Paul Rees

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Paul Rees news, views, opinion and other content.

Ireland vs France – When two tribes prepare for war

2 March 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees says Saturday’s heavyweight clash between Ireland and France could be the match of the Six Nations The Six Nations threatened to come down […]

Money or eyeballs? Once again, that’s the big question

2 February 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at the pressures on the Six Nations to balance reach and revenue Is this the last year when the Six Nations is […]

Newcastle Falcons to open player contract talks despite relegation worry

12 January 2025 0 comments

Steve Diamond is set to start contract talks this week with players he wants to retain, although the threat of relegation remains.

Bristol Bears v Benetton: James Williams out to prove his worth again

12 January 2025 0 comments

James Williams saw off the challenge of Virimi Vakatawa last season and having recovered from a shoulder injury now has the task of again making himself a fixture in Bristol’s midfield where Ben-hard van Rensburg and Kalaveti Ravouvou have been creating havoc.

Springboks and Ireland to still lead the way in 2025

5 January 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks forward to 2025 and sees South Africa and Ireland keeping their places at the top of the tree A new year carries […]

I am calm and loving my life, says Danny Cipriani

17 November 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to the former England No.10 as he agrees to put his boots on one final time to help raise money for MND […]

Duty of Danny Care: How Eddie Jones rates

10 November 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees examines the record and reputation of the ex-England coach who divides opinion wherever he goes A man apart: Eddie Jones took charge of […]

Another failure to use the bench properly from England

3 November 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees It was Groundhog Day for England as they slumped to a fourth successive narrow defeat. A difference this time was that they […]

Steve Borthwick’s work in progress

20 October 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees takes a look at England’s options, and talks to the Newcastle chief about turning things around… Steve Borthwick’s squad for the autumn internationals […]

George Skivington keen to build identity

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Gloucester won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on […]

PGP analysis – Borthwick given strong hand

8 September 2024 0 comments

Analysis Paul Rees looks at the new men’s Professional Game Partnership Gand says it’s a deal which suits the RFU more If the devil is […]

Revived Genge is raring to go

25 August 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Ellis Genge spent a rare summer off fishing and intends to make a ‘turbot’ charged start to the coming campaign after missing […]

Stick or twist? The choice at 10

25 August 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to New Zealand’s heavyweight matches against world champions South Africa The Rugby Championship title could be decided in the next two […]

Saints are ready to open new chapter

25 August 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees reports on how things are changing at Franklin’s Gardens ahead of the new season Northampton’s early season form gave little sign of what […]

Flamboyant Harlequins add steel to their spine

21 July 2024 0 comments

HARLEQUINS are following the path trodden by Northampton a year ago, one that took the Saints to Twickenham and the title as a team known […]

A thunderous match that had no losers

14 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES The first thing that needs to be said is that this was an absorbing Test match between two teams which on their current […]

Entertaining the crowds is not the only thing

14 July 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, while attracting a new audience is important, the game must not ignore its core support Scott Robertson made his name with […]

Expect the Chiefs Mk2 to be real contenders

14 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS AT WHY EXETER’S DOR HAS PUT PLAYER RETENTION AHEAD OF RECRUITMENT AT SANDY PARK The most eye-catching result of the Premiership season […]

Big guns in danger of just looking after No.1

7 July 2024 0 comments

ANALYSIS PAUL REES WONDERS HOW THE SPORT CAN KEEP PAYING FOR ITSELF IN HARD TIMES….WHILE UNIONS BUILD FOR THE FUTURE When the professional era started […]

‘It’s about being the best player you can be’

7 July 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees finds out what drives new Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and what he plans to do at Welford Road Despite their chequered past […]

Borthwick is right to keep faith with Smith

30 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees Looks at the challenges facing England in New Zealand… While another Aussie steps in at Leicester Steve Borthwick hopes to name an unchanged […]

Gloucesterer are facing a defining season

30 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR COACH GEORGE SKIVINGTON AND CEO ALEX BROWN AT KINGSHOLM Gloucester marked their 150th anniversary last season. Celebrated […]

Effort and enterprise the key for Saints

16 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SEES PLENTY OF HIGHLIGHTS BUT WARNS THE GAME MUST SHOW IT CAN PAY FOR ITSELF Northampton’s first Premiership title for 10 years was […]

The unexpected revolutionary

16 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says this should be a summer of opportunities for England and head coach Steve Borthwick Steve Borthwick is an unlikely revolutionary. When he […]

By George! Hendy is the saviour of Saints

9 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Courtney Lawes has never been one to turn his face away from reality. His first reaction at the final whistle of his final […]

Saints stars give credit to Vesty

9 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES On the run: Alex Mitchell breaks through against Saracens during the semi-final PICTURES: Getty Images Alex Mitchell and George Furbank, two of […]

Gloucester put faith in ‘some old heads’

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES It was typical of Gloucester’s season – make that the last couple – that when they came up against a front five […]

Time to let Borthwick pick from the best

2 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SAYS THE ENGLAND COACH SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY SELECTING PLAYERS WHO PLAY IN THE PREMIERSHIP England’s preliminary training squad for the […]

We will have a full deck of cards next season – McKellar

26 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Leicester’s dejection at finishing well short of the play-off positions was compounded by the sight of their fierce rivals Northampton sitting at […]

Once again, the French wizard calls the shots

26 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Is there anything Antoine Dupont cannot do? Drop a goal with his left foot from his own half, perhaps? Wrestle a scrum penalty […]

Fantastic four face final tests

26 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: NORTHAMPTON v SARACENS AND BATH v SALE NORTHAMPTON The Saints finished at the top of the […]

Diamond out to add some steel

26 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Even someone without Steve Diamond’s coaching experience would have known that taking over at Newcastle was never going to turn them into […]

‘We have to manage load’

19 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES EXAMINES THE FALLOUT FROM GLOUCESTER’S 90-0 HIDING BY NORTHAMPTON SAINTS George Skivington has had better weeks. He knew his decision to field a […]

Cup final is genuine clash of the giants

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Nearly half of the Champions Cup finals have involved Toulouse or Leinster, the two most successful sides in the competition, but Saturday […]

Power of the four musketeers

12 May 2024 0 comments

A common theme of last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals was the influence of the four scrum-halves, the catalysts of teams that look to get the […]

Without referees, there is no game

5 May 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at the pressures on the men and women in the middle and asks what can be done to help them Who would […]

Wales on a mission to survive or decline

28 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees asks whether the country which has won 12 Grand Slams can still afford to run four regional sides A chastening season for Welsh […]

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 […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

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 […]

The scrum is fighting to stay in the game

31 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees wonders whether some of World Rugby’s law tweaks will mean the end of the scrum as we know it A BANE or a […]

Ireland’s finest take control

24 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees picks his Six Nations team of the tournament with the men in green providing six of the best THIS year’s Six Nations […]

England prove they are a force again

17 March 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 PAUL REES The Six Nations saved the best to last. France sealed second place ahead of England in a compelling match in […]

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 […]

Borthwick gets his big selections right

10 March 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Seldom can a victory plundered with the last kick of the match have been so richly deserved. England, so haphazard and error-riddled in […]

Players or gladiators? Why the game is struggling to find the right balance

10 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees reports on World Rugby’s attempts to broaden the sport’s appeal but can see problems ahead It has become an annual event this decade […]

It’s time for take – off, England

3 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, with Ireland at home and France away to come, Borthwick’s men must become relentless IT WAS three years ago last weekend […]

Borthwick’s conundrum: Stick or twist for Ireland

25 February 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES It was England’s first real test this Six Nations as they faced a team that expected to defeat them rather than fantasise about […]

Lawes can bring some order

25 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says the former England captain who has signed for Brive will have much to offer when he retires Brive will be delighted that […]

Borthwick is still in search of right mix

18 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees predicts a close encounter in the Calcutta Cup but sees Ireland winning another Grand Slam THE second round of the Six Nations was […]

Paul Rees

Recent Posts

Search