World Cup - Page 3 of 126 - News, interviews, reports, analysis and opinion

Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One

/ 2 months ago

Slipper is back – at 37!

EXTRA NEWS AUSTRALIA prop James Slipper will come out of international retirment for the Nations Championship – and could keep going...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

Lewis Moody privileged to ‘grab hold of the baton’ in raising money for MND

Lewis Moody says he is privileged to have “grabbed hold of the baton” from previous motor neurone disease fund-raisers Doddy Weir...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

Smith quits over Alphonsi post

RFU council member Matthew Smith has resigned following his discriminatory online post about England World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi. Smith, who...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Rugby World Cup 2027: James Ramm sets his sights on making the Australia squad

James Ramm is returning to Australia at the end of the season after four years with Northampton Saints to put himself...

By Paul Rees

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

French may stop Edwards coaching

SHAUN Edwards’ departure from France is still being negotiated and he could be barred from coaching a rival to Les Bleus...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Letters

/ 2 months ago

Size does matter

CONSIDERING Steve Borthwick was around when power, weight and size mattered in the scrum and pack, has he lost the plot?...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Leinster vs Bulls: Handre Pollard – It’ll be all right on the night this time from the tee

Handre Pollard admits he was ‘terrible’ off the tee against Glasgow Warriors last weekend but backs himself to respond in Friday’s...

By Ben Jaycock

Chris Hewett

/ 2 months ago

Chris Hewett: Is Rugby World Cup expansion over-ambitious?

It would be nice to think that at some point this side of eternity, rugby will have created sufficient depth at...

By Chris Hewett

Features

/ 2 months ago

YOUNG GUNS

HARRYWRIGHT GLOUCESTER & ENGLAND U20 PROP Harry Wright is targeting selection for England’s World Championship squad after making rapid strides this...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Ireland wing James Lowe departs Leinster without “fairytale ending” in emotional farewell

James Lowe reflected his time with Leinster and Ireland in an emotional farewell as he prepares for a new chapter in...

By Chris Collyer

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

The ultimate Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 experience

Rugby World Cup Experiences is elevating how fans engage with rugby’s greatest stage.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Harlequins skipper Alex Dombrandt keen to prove his worth for England

It has been a taxing season for Alex Dombrandt with Harlequins languishing near the bottom of the Premiership and the No.8...

By Paul Rees

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

Farrell to stay with Ireland until 2031

■By SAM JACKSON “What excites me most is the increasing strength and investment in pathways and the quality of talent coming...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

Alphonsi criticises ‘lenient’ sanction

FORMER England star Maggie Alphonsi, above, has criticised the punishment given to RFU council member Matthew Smith for posting discriminatory criticism...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Letters

/ 2 months ago

DREAMTEAM

BOBBY DE WEE, THE EALING TRAILFINDERS AND FORMER GOLDEN LIONS AND SOUTHERN KINGS LOCK/FLANKER, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Afolabi Fasogbon has obvious Test potential

Chris Hewett

/ 2 months ago

Chris Hewett: Yes, Nick, Afolabi Fasogbon deserves his chance with England

Chris Hewett argues England are missing a World Cup opportunity by overlooking Gloucester prop Afolabi Fasogbon, whose rise could provide Steve...

By Chris Hewett

International Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell excited about the future after signing new deal to 2031

Andy Farrell has signed a contract extension to remain as Ireland head coach until the conclusion of the 2031 World Cup.

By The Rugby Paper Team

George Furbank celebrates his late winner for Northampton Saints

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Last-gasp George Furbank the hero for Northampton Saints

George Furbank scored a last-minute try to defeat Gloucester and secure Northampton Saints home advantage in the Prem semi-finals.

By Gary Fitzgerald

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Northampton Saints flanker Tom Pearson sets his sights on England return

Tom Pearson has had another strong season for Premiership leaders Northampton Saints but has not come closer to adding to his...

By Paul Rees

Scott Sio on the attack for Exeter Chiefs

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Exeter Chiefs’ Scott Sio is keen to bow out in style

Prop star Scott Sio aims to sign off at Exeter Chiefs with a Prem winner’s medal before he joins Cardiff this...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Steven Luatua in action for Bristol Bears

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Steven Luatua and AJ MacGinty agree new deals at Bristol Bears

Bristol Bears flanker Steven Luatua has extended his contract into a 10th season with the club.

By The Rugby Paper Team

British and Irish Lions

/ 2 months ago

Jo Yapp: British & Irish Lions Women will be the best of all of us

Former England captain Jo Yapp wants to “help shape the future of women’s rugby for years to come” after being named...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 2 months ago

Dan Murphy: Champions Gloucester-Hartpury focusing on four in a row despite star exits

Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Dan Murphy is determined to finish the season on a high despite the distraction of three of his...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Courtney Lawes in action for Brive against Provence in last weekend’s play-off final

Chris Hewett

/ 2 months ago

Chris Hewett: A fine French feast that could feed us all

Chris Hewett examines why French club rugby is becoming the game’s biggest attraction, and asks whether more supporters are turning to...

By Chris Hewett

Columnists

/ 2 months ago

Peter Jackson: Applaud the Chapman family’s lasting legacy

The heavenly grapevine has been abuzz all week with rumours of a dearly departed RFU president dancing in the celestial streets...

By Peter Jackson

Tommy Freeman scoring for England against Wales during the Six Nations

International Rugby

/ 3 months ago

England’s Tommy Freeman in the frame to make his mark at 13

Tommy Freeman is set to be England’s lucky 13 as Steve Borthwick’s side embark on one of their toughest assignments under...

By Adam Hathaway

Club Rugby

/ 3 months ago

Caolan Englefield: Tomos Williams has raised my game at Gloucester

Gloucester fans are ruing another imminent big name departure from Kingsholm but Caolan Englefield is merely grateful for having the chance...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Club Rugby

/ 3 months ago

Australia’s Len Ikitau sets his sights on World Cup spot after deciding to leave Exeter Chiefs

Len Ikitau is returning to Australia at the end of the season to pursue his dream of playing in a World...

By Paul Rees

Club Rugby

/ 3 months ago

Will Porter calls on Harlequins to take down the big guys in remaining Prem matches

Will Porter is aiming to rain on a few top four parades following his return to Harlequins colours after sitting on...

By Adam Hathaway

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Another major award for Ellie

ENGLAND full-back Ellie Kildunne was voted the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year on Monday, a day after scoring...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

DREAMTEAM

WILL GENIA, THE FORMER AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND REDS, MELBOURNE REBELS, STADE FRANCAIS AND KINTETSU LINERS SCRUM-HALF, SELECTS THE BEST HE HAS PLAYED...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Club Rugby

/ 3 months ago

England’s Zoe Stratford and Tatyana Heard leave Gloucester Hartpury as champions

England captain Zoe Stratford and fellow World Cup winner Tatyana Heard will leave three-time reigning PWR champions Gloucester Hartpury at the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Columnists

/ 3 months ago

Nick Cain: England are unbalanced – both on and off the field

Steve Borthwick’s England squads get stranger by the minute, whether you are looking at player selection, or that of his coaching...

By Nick Cain

New Zealand celebrate winning the second Test against South Africa in Pretoria, 1996

Chris Hewett

/ 3 months ago

Chris Hewett: When fresh ambition takes on old rivalries

World Rugby moves at a pace best described as geological – in a footrace with continental drift, the non-governing governing body...

By Chris Hewett

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Grieve’s on a double quest for Richmond – and Portugal

nBy CHRIS COLLYER Positive: Callum Grieve in action for Richmond CALLUM Grieve relished Richmond’s win over rivals London Scottish in last...

By The Rugby Paper Team

England captain Megan Jones lifts the Six Nations trophy

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Women’s Six Nations 2026 review: England acclaimed as ‘best ever team’

John Mitchell feels his Red Roses side can now be ranked among the greatest English sporting teams of all time after...

By Ben Jaycock

Features

/ 3 months ago

My Life in Rugby: Laura Delgado – Rugby rescued me when I was in a dark place

Laura Delgado, below, the former Spain, DMP Sharks, Exeter, Gloucester-Hartpury, Harlequins and Hawke’s Bay prop, who retired this month, reflects on...

By Ben Jaycock