United Rugby Championship

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s United Rugby Championship news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

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Tom Farrell treble is enough to wrap it up for Munster

22 December 2024 0 comments

By John Fallon Ulster…………….. 19pts Tries: O’Toole 7, Sheridan 64, McNabney 75 Conversions: Cooney 8, 76 Munster…………22pts Tries: Farrell 27, 51, 78; Daly 66 Conversion: […]

Iestyn Hopkins in right place to snatch it for Ospreys

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Roger Panting Ospreys………………………… 23pts Tries: Parry 36, Tipuric 47, Hopkins 80 Conversion: Edwards 47 Penalties: Edwards 10, 58 Scarlets……………………….. 22pts Try: Mee 40 Conversion: […]

Masterful Jordie Barrett lights up Leinster

22 December 2024 0 comments

By John Fallon Leinster………….. 20pts Tries: Osborne 20, Tector 27 Conversions: Byrne 20, 28 Penalties: R Byrne 43, 80 Connacht……….. 12pts Tries: Dowling 53, Jennings […]

Rhyno Smith’s on target to snap up dramatic win for Benetton

22 December 2024 0 comments

Benetton………. 11 Zebre…………….. 10 An 80th-minute penalty from full-back Rhyno Smith spared Benetton’s blushes as they secured a gritty win over their Italian rivals. Leonardo […]

Ruben Schoeman red card makes it easy for Stormers

22 December 2024 0 comments

Stormers……….29 Lions…………….. 10 The Stormers ended a four-game losing streak as they cruised to a bonus point win over an ill-disciplined and wasteful Lions. The […]

Hendrikse brothers combine for Sharks

22 December 2024 0 comments

Sharks…………..20 Bulls……………… 17 Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse combined to score 13 points as the Sharks saw off the Bulls. Jaden dotted down for the […]

Shane Lewis-Hughes puts his faith in the finger of fate…

22 December 2024 0 comments

For more than 60 years, Red Conway stood in a class all on his own: the only international player to undergo amputation by way of […]

Cardiff are too strong for spirited Dragons

1 December 2024 0 comments

■ By ROGER PANTING Cardiff……………………………31pts Tries: Mann 31, Millard 39, Sheedy 42, Lee-Lo 50 Conversions: Sheedy 31, 39, 42, 50 Penalties: Sheedy 7 Dragons………………………… 23pts […]

Zebre stun Ospreys to climb off the bottom

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Zebre………………22pts Tries: Gesi 6, 25, Trulla 43 Conversions: Da Re 7, 44 Penalty: Da Re 57 Ospreys…………. 17pts Tries: Kasende 18, Lloyd […]

Duncan Weir steps up to have final say in tense affair

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Glasgow…………. 17pts Tries: Matthews 36, Venter 50 Conversions: Weir 37, 51 Penalty: Weir 66 Scarlets…………. 15pts Tries: Macleod 11, Nicholas 46 Conversion: […]

Munster end their losing run

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Kevin Fallon Munster……….. 17 Lions…………….. 10 Munster captain Jack O’Donoghue hopes they can build on this win heading into the Champions Cup. They managed […]

Sharks survive Stormers comeback to take derby victory

1 December 2024 0 comments

Sharks survived a stunning fightback to triumph in Durban. Sharks were cruising going into the final few minutes with a 13-point lead, but they conceded […]

Edinburgh keep Benetton at bay

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Tom Wilson Edinburgh……..50 Benetton……….33 Edinburgh survived an enthralling Augustin Creevy-inspired Benetton comeback in the second half to finish on the right side of a […]

Connacht are blown away by Bulls

1 December 2024 0 comments

By John Fallon Connacht………14 Bulls………………28 Connacht, down to 14 men for almost three-quarters of the game, were blown away by the Bulls. The Bulls also […]

Leinster make it seven wins in a row

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Jim Short Ulster…………….20 Leinster…………27 Leinster’s second string proved far too strong for Ulster to make it seven wins on the spin. “Squad depth is […]

This weekend’s best matchups in the Gallagher Premiership and United Rugby Championship

29 November 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott With most players back from the Autumn Nations Series, the Premiership and URC return with a bang. With some tight battles and […]

Cardiff Rugby vs Dragons – Match Betting Preview

29 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports On Saturday, it’s derby day in the Welsh capital as Cardiff Rugby welcomes Dragons RFC to Arms Park. There is […]

Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets – Match Preview

28 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports After a long break, the URC is finally back! This Friday, Dwayne Peel’s Scarlets will head to Glasgow to take […]

A look at Liam Belcher – Wales’ future hooker?

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Often referred to as the heartbeat of the pack, the hooker position is vital to the workings of a rugby […]

My life’s a bit like spinning plates, says Dan Lydiate

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas For Dan Lydiate, life is a bit like spinning plates these days. Having moved into a player-coach role at the Dragons, the […]

Evan Lloyd making the most of his late switch to hooker

10 November 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas It’s safe to say Evan Lloyd’s story is pretty unique. Not only did he play for Wales before he had started a […]

Scarlets – A good bet to make the URC playoffs?

30 October 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Now that the first block of URC games is ending, the league table is beginning to take shape. It has […]

Connacht too strong for slack Dragons

27 October 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Connacht ………. 31pts Tries: Boyle 6, Blade 19, Prendergast, 39 Forde 73, Devine 80 Conversions: Forde 7, 20, 74 Dragons …………… 7pts […]

Cardiff’s second-half fightback stuns Ulster

27 October 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Cardiff …………… 21pts Tries: Stephens 49, Hughes 64, Young 68 Conversions: Sheedy 50, 65, 69 Ulster …………….. 19pts Tries: Izuchukwu 14, Postlethwaite […]

Ospreys in charge as power pack call shots

27 October 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER PANTING Ospreys ………….22pts Tries: Lake 4, Thomas 52, Parry 75 Conversions: O Williams 4, 75 Penalty: O Williams 60 Edinburgh………. 13pts Tries: Vellacott […]

Rising stars thrive for Scarlets

27 October 2024 0 comments

■By SIMON THOMAS Scarlets ………… 30pts Tries: Rogers 28, Page 43, Murray 47, Macleod 57 Conversions: Lloyd 45, 58 Penalties: Lloyd 5, 23 Zebre ……………….. […]

Leinster made to dig deep

27 October 2024 0 comments

■ By KEVIN FALLON Leinster……….. 24 Lions………………. 6 LEINSTER maintained their winning start to the URC but they dropped a point for the first time […]

Sharks take Munster apart

27 October 2024 0 comments

■ By JOHN FALLON Sharks…………..41 Munster………. 24 A SHARKS side laden with Springboks was too powerful for Munster but head coach Graham Rowntree was pleased […]

Glasgow keep marching on

27 October 2024 0 comments

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Stormers………. 17 Glasgow………..28 NEW Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu continued his red hot form as Glasgow powered to a bonus point win […]

Connacht vs Dragons – United Rugby Championship Preview

26 October 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan The Dragons will hit the road this weekend and travel to Northern Ireland to face Connacht. Dai Flanagan’s side will be desperate […]

Ospreys vs Edinburgh – United Rugby Championship Match Preview

26 October 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan The Ospreys will host Edinburgh at the iconic Brewery Field as the URC’s first block of games concludes before the autumn internationals. […]

Scarlets vs Zebre Parma – United Rugby Championship Match Preview

25 October 2024 0 comments

It is another Friday night game for the Scarlets as they welcome Zebre Parma to Llanelli. We are entering the final block of games before […]

Dragons fall to Benetton as they run out of puff

20 October 2024 0 comments

By Roger Panting Dragons …………. 21pts Tries: Westwood 27, Evans 50, Lewis-Hughes 73 Conversions: Evans 27, 50; O’Brien 74 Benetton ……….. 31pts Tries: Bernasconi 36, […]

Jacob Stockdale at the double as Ulster put Ospreys away

20 October 2024 0 comments

By John Fallon Ulster …………….36pts Tries: McCormick 5, 52, Stockdale 10, 65, Marcus Rea 32, Penalty 24 Conversions: Cooney 33, Doak 66 Ospreys …………12pts Tries: […]

Scarlets on fire to send the Bulls to first defeat

20 October 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Scarlets ………………………. 23pts Tries: Macleod 11, Murray 41, Rogers 72 Conversion: Lloyd 12 Penalties: Lloyd 40, 52 Bulls……………………………… 22pts Tries: Moodie 1, […]

Scottish stars prove their worth for Edinburgh

20 October 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Edinburgh ………27pts Tries: Van der Merwe 46, Schoeman 60, Graham 64, Ashman 79 Conversions: Thompson 47, 79 Penalties: Thompson 6 Cardiff …………….. […]

Glasgow’s salvage mission

20 October 2024 0 comments

Sharks ………….28 Glasgow ……… 24 ■By BRYN PALMER GLASGOW salvaged two losing bonus points with two tries in the final two minutes as a host […]

Snyman shows who’s boss

20 October 2024 0 comments

Connacht …….. 12 Leinster ………..33 ■ By JOHN FALLON RG SNYMAN again showed his class as an understrength Leinster side proved far too strong for […]

Munster facing tough test

20 October 2024 0 comments

Stormers …….. 34 Munster ………. 19 ■ By KEVIN FALLON MUNSTER have a huge game on their hands next week against the Sharks after they […]

Zebre ……………… 9 Lions ……………. 10

20 October 2024 0 comments

THE Lions continued their unbeaten start to the season by edging Zebre in a rain-soaked tight affair. Ivan van Rooyen’s side scored the game’s only […]

Japan will be latest destination for Richie Gray

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Scotland lock Richie Gray will link up with World Cup winners Pieter-Steph du Toit and Aaron Smith when his move to Japanese […]

Darcy Graham gets the ball rolling for Edinburgh

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Edinburgh ……38 Stormers ……….. 7 Edinburgh earned a much-needed bonus-point win to kick-start their season after three straight defeats. After an even […]

Bulls have too much in reserve for Ospreys

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Ospreys ………… 19pts Tries: Lake 27, Conbeer 54, Morris 79 Conversions: Edwards 55, Walsh 80 Bulls ………………29pts Tries: Louw 3, Arendse 11, […]

Scarlets made to fight all the way

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Cardiff …………….. 19pts Tries: Millard 23, 40; Penalty 66 Conversion: De Beer 24 Scarlets …………..25pts Tries: Davies 33, 47, Williams 60 Conversions: […]

Leinster turn on the style in front of 80,000 at Croke Park

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Kevin Fallon Leinster ………….26pts Tries: Lowe 6, Doris 11, Keenan 15, Snyman 40 Conversions: Frawley 7, 12, 15 Munster ………… 12pts Tries: O’Brien 35, […]

Glasgow Warriors warm up for trip in style

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Glasgow ………33 Zebre ……………… 3 Defending champions Glasgow warmed up for their return to South Africa next week with a third successive […]

Murphy has the last word over his son

13 October 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Ulster …………….32pts Tries: Andrew 2, Postlethwaite 11, Cooney 28, McCann 49, Timoney 76 Conversions: Cooney 3, 29 Penalty: Cooney 72 Connacht ………27pts […]

Benetton ……..38 Sharks …………. 10

13 October 2024 0 comments

BENETTON got their season up and running with a convincing bonus-point win at Stadio Monigo. First-half tries from Paolo Odogwu, Rhyno Smith and Ignacio Mendy […]