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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URC fixtures open up with Welsh derby

31 July 2022 1 comment

The fixtures for the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship have been confirmed as the Scarlets and Ospreys meet on the opening weekend in a Welsh derby […]

Italians not playing ball with Warriors in Franco battle

31 July 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Wanted: Franco Smith Glasgow Warriors are battling to name Franco Smith as their new head after the Italian Rugby […]

Why Wales should let Reffell stay at Leicester

24 July 2022 1 comment

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW As a Welshman thriving in the English Premiership, Tommy Reffell knows that a time will come when […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixture lists: Premiership sides set to head to South Africa

21 July 2022 0 comments

The round-by-round fixtures for the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournament have been announced. Teams were split into four tiers for […]

Wales Sevens call for Ospreys silver star Cross

17 July 2022 0 comments

Olympic silver medallist Sam Cross has been included in Wales Sevens’ 13-man squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The Sevens will be staged at Coventry […]

Roberts calls it a day

17 July 2022 0 comments

Wales and British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts has retired at the age of 35. Roberts won 94 Wales caps and played three Tests […]

Now Racing 92 turn attention to Lancaster

10 July 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE In demand: Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster FORMER England coach Stuart Lancaster is on the radar of French giants Racing 92, who are […]

Welsh resurgence all about mindset

10 July 2022 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER My experience over many decades is that Welsh rugby is rarely in as bad a state as the doomsayers insist or, […]

Chief Kirsten relishing his return to Pretoria

3 July 2022 2 comments

■By PAUL REES When Jannes Kirsten left the Bulls five years ago, he never imagined he would be facing his former team in the Champions […]

We must protect this jewel in club rugby

3 July 2022 2 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is common-sense wisdom that should apply to the European Cup. […]

‘New era’ dawns for re-named Dragons RFC

27 June 2022 4 comments

Newport-based Dragons are to rebrand as “Dragons RFC”, in a move to designed to build the identity of the club. Dragons, who finished second-from bottom […]

Four Irishmen join the South African all-stars

26 June 2022 2 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK THE Stormers lifted the inaugural United Rugby Championship as they saw off the Bulls 18-13 in an all-South African final. The champions […]

European sides need to rise to the SA challenge

26 June 2022 0 comments

BY NEIL DE KOCK If you had said after the first six weeks of the competition that the Stormers would be playing the Bulls in […]

Thompson hoping Scottish summer can re-ignite form after Warriors woes

22 June 2022 0 comments

Glasgow Warriors fly-half Ross Thompson is hoping that Scotland’s tour to South America can re-ignite his early season form, after a disappointing end to his […]

Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy comes out as gay

20 June 2022 25 comments

Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy has come out as gay in an interview with the club’s official website. Former Ireland U20 international McCarthy, has made 46 […]

All-South African final is a turn-off for Celtic fans

19 June 2022 0 comments

COLIN BOAG When the PRO14 organisers, desperately trying to breathe some life into things, decided to change its name to the United Rugby Championship, and […]

Stormers secure fightback victory

19 June 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Stormers…………18pts Tries: Roos 45, Venter 57 Conversions: Libbok 46 Penalties: Libbok 43 Drop goals: Libbok 74 Bulls ………………13pts Tries: Vorster 3 Conversions: […]

Ulster and Ireland flyer misses New Zealand tour

14 June 2022 0 comments

Ulster winger Robert Baloucoune has been ruled out of Ireland’s tour of New Zealand through injury as Andy Farrell reveals his squad for their summer […]

Boks have raised the bar -Cullen

12 June 2022 2 comments

By JOHN FALLON Leinster …………26pts Tries: Sheehan 9, Henshaw 33, O’Loughlin 72, Healy 82 Conversions: Byrne 10, 33, Sexton 82 Bulls………………..27pts Tries: Grobbelaar 20, Coetzee […]

Omitted Conbeer can yet kick on, says Peel

12 June 2022 2 comments

NEWS EXTRA By STEFFAN THOMAS DWAYNE Peel believes inform Scarlets wing Ryan Conbeer was unlucky to miss out on Wales’ summer squad, but is confident […]

Glasgow Warriors sack head coach Danny Wilson

7 June 2022 0 comments

Glasgow Warriors have sacked head coach Danny Wilson in the wake of their 76-14 United Rugby Championship quarter-final defeat to Leinster. The hammering capped a […]

Van Graan’s time ends with five-try defeat in Ulster

5 June 2022 1 comment

By JOHN FALLON Ulster ………………….36 Munster ………………17 JOHANN van Graan said this was a bitterly disappointing way to end his four and a half years […]

Dreadful Warriors collapse in Dublin

5 June 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Leinster …………76pts Tries: Sheehan 15, 39; Larmour 19, 64, McCarthy 29, Doris 43, Ala’atoa 49, Gibson-Park 54, Ringrose 56, Frawley 69, McGrath […]

Wales flanker Dan Lydiate signs Ospreys contract extension

25 May 2022 1 comment

Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate has agreed a new deal to stay at the Welsh region for another season. The Wales flanker returned to action towards […]

Dragons hunt for new head coach

22 May 2022 2 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE DRAGONS are pondering a shake-up of their backroom team with a new head coach set to be appointed. TRP understands they […]

Luke’s late show is silver lining for the Ospreys

22 May 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Ospreys …………31pts Tries: J Morgan 38, L Morgan 57, 79, Parry 78 Conversions: Anscombe 38, 58, 78, 80 Penalties: Anscombe 33 Bulls […]

Stormers edge it but Peel hails his troops

22 May 2022 2 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Scarlets ……….21pts Tries: J Williams 7, Conbeer 71 Conversions: Costelow 8 Penalties: Costelow 4, 17, 28 Stormers ……..26pts Tries: Zas 14, Roos […]

Out-of-puff Dragons fail to find home comfort

22 May 2022 0 comments

By DELME PARFITT Dragons …………..11pts Tries: Dyer 25 Penalties: Reed 37, 40 Lions ………………21pts Tries: Van der Merwe 34, Venter 45, Dreyer 53 Conversions: […]

George North surprised but ‘chuffed’ to get Wales call after long injury lay-off

19 May 2022 0 comments

George North says he was surprised by his Wales call-up after playing just two hours of rugby following a 12-month injury lay-off. The 30-year-old centre […]

Wales prop Rob Evans to swap Scarlets for Dragons

19 May 2022 1 comment

Wales prop Rob Evans will move to Dragons from Scarlets at the end of the season. The 30-year-old has made over 150 appearances at Scarlets […]

Newcastle Falcons sign Josh Thomas

19 May 2022 0 comments

Newcastle Falcons have signed Ospreys fly-half Josh Thomas for next season on a two-year contract. The 21-year-old can also play at full-back and has made […]

Scotland centre Huw Jones to rejoin Glasgow in the summer

18 May 2022 0 comments

Scotland centre Huw Jones will rejoin Glasgow at the end of the season. Last summer, the 28-year-old joined Harlequins from Glasgow but will return this […]

Cardiff scrape home in fiery Welsh derby

15 May 2022 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Dragons…………..18pts Tries: Griffiths 39, Dixon 63 Conversions: S Davies 39 Penalties: Reed 24, 74 Cardiff …………….19pts Tries: Williams 31 Conversions: Priestland 31 […]

The Sharks strengthen with signing of powerful prop Carlu Sadie

12 May 2022 0 comments

Lately, the Sharks have been actively signing contracts. They announced on social media pages that Janse van Rensburg has joined them, and they have also […]

Welsh rugby ‘laughing stock’ and should reduce to three teams – says former WRU chief David Moffett

11 May 2022 0 comments

Former Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett feels that Wales‘ four professional teams should be replaced by three teams. Last week, a report into […]

Stephen Myler signs Ospreys contract extension to take him into his twentieth professional season

5 May 2022 0 comments

Ospreys fly-half Stephen Myler has signed a one-year contract extension at Ospreys. Myler was Head coach Toby Booth’s first player signing in 2020 and has […]

Angus O’Brien to return to Dragons

4 May 2022 1 comment

Scarlets back Angus O’Brien will return home to Dragons Rugby at the end of the season. Caerleon-born O’Brien came through the Dragons Academy system and […]

Sale Sharks centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Van Rensburg trades Sharks

4 May 2022 1 comment

Springbok centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg will be heading back to South Africa as he signs for URC side the Sharks. The 27-year-old, who has […]

Ospreys sign Exeter fly-half Jack Walsh

4 May 2022 0 comments

The Ospreys have completed a deal to sign talented fly-half Jack Walsh from Exeter Chiefs. America-born, the 22-year-old has penned a two-year contract with the […]

Good news for Wales as George roars back

1 May 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Ospreys …………54pts Tries: Smith 16, Morris 27, Lake 49, 54; Collins 59, Watkin 69, Parry 79 Conversions: Anscombe 18, 28, 47, 55, […]

Jonathan Davies signs new contract at Scarlets

28 April 2022 0 comments

Scarlets captain Jonathan Davies has signed a new contract with the URC side. The Wales and British and Irish Lions centre has made 180 appearances […]

Tyro back row Kendellen leads Munster charge

24 April 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Ulster ………………….17 Munster …………….24 ACADEMY back rower Alex Kendellen led the way as Munster powered to their first win in Belfast in […]

250 up! AWJ gets it right this time

24 April 2022 1 comment

By ROB COLE Cardiff ………………6pts Tries: Priestland 28, 44 Ospreys …………22pts Tries: Lake 54, Webb 61, Parry 66 Conversions: Anscombe 55, Webb 61 Penalties: Anscombe […]

Lousi stars as Scarlets hit Dragons for six

24 April 2022 1 comment

By STEFFAN THOMAS Dragons…………..19pts Tries: Dixon 35, J Williams 50, Warren 61 Conversions: S Davies 35, 62 Scarlets …………38pts Tries: Lousi 12, O’Brien 15, 80; […]

Dragons announce signing of versatile New Zealand back Sio Tomkinson

21 April 2022 0 comments

Dragons have announced the signing of versatile New Zealand back Sio Tomkinson. Known for his hard-tackling and range of skills, Tomkinson will move to Wales […]

Ospreys prop Tom Botha signs two-year contract extension

21 April 2022 0 comments

Ospreys prop Tom Botha has signed a two-year contract extension at the region. The South African-born tighthead prop joined the Ospreys in 2018 and has […]

Keelan Giles signs contract extension at Ospreys

19 April 2022 1 comment

Ospreys winger Keelan Giles has signed a new two-year contract to stay with the club. The 24-year-old has made 58 Ospreys appearances and scored 20 […]

Dixon fires Dragons to Scarlets success

17 April 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Scarlets …………27pts Tries: Kalamafoni 26, Williams 40, Williams 54, Hardy 60 Conversions: Costelow 27, O’Brien 55, Penalties: Costelow 17 Dragons …………38pts Tries: […]

Rhodri Williams signs new contract at Dragons

14 April 2022 0 comments

Scrum-half Rhodri Williams has signed a new undisclosed contract to remain with Dragons. The former Llandovery and Scarlets player joined Dragons from Bristol Bears in […]

Rowntree takes the step up to head coach at Munster

12 April 2022 0 comments

Munster have promoted forwards coach Graham Rowntree to the role of head coach starting from next season. The former England prop will commence his new […]

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