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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 […]

Wales legend Owens retires at 37

17 April 2024 0 comments

Former Wales captain Ken Owens has retired from professional rugby aged 37. The ‘Sheriff’ was the oldest ever-player to hold the role, as he played […]

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

14 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded a new title sponsor […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

It’s a long walk but Wales on right road

10 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT We’ve all heard it: “You don’t beat Wales at rugby – you just score more points than them.” Like many sporting quips masquerading […]

Wasps better off with URC – Sharp

3 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Coventry chairman Jon Sharp is convinced that Wasps’ future, if it has one, lies in the United Rugby Championship, not the RFU […]

Swift move to fit in another international

25 February 2024 0 comments

ANOTHER so-called Test match is squeezed into a congested calendar with such indecent haste that nobody can be sure as to the identity of the […]

Scotland prop Rory signs with Warriors

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Scotland and Lions loosehead Rory Sutherland is returning to Scotland at the end of the season after signing a […]

Time for Borthwick to deliver

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: England Paul Rees says that, this time around, the fixture list has been kind to the World Cup semi-finalists IT IS […]

How O’Mahony answered Ireland’s Call

25 January 2024 0 comments

In a tournament full of as many great moments as the recent World Cup, a handheld sign in the crowd wouldn’t ordinarily rank very highly. […]

We need a more exclusive guest list

21 January 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED HERE’S a little brain-teaser, just to make sure you’ve been paying attention at the back of the class: since 2014, when […]

Cockerill handed Georgia job

18 January 2024 0 comments

Former Leicester Tigers boss and England assistant Richard Cockerill has been named head coach of the Georgian national team and their club side Black Lion. […]

Dragons blow chance of booking home leg

14 January 2024 0 comments

By JOHN WILKINS Zebre………………20pts Tries: Gesi 26, 51; Bianchi 44 Conversions: Montemauri 45 Penalties: Montemauri 35 Dragons………….17pts Tries: Rosser 58 Penalties: Evans 6, 13, 17, […]

Bristol and Bath chasing Welsh prop

31 December 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER West Country rivals Bath and Bristol are battling over Wales loosehead Nicky Smith, who could activate a get-out clause written into his […]

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

24 December 2023 0 comments

With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It has been a chastening […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Sunday round-up

11 December 2023 0 comments

Sunday saw a fourth meeting in as many seasons of La Rochelle and Leinster in the Champions Cup, with their last two clashes both having […]

No room at the top for Welsh regions

10 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW AS Anglo-Welsh duels of the blood-and-guts variety go, one springs foremost to mind: a humdinger of a […]

Champions Cup round one Friday and Saturday preview

8 December 2023 0 comments

The 2023/24 Champions Cup kicks off this weekend, with England captain Owen Farrell set to return to action for Saracens for the first-time since announcing […]

Challenge Cup round one Friday and Saturday preview

8 December 2023 0 comments

Gloucester will be looking to get their season back on track as they face Black Lion, with their opposition becoming the first Georgian team to […]

Lions set up Aviva date with Argentina for 2025

7 December 2023 1 comment

The British and Irish Lions will play a match in Ireland for the first time in their history when they face Argentina at the Aviva […]

Bath move for World Cup star Snyman

3 December 2023 0 comments

By NEIL FISSLER World Cup winner RG Snyman is set to reunite with Johann van Graan, with Bath on the verge of completing a deal […]

Big clubs ready to rumble

3 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees looks forward to the Champions Cup, kicking off this weekend THE Champions Cup returns this week with a tweaked format that does away […]

Georgia happy to be joining the party

3 December 2023 0 comments

The Challenge Cup is being used to widen boundaries. A Georgian side, Black Lion which will play its home matches in Tbilisi, has been included […]

2025 Lions will be available for the whole tour

19 November 2023 0 comments

All players selected for the 2025 British and Irish Lions to Australia will be available for the whole tour thanks to a new partnership with […]

Davis keen to put on a show on derby day

19 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Sandy Park Aidon Davis has played in all three major leagues in Europe and […]

Lawrence delight as he goes back to Cardiff

19 November 2023 0 comments

Back row Alun Lawrence has rejoined Cardiff Rugby on a short-term contract. The 25-year-old came through the ranks at the Arms Park before joining Jersey […]

Hanekom chews over Wales option

19 November 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE His elder brother was the first to dip his toe into Welsh rugby and now the Bulls No.8 Cameron Hanekom is mulling […]

Edinburgh …… 17 Lions ……………. 16

29 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN JACOBS EDINBURGH held off the Lions to make it two wins from two to start their United Rugby Championship campaign. The home side […]

Smith commits future to Warriors until 2026

17 September 2023 0 comments

Coach Franco Smith has signed a new contract with Glasgow Warriors, extending his stay until 2026. The 51-year-old South African – linked with the Scotland […]

Gold adds his experience to the Blue Bulls

6 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Bath boss Gary Gold is back in coaching after agreeing to join Jake White’s coaching staff at the Blue Bulls in […]

Neild back on market

18 June 2023 0 comments

Former Sale Sharks back-row Cameron Neild is looking for his third club in a year after his short-term deal with Glasgow Warriors ran out at […]

Paea is on his way to Zebre

9 May 2023 0 comments

Premiership clubs are poised to miss out on signing Tonga and Highlanders outside centre Fetuli Paea when his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union […]

Falcons lining up swoop for Blackett

26 March 2023 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Newcastle Falcons are the latest club to be linked with a move for former Wasps boss Lee Blackett after […]

Gloucester duo set to join Ealing

19 March 2023 1 comment

Championship leaders Ealing are close to pulling off a double swoop on Gloucester for former England international Billy Twelvetrees and former star Jordy Reid. Blindside […]

Cracknell fears for his old friends

19 March 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Olly Cracknell fears for the future of former team-mates at the Ospreys as the contract uncertainty in Wales, which sparked a strike […]

Ealing close in on Ospreys merger

5 March 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Ealing Trailfinders are close to completing the paperwork for a merger with the Ospreys, which will see them play […]

Ealing hold merger talks with Ospreys

19 February 2023 1 comment

By NEIL FISSLER EXCLUSIVE Ospreys are the Welsh region that Ealing Trailfinders have sounded out about a potential merger that would see them swap the […]

Kolisi to quit Sharks for long stay in Paris

8 January 2023 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA SOUTH Africa captain Siya Kolisi will join Racing 92 on a multi-year deal after the World Cup in October. Kolisi, 31, who currently […]

Sad to hear laughter over Traore incident

31 December 2022 2 comments

PETER JACKSON WHEN those at the ‘Secret Santa’ party hosted by the Benetton squad laughed at Cherif Traore unwrapping an over-ripe banana, they did more […]

Worcester Warriors have signed Owen Williams

Japanese interested in taking Williams back

23 December 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Former Wales fly-half Owen Williams is a target for Japanese clubs despite only moving […]

Scarlets looking to prove worth

11 December 2022 1 comment

Preview Scarlets v Bayonne Today. 3.15pm SCARLETS welcome Wales internationals Dane Blacker, Ryan Elias and Josh Macleod back into their starting line-up for their Challenge […]

URC chief keen to emulate US sports model

18 September 2022 0 comments

■By STEFFAN THOMAS MARTIN Anayi admits the United Rugby Championship does need to consider a restriction on player salaries and would like the cross-border competition […]

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Thirty-One with Toby Booth

14 September 2022 0 comments

Ahead of the United Rugby Championship getting underway this weekend, host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain and Chris Hewett are joined by Ospreys Head […]

Leinster take their chances as they prove too strong for Quins

4 September 2022 1 comment

Harlequins……..21pts Leinster …………26pts By ALAN ROBINSON Leinster stepped up their preparations for the new United Rugby Championship season with a five-point triumph over Premiership outfit […]

Franco Smith appointed as new Glasgow boss

2 August 2022 2 comments

Former Italy boss Franco Smith has been appointed Glasgow Warriors head coach on a two-year deal. Smith, 50, joins the URC side after a spell […]

Italians not playing ball with Warriors in Franco battle

31 July 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Wanted: Franco Smith Glasgow Warriors are battling to name Franco Smith as their new head after the Italian Rugby […]

‘New era’ dawns for re-named Dragons RFC

27 June 2022 4 comments

Newport-based Dragons are to rebrand as “Dragons RFC”, in a move to designed to build the identity of the club. Dragons, who finished second-from bottom […]

Warriors sweat on Deano amid American interest

26 June 2022 0 comments

GLASGOW are sweating to see if former Newcastle boss Dean Richards, their first choice to replace Danny Wilson at Scotstoun, will take the job. Blindside […]

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