URC - News, reports, analysis and opinion

Eben Etzebeth scores the 11th Springboks try before being sent off

Wales 0-73 South Africa: Steve Tandy’s pointless side put to shame in 11-try thrashing

A weakened Wales suffered an all-time record home defeat in a brutally one-sided contest at the Principality Stadium.

By Simon Thomas

Deadeye Sean’s on fire for Connacht

■By BEN JAYCOCK Connacht ...... 44 Sharks .............17 CONNACHT secured a much-needed win to get their season back on track courtesy...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Douglas leads from front as Scarlets seal maiden win

■By LUKE JARMYN Scarlets ...........23pts Tries: Macleod 15, Page 48 Conversions: Costelow 16, 49 Penalties: Costelow 24, 30, 66 Glasgow ................

By The Rugby Paper Team

Harry Paterson celebrates a try for Edinburgh

Edinburgh 19-17: Sean Everitt’s side given scare by depleted Ospreys

Edinburgh stuttered their way to an unconvincing victory over a denuded Ospreys at Hive Stadium to cling onto the coat-tails of...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Munster fall foul of ‘Nuke Squad’

■By SAM JACKSON Munster .........21 Stormers .........27 THE Stormers produced a stunning second-half fightback at Thomond Park to remain the only...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Bulls ………….33 Lions ………….43

LIONS’ resurgence in the URC gathered further momentum with an impressive victory in a lively Jukskei derby at Loftus Versfeld. Having...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Hat-trick for Hughes as Cardiff play power game

■By SIMON THOMAS Zebre .................14pts Tries: Licata 30, Zanon 74 Conversion: Farias 31, 75 Cardiff ..............29pts Tries: Hughes 13, 18, 40;...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Murphy proud of Ulster reaction

■By BEN JAYCOCK Ulster ............. 47 Benetton .........13 ULSTER reignited their URC challenge with a seven-try win after overcoming a disrupted...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Smit joins Cardiff

CARDIFF have signed Cornel Smit from URC rivals Bulls, the 28-year-old centre who can also play fly-half and wing. He will...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Ealing can’t be blamed if they look to the URC

EALING Trailfinders could be forgiven for adopting the old Millwall FC chant, “No one likes us, we don’t care”. The west...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Disciplinary decisions were not inconsistent

THE media has an important role to play in the rugby disciplinary system. Informed commentators help explain to the public the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

The day Ellis Park wasn’t at capacity…

SEVENTY years on from finding room for 95,000 at a Springbok-Lions Test match, Ellis Park marked the anniversary with another record...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Stanley enjoying real men’s rugby

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Hungry for action: Dings prop Archie Stanley DINGS Crusaders loose-head Archie Stanley urges all young players to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

We should have won that, says Wainwright

■ By LUKE JARMYN Dragons ............... 19pts Tries: R Williams 37, Coghlan 59, Burrows 75 Conversions: De Beer 38, 60 Ospreys...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Battling Warriors come from behind

By GARY WRIGHT Glasgow...........21 Bulls..................12 GLASGOW Warriors moved top of the URC temporarily on Friday after a hard-fought victory at Scotstoun....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Ospreys v Scarlets – EPCR Challenge Cup – Swansea.com Stadium

Peter Jackson: Ospreys have good reason to spit blood

When the WRU delivered its damning verdict on the Ospreys and Scarlets, the judges ought to have been suitably dressed for...

By Peter Jackson

Ospreys flanker Harri Deaves is determined to prove his worth

Proving the doubters wrong has always been a motivation for Harri Deaves and it continues to drive him on now as...

By Simon Thomas

Alun Lawrence enjoying his whirlwind return at Cardiff

It’s safe to say Alun Lawrence has grabbed his second chance at Cardiff with both hands.

By Simon Thomas

Gloucester move for Bleuler as injury cover

GLOUCESTER have signed South African prop Dian Bleuler from URC side Sharks to help provide cover for a raft of injuries....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Scarlets stuck at the bottom after Lions take revenge

By SIMON THOMAS Lions..................29pts Tries: Q Horn 25, Marais 58, Brandon 70, 75 Penalties: Smith 46, Lombard 53, 81 Scarlets ...........18pts...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Dragons in bother as Faletau has a field day

By ROGER PANTING Dragons ..............................17pts Tries: Coghlan 6, Carter 71 Conversions: de Beer 6, 71 Penalty: O’Brien 79 Cardiff................................24pts Tries: Mann...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Leinster 14-31 Munster: Jack Crowley bosses it for Munster

Jack Crowley laid down a marker in the battle to be the starting Irish out-half as he inspired Munster to a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Graham proves his worth

By BRYN PALMER Edinburgh....... 43 Benetton............ 0 EDINBURGH coach Sean Everitt saluted “tough guy” Darcy Graham after the Scotland wing brushed...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Zebre……………..13 Stormers……….31

SPRINGBOK star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s 16-point haul guided the Stormers to a comfortable victory in Parma over Zebre to move to the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Ospreys in charge as they break their duck

■By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys .............................24pts Tries: Cokanasiga 15, Morse 18, Ratti 74 Conversions: Edwards 16, 19, 75 Penalty: Edwards 59 Zebre......................................0pts...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

Bowen hits three to put Cardiff in the points

■By SIMON THOMAS Munster ............23pts Tries: Quinn 28, Coombes 52, Barron 61 Conversion: Crowley 53 Penalty: Crowley 67 Drop goal: Crowley...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

Dragons fail to land the final punch

■By ROGER PANTING Dragons ......................... 17pts Tries: Wainwright 14, O’Brien 25 Conversions: de Beer 14, 25 Penalty: de Beer 64 Sharks...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

We let it slip again, moans Lake

■By SIMON THOMAS Stormers ...........26pts Tries: Roos 10, Simelane 58, De Villiers 70 Conversion: Matthee 59 Penalties: Matthee 40, 44, 57...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

Benetton have drop on Glasgow

■ By BRYN PALMER Benetton ...........16pts Try: Menoncello 51 Conversion: Umaga 52 Penalties: Umaga 26, 70 Drop goal: Smith 80 Glasgow...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

Zebre on an upward curve

Preview Zebre v Lions Today. 3pm ZEBRE were once known as the URC’s whipping boys but following their impressive opening day...

By The Rugby Paper Team

News Extra

/ 2 months ago

Saints sign Italian ace Manfredi

NEWS EXTRA NORTHAMPTON have signed Italy hooker Marco Manfredi for the rest of the season from Benetton, joining his compatriot Danilo...

By The Rugby Paper Team

News Extra

/ 2 months ago

Ironman Winnett learning a lot from Halfpenny

URC Ironman Cam Win-nett says working with his idol Leigh Halfpenny is proving a huge benefit to his game. Winnett was...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

Thomas blow can’t stop Cardiff taking down Lions

■By SIMON THOMAS Cardiff ..............33pts Tries: Thomas 9, Winnett 23, Mann 51, Lloyd 59, 76 Conversions: Sheedy 10, 24, 52, 60...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

Tiatia: We have got pto improve

■By SIMON Tries: Izuchukwu 11, Timoney 28, McCann 33, Ward 36, Doak 42, Stewart 83 Conversions: Doak 12, 29, 34, 37,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

United Rugby Championship

/ 2 months ago

Lancaster opens up in style

■By JAMES O’CONNELL Connacht.........26 Benetton..........15 CONNACHT began the new era under Stuart Lancaster with a big win over a star-packed Treviso...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

Gordon’s new role sparks Titans’ early scoring surge

■By BEN JAYCOCK Confident: Rotherham centre Travis Gordon TRAVIS Gordon believes the standard of National League rugby in England is far...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Adams urges fans to get behind Cardiff

■By SIMON THOMAS WALES star Josh Adams says it is more important than ever that people get behind Cardiff as he...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Ulster will be a tough opener, admits Tiatia

■By SIMON THOMAS DRAGONS coach Filo Tiatia admits he faces some welcome selection headaches going into the new season. There are...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Lloyd’s delighted to be back at Cardiff

By SIMON THOMAS AFTER spells in the west country and west Wales, Ioan Lloyd is back home and relishing the experience....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Cambridge .33pts Ulster ………..36pts

■ By SOPHIE JONES IN a pulsating contest, Cambridge narrowly missed out on a famous victory, going down narrowly to a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Cardiff take command over Leinster

Leinster............ 10 Cardiff..............31 ■ By JOHN EVANS CARDIFF rounded off their pre-season preparations in commanding fashion with victory over a youthful...

By The Rugby Paper Team