Six Nations

Rugby World Cup gets close; Favourites, dark horses and the talent

Outcomes from test matches in 2022 show that predictability is no longer present. There is more freshness in the air than...

By Sam Emery

Townsend: Gray in the form of his life

By BRYN PALMER PREVIEW... France v Scotland Today. 3pm, Stade de France, Paris SCOTLAND coach Gregor Townsend believes Richie Gray is...

By The Rugby Paper Team

French stars can produce something from nothing

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK France lost to the number one ranked side in the world in Dublin a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sweeney more of a liability than an asset

SADLY it needs to be realised that the RFU has abandoned its frequently misused historic role as guardian of the game’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

I’m 100% with the players, says Davies

NEWS EXTRA By CAM STEPHENS JONATHAN Davies heavily criticised the Welsh Rugby Union’s handling of players’ contracts following the threat to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sensational Prendergast does it again for Ireland

By CAM STEPHENS Italy....................27pts Tries: Quattrini 13, Botturi 47, Mey 59, Gasperini 70 Conversions: Sante 48, 60 Penalties: Sante 24 Ireland.................

By The Rugby Paper Team

Ruthless French have far too much in the tank for Scotland

By SAM JACKSON France............... 54pts Tries: Ferte 8, Mathiron 20, Carbonneau 24, Nouchi 34, 39, Jegou 54, Affane 63, Penalty 77...

By The Rugby Paper Team

England make their hopes of fast start to keep Grand Slam alive

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales..................................................... 21pts Tries: Andrew 25, 58, Penalty 40 Conversions: Edwards 27, 59 England ...............................................37pts Tries: Hathaway 14, Woodward...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Young Gun

/ 3 years ago

Young Guns: Leicester & England U20s centre Joseph Woodward

YOUNG GUNS LEICESTER & ENGLAND U20s CENTRE Joseph Woodward hopes to turn himself into an all-round rugby player by learning off...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeff Probyn

/ 3 years ago

The game is going back, not forward

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME How things change when money is the main target for doing something....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Curry ruled out of Six Nations

SALE confirmed that Tom Curry’s Six Nations campaign is over after his latest injury setback. The 24-year-old flanker had just recovered...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

McDonald a Falcon

FORMER Wasps lock Kiran McDonald has signed for Newcastle. The Scottish forward joined Munster in October after Wasps’ collapse on a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 3 years ago

Minikin happy to keep his eye on the pitch

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite having barely watched any rugby his entire life, Lewis Minikin has gone on to have quite the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Itoje ready to silence Welsh roar

By GARY FITZGERALD Maro Itoje is fired up for England’s visit to Cardiff as they look for their first Six Nations...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

£2m and rising – the cost of shambolic start to Six Nations

By PETER JACKSON Wales are paying a fearful price for their shambolic start to the Six Nations in lost prize money...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Dowson: Mitchell will add to caps

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson has backed Alex Mitchell to add to his England caps after the Northampton scrum-half came off...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Sanderson tips Ford and Curry to get England call

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson expects Tom Curry and George Ford to be recalled by England once they have proved their...

By The Rugby Paper Team

/ 3 years ago

Robinson: Time for a ‘cultural reboot’

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Steve Borthwick has been warned his England revival will not happen overnight and a “cultural reboot” is needed...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 3 years ago

Wiese reckons Tigers close to getting it right

By PAUL REES Jasper Wiese feels Leicester are just a bounce of the ball away from putting a winning run together...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 3 years ago

Tompkins set for Wales recall

By JON NEWCOMBE Saracens DoR Mark McCall says he will be surprised if Nick Tompkins was available to him in the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeremy Guscott

/ 3 years ago

Positives begin to add up for Borthwick

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK Assuming that the Wales v England game in Cardiff on Saturday is played despite...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 3 years ago

Saints stun Sharks after Tuilagi’s red

By PAUL REES Northampton ................... 38pts Tries: James 23, Freeman 48, Proctor 56, Penalty 65, Braley 73, Dingwall 76 Conversions: Smith...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 3 years ago

Warriors move into top four

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow ..........17 Ulster ............... 11 Scotland lock Scott Cummings impressed on his return after a three-month lay-off with...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

McGuigan: Great to hear Shed roar

By JON NEWCOMBE Injured: George McGuigan was named in Steve Borthwick’s first England squad PICTURES: Getty Images GLOUCESTER hooker George McGuigan...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Shane Williams

/ 3 years ago

WRU now the laughing stock of world rugby

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Oh, what a week that was! I felt the pain along with every other Welsh...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Peter Jackson

/ 3 years ago

Biggar has no one to blame but himself

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Had Wales only opted to man the picket lines outside Murrayfield instead of...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Ireland show just how farWales have to go

PETER JACKSON • A Ferrari is said to go from a standstill to 50mph in 2.9 seconds. The one seen at...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, February 19 2023 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 3 years ago

All set for Arundell to explode

By GART FITZGERALD Italy will feel the full, devastating force of “special” Henry Arundell when England unleash him at Twickenham. Attack...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Gatland’s desperate to stop the rot

By ROB COLE Wales have suddenly turned into a penalty machine and Warren Gatland says he has got to find a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Haag joins Scotland set-up with eye on England

By JON NEWCOMBE EXCLUSIVE Junior World Cup-winning coach Martin Haag is poised to join the Scotland Women’s team as an assistant...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Genge: We’re going to make Italy suffer

By GARY FITZGERALD Ellis Genge insists England are in mean and hungry mood to make Italy suffer for their latest Calcutta...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Six Nations

/ 3 years ago

Borthwick criticism was dig at Eddie – Marler

By GARY FITZGERALD Joe Marler has backed Steve Borthwick over his forthright condemnation of England’s Calcutta Cup flops. But even the...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Outstanding Ireland come out on top in battle of the best

By PAUL REES Ireland............................... 32pts Tries: Keenan 9, Lowe 21, Porter 26, Ringrose 72 Conversions: Sexton 11, 27; Byrne 74 Penalties:...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 3 years ago

Ireland’s passion play in classic confrontation

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Touts were reportedly asking €1,000 for a ticket outside the Aviva yesterday morning ahead of kick off and frankly,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeremy Guscott

/ 3 years ago

England need to find some collective drive

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE pressure is on England because Italy started the Six Nations very competitively against...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 3 years ago

Russell puts on a show as Scots run riot

By PETER JACKSON Scotland ........................... 35pts Tries: Turner 30, Steyn 51, 58; Kinghorn 71, M Fagerson 79 Conversions: Russell 32, 53...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Shane Williams

/ 3 years ago

Time for real honesty within Welsh set-up

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Returning Wales coach Warren Gatland really knows now the size of the job on his...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Nick Cain

/ 3 years ago

Urgent problems that RFU needs to address

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK England go into the second round of this Six Nations as the only...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Borthwick puts faith in blitz squad

PREVIEW England v Italy PAUL REES SOUTH Africa have the bomb squad but Steve Borthwick has opted for the blitz squad...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeff Probyn

/ 3 years ago

Starting choices up front a surprise

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME HOPE and expectation, two words that have the same goal which implies...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Wigglesworth set for England as Cockerill’s departure confirmed

NEWS EXTRA RICHARD Cockerill will leave his role as England forwards coach after the Six Nations, as revealed last week on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 3 years ago

Young Guns: Sale & England U20s centre Reketi Ma’asi-White

By BEN JAYCOCK Introvert Rekeiti Ma’asi-White is hoping to use the Six Nations U20s experience with England to improve on his...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 years ago

Bracken: Six Nations battle is wide open

By GARY FITZGERALD Kyran Bracken feels the battle for the Northern Hemisphere crown is “wide open” this year and says England...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Six Nations

/ 3 years ago

Dazzling solo try leaves England for dead

By NICK CAIN AT TWICKENHAM England ............................. 23pts Tries: Malins 24, 38; Genge 48 Conversions: Farrell 49 Penalties: Farrell 43, 65...

By The Rugby Paper Team