Paul Rees

Dunn: I want to finish my time with a trophy

By PAUL REES Tom Dunn has spent his senior career at Bath and intends to finish it by emulating the teams...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Odendaal enjoying his life back in the Prem

By PAUL REES Burger Odendaal was one of the few Premiership players who did not welcome the break for the Six...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Bears believe they can mount a title challenge

By PAUL REES Bristol went into the Six Nations break as one of the form teams in the Premiership with skipper...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Ward: Diamond is the right man for Falcons

By PAUL REES Steve Diamond takes over at Newcastle this week with club stalwart Micky Ward believing the hard-nosed former Sale...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sinckler may head to France after England snub

By PAUL REES Pat Lam accepts that Kyle Sinckler may be more tempted to leave Bristol for France after being left...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Cool cat Crowley has to prove his worth

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Ireland Brendan Gallagher says coach Andy Farrell is spoilt for choice in nearly every position on the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Gatland: You write us off at your peril

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Wales Paul Rees finds the coach in bullish mood about his team’s chances in the coming weeks...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Galthie looking for mix of renewal and continuity

Six Nations team-by-team previews: France James Harrington anticipates an Era of Expectation from the side who stalled at the World Cup...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Time for Borthwick to deliver

Six Nations team-by-team previews: England Paul Rees says that, this time around, the fixture list has been kind to the World...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Prodigal son needs to pull the right strings

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Scotland Paul Rees listens to Gregor Townsend as he admits that it’s about time his team got...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Conquistador going in search of pot of gold

Six Nations team-by-team previews: Italy Brendan Gallagher predicts new coach Gonzalo Quesada could just be a very good appointment SO what...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Millar Mills on course to emulate his star sisters

By PAUL REES Elliot Millar Mills this week joins up with the Scotland squad to prepare for the Six Nations little...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Skivington considers how to replace ‘Zam’

By PAUL REES George Skivington is considering whether to add to his squad after the departure of Louis Rees-Zammit, but not...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Beard: To get the call was a dream come true

By PAUL REES Oscar Beard missed the call he dared not expect. The Harlequins centre had shut himself in his room...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Borthwick puts club form at top of his list

SIX NATIONS COUNTDOWN Paul Rees says change will be gradual rather than sudden as teams renew after World Cup THE first...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Hutchinson glad to be back in the fold

By PAUL REES Much has been made of the five backs from free-scoring Northampton who have made the Six Nations squad,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Lam stays optimistic despite £14m losses

By PAUL REES Pat Lam is confident Premiership clubs are heading towards sustainability despite three of them posting losses of nearly...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Pearson ready to step up at Saints

By PAUL REES Norhtampton are doing everything they can to persuade Courtney Lawes to carry on at Franklin’s Gardens, but should...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Townsend: I’ll keep on playing hard

By PAUL REES Stu Townsend’s new year resolution is to stay fit after an unlucky run with injuries has left him...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Weak Bears can’t keep Bulls in check

By PAUL REES Bristol.................................17pts Tries: Marmion 19, Ibitoye 74, Bradbury 80 Conversion: McGinty 20 Bulls ....................................31pts Tries: Petersen 15, Mchunu 55,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Freeman sets his sights on England

By PAUL REES Tommy Freeman has taken inspiration from club colleague Alex Mitchell as he strives to make England’s Six Nations...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Pepper the shining star for Falcons as they battle hard

By PAUL REES Newcastle have had little to smile about this season, but Guy Pepper has added some spice to the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Millard backing Gloucester to do some damage

■ By PAUL REES Starts: Jonny May GLOUCESTER are looking for the new year to provide them with a reset after...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Pearson: We are getting our reward for hard work

By PAUL REES Exeter's rise this season with a largely young group of players has taken many by surprise, but not...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 07/01/24

Second host first this Saturday in the Premiership, and we’ll have coverage of Exeter Chiefs vs Northampton Saints alongside three other reports...

By Nick Powell

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Harrison grabs his chance

Sale have switched to a new energy provider this season – prop Ross Harrison, the longest serving player at the club...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Skivington keen to keep hold of Hastings

By PAUL REES Gloucester last week added Charlie Atkinson to their outside-half roster but want to keep Adam Hastings and are...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Langdon in right place at Saints

By PAUL REES Curtis Langdon’s world was thrown upside down when Worcester folded last season three matches into his contract with...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Saracens pushed all the way by Falcons

By PAUL REES Saracens .......................... 37pts Tries: Dan 10, van Zyl 30, Gonzalez 40, Penalty 63, Mako Vunipola 70 Conversions: Manu...

By The Rugby Paper Team

/ 2 years ago

Reasons to be cheerful for rugby’s year ahead

Paul Rees canvasses the views of Premiership directors of rugby and finds there is a fair amount of optimism IT IS...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Agree new PGP deal quickly, urge DoRs

By PAUL REES Premiership clubs expect the details of the new Professional Game Partnership (PGP) with the RFU to be agreed...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Unlucky Quirke ruled out with foot injury

Raffi Quirke’s dismal luck with injuries continued when a foot injury he picked up at Leinster last weekend that was initially...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Big Game is next in line for upbeat Dombrandt

By PAUL REES Alex Dombrandt will enjoy a rare break over Christmas before returning to drive Harlequins’ twin assaults on the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Codling: This is the toughest run I have had as a coach

By PAUL REES Newcastle may have had a challenging start to the season, but Alex Codling believes there are several reasons...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Agony for Hastings as Saints hold on

By PAUL REES Gloucester ....................... 29pts Tries: Clarke 27, Harris 40, Alemanno 47, Carreras 52 Conversions: Hastings, 28, 40, 53 Penalties:...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Challenge Cup

/ 2 years ago

The French out in front? That’s not how it looks

With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Sanderson: Ford and Tuilagi will stay at Sale

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson is confident England outside-half George Ford will be at Sale next season, along with Manu Tuilagi....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Hastings close to Gloucester return

By PAUL REES Adam Hastings is close to a return for Gloucester after an injury-plagued 2023 that has seen the Scotland...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Caulfield loving life back with the Bears

By PAUL REES Josh Caulfield grew up supporting Bristol and the second row’s despair in the summer when London Irish collapsed...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Freeman’s switch to 13 has sparked Borthwick’s interest

By PAUL REES Northampton's decision to turn Tommy Freeman into a 13 this season has been far from unlucky for the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 2 years ago

Setting the agenda for rugby

Paul Rees looks ahead to the issues that will be addressed in this week's meeting of the Premiership's top men The...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Vermeulen confident Chiefs will return to top

By PAUL REES Jacques Vermeulen is one of the old hands at Exeter following his arrival from South Africa in 2019...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Dynamic duo put life back into Bath

By PAUL REES Ben Spencer has partnered two of the leading outside halves of their generation, Owen Farrell and Finn Russell,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Bristol looking to kick on

By PAUL REES What a difference a win makes. Bristol’s frustrating run of five successive Premiership defeats, four by single figure...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 years ago

Rampant Bath storm to the winning post

By PAUL REES Bath .................................... 37pts Tries: Cokanasiga 27, 73; Dunn 45, du Toit 69, Gallagher 79 Conversions: Spencer 46, 70;...

By The Rugby Paper Team