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.

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 […]