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Tag: Paul Rees

Be quick! McKellar’s lowdown on Leinster

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton had the chance last night to quiz Dan McKellar about their Champions Cup semi-final opponents Leinster but, before the East Midlands […]

Furbank: We were spoonfed too much

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Furbank feels Northampton’s rise this season is down to a pre-season meeting when the players resolved to take more responsibility. The […]

Malins keen to get back into England contention

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Malins will use the closing weeks of the season to give the England selectors a nudge ahead of the summer Tests […]

Johann has brought us true belief, says Bayliss

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath have turned themselves from also-rans to title contenders in less than two years under Johann van Graan and to Josh Bayliss […]

We knew we had to swing the bat – Porter

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Few gave Harlequins a chance at Bordeaux-Begles last weekend, but where there was a Will Porter there was a way. The 25-year […]

Wilson: Our test is to back up victory over Bordeaux

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Return: Joe Marler NEVER mind the 50-22, it is the 80-20 that is commanding the attention of Harlequins as they enter the […]

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 […]

Ramm: We are up for a fight to the finish

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES James Ramm believes Northampton’s exploits in the Champions Cup will boost their bid to not only make the Premiership play-offs again but […]

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

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson believes George Hendy is a wing unlike any other – because he has his legs on back to front. The […]

Green seizes day for dazzling Quins

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ………..41pts Tries: Lucu 19, Buros 24, Depoortere 42, Bielle-Biarrey 59, Tambwe 64, 75 Conversions: Lucu 25, 43, 60, 65 Penalties: Lucu […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

Ntamack back for heavyweight clash

7 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vRacing 92 Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Ernest Wallon ROMAIN Ntamack starts his first match since suffering knee ligament damage in […]

Ban wholesale replacement of the front row

7 April 2024 0 comments

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I READ with interest Paul Rees’ article fearing […]

Gloucester will battle to the end

7 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Gloucester may be out of the running for a play-off place, but they will not be coasting in the final four rounds […]

Modernise the scrum, don’t allow it to die

7 April 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED IF WE take the Book of Ecclesiastes as our guide – ancient though it may be, it makes far more sense […]

It’s still all to play for in race to the finishing line

7 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees predicts a nerve-racking end to the Premiership season where bonus points will prove crucial THE two-month Premiership break has made the jostling for […]

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 […]

Dingwall has his eye on All Blacks

1 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Fraser Dingwall is set on helping Northampton finish the season on a high and putting himself in contention for England’s summer tour […]

Lam: I understand Sinckler decision

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam understands Kyle Sinckler’s decision to turn his back on England and join the exodus to France next season. The 68-cap […]

I’ve loved my time at Bath – Gallagher

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Matt Gallagher admits it will be a wrench to leave Bath at the end of the season and is doing so to […]

We’ll pick our best team for Exeter, says Bath coach

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath will pick their strongest available side at Exeter in Saturday’s Champions Cup last 16 with head coach Johann van Graan billing […]

Llewellyn keen to put himself in the frame for Wales

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Llewellyn’s form for Gloucester this year will have put the centre in the frame for Wales’s summer tour to Australia. That […]

Schreuder happy to be Spencer’s back-up

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Louis Schreuder wasn’t the only South African scrum-half smiling when it was announced at the end of February that he would be […]

The scrum is fighting to stay in the game

31 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees wonders whether some of World Rugby’s law tweaks will mean the end of the scrum as we know it A BANE or a […]

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 […]

Bears can still finish in the top four – Dun

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES James Dun knew exactly what Bristol’s supporters were going through earlier this season when the Bears became stuck in a losing run. […]

I’m fresh and ready for action, says Muir

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Will Muir broke into the England squad this year and although he did not feature in the Six Nations, Bath’s coaches noted […]

Quins hoping to tempt Care, 37, with new deal

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Harlequins are trying to persuade Danny Care to sign a new contract and finish his career at The Stoop, 18 years after […]

Baxter: Clubs will take Cup more seriously

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES The Premiership will shut down next season during the two international windows, meaning more clubs are likely to take the Premiership Cup […]

Van Graan backing Lawrence to put Bath in overdrive

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES On fire: Ollie Lawrence JOHANN van Graan is expecting Ollie Lawrence to play a big part in Bath’s push for the Premiership […]

Ireland’s finest take control

24 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees picks his Six Nations team of the tournament with the men in green providing six of the best THIS year’s Six Nations […]

Baxter backing Jenkins to bounce back at Chiefs

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Rob Baxter has backed Dafydd Jenkins to bounce back from the disappointment of leading Wales to a first Six Nations wooden spoon […]

Pollock is set for take-off at Saints

17 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES When Henry Pollock signed his first professional contract with Northampton last year at the age of 18, he was hailed as a […]

England prove they are a force again

17 March 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 PAUL REES The Six Nations saved the best to last. France sealed second place ahead of England in a compelling match in […]

We need strong finish – Ludlow

17 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Gloucester have been a cup team this season but skipper Lewis Ludlow is demanding a strong finish to the Premiership campaign which […]

Butt: Race for the title is so tight that every point will count

17 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Will Butt is confident Bath will emerge from the top flight break on the front foot as they look to secure their […]

All set for a race to the finish

17 March 2024 0 comments

With the Premiership resuming next weekend, Paul Rees looks at how the runners and riders are gearing up The Premiership resumes this week after an […]

Redshaw ready to lead from the front

10 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ben Redshaw trained with England during last year’s World Cup before he had made his Newcastle debut, already marked out as a […]

Borthwick gets his big selections right

10 March 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Seldom can a victory plundered with the last kick of the match have been so richly deserved. England, so haphazard and error-riddled in […]

Gatland on a mission to avoid whitewash

10 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Wales v France Today. Kick-off 3pm, Principality Stadium WALES are on their worst run in the Six Nations since the year […]

Players or gladiators? Why the game is struggling to find the right balance

10 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees reports on World Rugby’s attempts to broaden the sport’s appeal but can see problems ahead It has become an annual event this decade […]

It’s time for take – off, England

3 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, with Ireland at home and France away to come, Borthwick’s men must become relentless IT WAS three years ago last weekend […]

Mercer: I’m focused on Gloucester

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES If desire to play for England was a factor in selection, Zach Mercer would be one of the first names on the […]

Borthwick’s conundrum: Stick or twist for Ireland

25 February 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES It was England’s first real test this Six Nations as they faced a team that expected to defeat them rather than fantasise about […]

Lethargic France in need of new drive

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW…France vs Italy (Today. Kick-off 3pm, Decathlon Arena, Lille) IT does not come any more demanding in the Six Nations than visits […]

England’s Plan A is to run at Portugal

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW…England A vs Portugal (Today. Kick-off 1pm, Welford Road) Steve Borthwick left Edinburgh after England’s clash against Scotland last night and set […]

Lawes can bring some order

25 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says the former England captain who has signed for Brive will have much to offer when he retires Brive will be delighted that […]

O’Shea wants more England A fixtures

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Twickenham is looking to arrange up to four England A fixtures in the coming years following the resurrection of the side this […]

Baxter expecting decision on Slade future soon

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Exeter expect to know “very shortly’ whether England centre Henry Slade will be extending his 13-year stay at Sandy Park. The 30-year […]