Six Nations

International Rugby

/ 1 year ago

Good news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist

By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

The RFU Board has failed to do its job properly

The employment of the crisis management company, Teneo, by the incumbent RFU administration to help it weather the SGM storm is...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

I want the Red Roses to be unstoppable, says Zoe Aldcroft

By Dan Robertshaw Newly appointed England captain Zoe Aldcroft insists there is work to be done before her side can set...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Chris Hewett

/ 1 year ago

Captains don’t have to play the full 80

By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed It seems your columnist’s hotline to the England head coach Steve Borthwick has turned positively...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

What a team London Irish could have been…

By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Those disciples of London Irish pining for their lost Premiership team...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 year ago

Steve Borthwick needs to be brutal – and bold – this Six Nations

Paul Rees looks at the tough decisions the England coach has to make ahead of this season's Six Nations It is...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeff Probyn

/ 1 year ago

Bill’s tour depends on fame, not facts

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Well, it hasn’t taken long for Bill Beaumont to reveal what we...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 year ago

REGGIEHAMMICK

YOUNG GUNS SARACENS FLANKER A brasive back row Reggie Hammick has joined Mark Mapletoft’s England U20s set-up aiming to make his...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Spandler hits four for Bath

England U20 By BEN JAYCOCK Bath United.................. 50pts England U20................ 28pts JASPER Spandler scored four first-half tries as Bath came out...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Encore for exiled prop star Rabah Slimani

French Column by James Harrington Last Wednesday, Fabien Galthie named six uncapped players in his 42-strong list for the first match...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 1 year ago

The seven best head-to-head matchups in the Champions Cup this weekend

By Charlie Elliott The Champions Cup pool stage is at the business end now, with plenty still to play for going into the final...

By Charlie Elliott

/ 1 year ago

Max Llewellyn snub from Six Nations sums up everything wrong with Welsh Rugby

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports The Wales squad has officially been announced, and Welsh fans will likely have mixed emotions when...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Anthony Watson announces retirement after injury struggles

England and Leicester wing Anthony Watson has been forced to retire from professional rugby on medical grounds. The 30-year-old has had...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Simon Easterby welcomes return of Leinster quartet for Ireland’s Six Nations title defence

Interim head coach Simon Easterby believes the availability of Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Jimmy O’Brien “massively increases” Ireland’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 1 year ago

Uncapped prop Jack Boyle named in first Ireland squad under Simon Easterby

Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has named uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle in a 36-man squad for the Guinness Six...

By Simon Thomas

Six Nations

/ 1 year ago

Gregor Townsend hoping Kyle Steyn can still feature for Scotland in Six Nations

Gregor Townsend is hopeful that Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn can still play a big part in the Six Nations despite being...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 1 year ago

Lock Jonny Gray and hooker Dave Cherry recalled by Scotland for Six Nations

Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray and Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry have been recalled to the Scotland squad for the Guinness Six Nations....

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 1 year ago

Steve Borthwick backs new skipper Maro Itoje to lead England at 2027 World Cup

Steve Borthwick insists Maro Itoje can lead England into the next World Cup after appointing him captain for the upcoming Six...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 1 year ago

George Skivington surprised by Gloucester duo’s absence from Wales’ Six Nations squad

Gloucester rugby director George Skivington has admitted his surprise at the omission of Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn from Wales’ Six...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Podcast

/ 1 year ago

S4, E18: Maro Itoje England captaincy reaction and Niko Matawalu madness

Join Ollie Little, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett for this week’s Rugby Paper Podcast edition, recorded just half an hour after...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 1 year ago

Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as England captain for Six Nations

Maro Itoje will lead England into the upcoming Guinness Six Nations after replacing Jamie George as captain. George has been in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 1 year ago

Handre Pollard: Argentina will test Steve Borthwick’s England

England have been warned to expect “tough battles” when they enter the backyard of the Pumas later this year.

By Gary Fitzgerald

International Rugby

/ 1 year ago

Bill Sweeney facing SGM following Six Nations

The RFU will hold a special general meeting after the men’s Six Nations with chief executive Bill Sweeney facing demands for...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 1 year ago

Sam Underhill to undergo surgery and miss Six Nations

England flanker Sam Underhill is an injury doubt for the Six Nations after Bath announced that he requires ankle surgery.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 1 year ago

New signing Regan Grace out to seize his chance at Cardiff

Cardiff have revealed how the signing of Regan Grace was made possible by an injury to one of their Wales stars.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 1 year ago

James Ramm: Player rivalry is pushing Northampton to success

James Ramm believes the rivalry among Northampton’s backs off the field can help inspire the club to more silverware on it.

By Gary Fitzgerald

Columnists

/ 1 year ago

Jeremy Guscott: Four changes to fire up England

Whoever makes the England Six Nations squad, to be announced on Tuesday by Steve Borthwick, I cannot imagine much in the...

By Jeremy Guscott

Champions Cup

/ 1 year ago

Stade Francais 45-35 Northampton Saints: Henry Pollock power show can’t rescue Saints

By Adam Hathaway at Stade Jean Bouin Stade Francais- 45 Tries: Dakuwaqa 22, Van der Mescht 29, Tanga 40+2, 57, Penalty...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 1 year ago

Phil Dowson: Henry Pollock is ready for England

Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson insists Henry Pollock is ready for an England call-up if it comes on Tuesday when their...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 1 year ago

We know this is a must-win match, admits van Graan

Return: Bath’s Ted Hill BATH make five changes as they look to kickstart their Champions Cup campaign against Clermont Auvergne. England...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Challenge Cup

/ 1 year ago

Gloucester take the easy route to cruise past Scarlets

■ By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ....... 31pts Tries: Englefield 4, Clement 17, Barton 31, Blake 50, Wade 73 Conversions: Carreras 4,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Challenge Cup

/ 1 year ago

Muncaster blow takes edge off it for Edinburgh

■By BRYN PALMER RC Vannes ........25pts Tries: Beziat 25, Taccola 37, Vili 68 Conversions: Le Bail 26, 38 Penalties: Le Bail...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

George is the best captain for England

IF Steve Borthwick has his share of tricky selection quandaries ahead of the Six Nations, the choice of captain is not...

By The Rugby Paper Team

English Championship

/ 1 year ago

‘I want to follow my brother to the top’ – David Opoku-Fordjour

By Ben Jaycock David Opoku-Fordjour feels he has what it takes to achieve his lifelong dream of lining up alongside his...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 year ago

Tom Shanklin – 2005 Grand Slam was pinnacle of my career

My Life In Rugby The former British & Irish Lions, Wales, Cardiff & Saracens centre, who now commentates for Premier Sports...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 year ago

We can learn a lot from French

By Jeff Probyn - A front row view on the game There is so much that is wrong with the game...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Henderson: I want to repay Cheika’s faith

■ By MARK STEVENS CAMERON Henderson is clearly a man on a mission. After battling through two significant knee injuries that...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Busby to quit after Hansen spat

FOLLOWING the aftermath of critical comments made by Mack Hansen which have seen the Ireland winger handed a three-match ban, Chris...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Emanuel puts in double shift

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales U20.................... 42pts Welsh Academies......21pts IOAN Emanuel scored two tries as Wales U20s continued their preparations for the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

James Harrington

/ 1 year ago

Fabien Galthie’s Six Nations dilemma: Who gets the vote at 10?

French Column - By James Harrington There are bigger rugby weeks to come in 2025, but the Wednesday between January’s twin...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Aldcroft takes over at helm for England

■By BEN JAYCOCK In charge: New captain Zoe Aldcroft PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER-Hartpury lock Zoe Aldcroft has been installed as England...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Hansen’s comments proved the final straw for Chris Busby

Ireland and Connacht winger Mack Hansen has provided guaranteed entertainment to the game of rugby by means of his exciting style...

By Ben Jaycock

Women's International

/ 1 year ago

Zoe Aldcroft replaces Marlie Packer as England captain for 2025

Zoe Aldcroft has replaced Marlie Packer as England Women’s captain for 2025. Gloucester-Hartpury forward Aldcroft, who has 58 international caps, will...

By The Rugby Paper Team