ‘Big 3’, plus Japan, Fiji and...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 week ago

It’s family first for Whitelocks

BEFORE the Barretts came along in triplicate, there were the Whitelocks: four brothers who all played for Canterbury, three of whom...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 1 week ago

URC Ins and Outs – Cardiff leading the Welsh challenge

Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the URC season with Jarrod Evans returning to the Blue and Blacks as Corniel van Zyl...

By Ben Jaycock

Autumn Internationals

/ 1 week ago

Paul Rees: France must be northern stars in the Nations Championship

France have emerged as the leading northern hemisphere challengers after the opening phase of the Nations Championship, but Paul Rees believes...

By Paul Rees

Club Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Joe Schmidt signs up for new Ulster role after Australia head coach exit

The former Ireland boss will help shape the next generation of coaches at Ulster, with his arrival offering the province a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 1 week ago

Yatte Minahare! James Lowe excited for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath move following Leinster exit

James Lowe says he is excited to begin a “new chapter” in Japan after joining Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.

By The Rugby Paper Team

South Africa’s Jesse Kriel scores against England

Features

/ 1 week ago

Neil de Kock: Every Test match will count for something in the Nations Championship

Former South Africa and Saracens scrum-half Neil de Kock believes the Nations Championship can provide rugby with a meaningful competition between...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Lawrence Dallaglio with the Premiership trophy in 2008.

Club Rugby

/ 1 week ago

All Stars XV: Wasps – Brave warriors with a will to win

Brendan Gallagher selects his all-time Wasps XV, featuring club legends Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw and Josh Lewsey from the Premiership giants’...

By Brendan Gallagher

Natalia Pamieta on the way to scoring a try for Poland against Czechia

Features

/ 1 week ago

Natalia Pamieta: My big dream is to play in the Olympics

Saope Soko talks to Natalia Pamieta who has decided to leave her army career to concentrate on playing for Poland.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Note how New Zealand’s Will Jordan has hips facing up the pitch. He has created power through the torque of his core

Feature

/ 1 week ago

Dan Cottrell on how the miss pass can spark an attack

Dan Cottrell explains how the miss pass can unlock defences, create space and help attacking players exploit gaps in this latest...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Beauden Barrett will feature for Taranaki in 2026.

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Can Taranaki deny Canterbury National Provincial Championship glory for 2026?

Taranaki enter the 2026 National Provincial Championship season among the leading contenders as they look to challenge Canterbury for the title...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Who are the favourites to retain the National Provincial Championship crown for 2026?

Canterbury enter the new NPC season as favourites to defend their title, with Richie Mo’unga’s return and a squad packed with...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Prem ins and outs – Bath have some big holes to fill

Ben Jaycock looks at who has come in and who has moved on as preparations continue for the next Prem season.

By Ben Jaycock

Columnists

/ 2 weeks ago

Peter Jackson: Not much sign that Wales can close gap

Peter Jackson argues there is little evidence Wales are closing the gap on the world’s best, warning the WRU must replace...

By Peter Jackson

Italy on the attack against the All Blacks in the Nations Championship

Brendan Gallagher

/ 2 weeks ago

Brendan Gallagher: Referees should not be above criticism

Brendan Gallagher argues World Rugby was wrong to punish Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada for criticising the officials, insisting referees can no...

By Brendan Gallagher

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Sam Winters looking to kick on with Bath after standout U20s World Cup for England

Sam Winters reflects on England’s World Rugby U20 Championship campaign, the lessons learned from reaching the semi-finals and why he believes...

By Ben Jaycock

International Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Jac Morgan: Wales are getting better despite heavy Nations Championship defeats

Jac Morgan insists Wales are making progress despite ending their Nations Championship campaign with heavy defeats to Argentina and South Africa.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 weeks ago

Albornoz to face discipline hearing

ARGENTINA fly-half Tomás Albornoz is set to become the first player dealt with under World Rugby’s new Match Official Abuse Sanction...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jean Kleyn leading the attack for Munster

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Jean Kleyn sets his sights on firing up Gloucester next season

World Cup-winning lock Jean Kleyn says he is ready for a “last adventure” after swapping Munster for Gloucester and reigniting his...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Cassius Cleaves on the attack for Harlequins

Club Rugby

/ 2 weeks ago

Cassius Cleaves: I want to nail down my place at Harlequins

Cassius Cleaves believes Harlequins can benefit from their coaching changes as they look to bounce back from a disappointing Premiership campaign.

By Paul Rees

Marcus Smith dives in to score for England against Argentina last weekend

Columnists

/ 2 weeks ago

Nick Cain: England’s direction of travel still unclear

Nick Cain believes England’s summer ended with encouraging signs, but says Steve Borthwick still has major questions to answer over discipline,...

By Nick Cain

Argentina put in a disappointing performance against a travel-weary

Chris Hewett

/ 2 weeks ago

Chris Hewett: It’s time for Argentina to spice things up again

Chris Hewett questions why Argentina have lost their reputation as rugby’s great disruptors, arguing the Pumas must rediscover their edge and...

By Chris Hewett

Pieter-Steph du Toit on the charge for South Africa against Wales.

Autumn Internationals

/ 2 weeks ago

Paul Rees: Southern giants lay down an early Nations Championship marker

Paul Rees sees the south on top in the Nations Championship and says the TMO acting as referee is a system...

By Paul Rees

George Furbank, in action for Northampton Saints, is joining Harlequins for the new season.

Features

/ 2 weeks ago

Chris Robshaw: George Furbank will give Harlequins a fresh sense of ambition

Former England captain Chris Robshaw discusses Harlequins’ rebuild, England’s discipline issues, why resting Maro Itoje was the right call, and how...

By Ben Jaycock