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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Leinster keep Zebre at bay

18 September 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Zebre ………………..29 Leinster …………….33 Relieved Leinster coach Leo Cullen was happy to get a bonus point win in Parma but has work […]

All too easy for Ulster

18 September 2022 0 comments

By BILL PETERS Ulster ………………..36 Connacht …………..10 Jacob Stockdale made a successful return to action for his first game in a year and while the […]

Dismal start to Franco era

18 September 2022 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Benetton …………..33 Glasgow …………….11 Scotland scrum-half Ali Price insisted Glasgow are only at “the start of their journey” under new coach Franco […]

Ospreys can reach play-offs – Booth

15 September 2022 1 comment

Ospreys boss Toby Booth has set his sights on the URC play-offs this season, after his side earned a place in the Heineken Champions Cup […]

I’m aiming for World Cup, says Davies

11 September 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Jonathan Davies says he wants to represent Wales at the World Cup next year but his priority this season is to make […]

Don’t waste golden generation – Watson

11 September 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Ambition: Hamish Watson in action against England PICTURE: Getty Images Hamish Watson insists Scotland must start delivering results or risk wasting the […]

It’s time for WRU and the clubs to sort this mess out

11 September 2022 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND The United Rugby Championship kicks off this coming weekend and I sincerely hope the campaigns of the four Welsh […]

Turnbull determined to bring change at Cardiff

11 September 2022 1 comment

By STEFFAN THOMAS Josh Turnbull is hoping to spearhead a revival at Cardiff while also laying the foundations for a career as a professional coach. […]

English Rugby on, Scottish and Welsh games postponed following Queen’s death

9 September 2022 0 comments

All rugby in England can go ahead this weekend following a decision taken by the RFU to play on despite the news of Queen Elizabeth […]

Smith backing Fifita to light up Scarlets

4 September 2022 1 comment

By STEFFAN THOMAS Vaea Fifita has been tipped to take the United Rugby Championship by storm following his highprofile move from Wasps to Scarlets. The […]

Leinster to edge it over SA new boys

4 September 2022 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Back with Cardiff: Taulupe Faletau is a world class player A brand-new United Rugby Championship season is on the […]

Globe-trotter Hanrahan out to put drive back into Dragons

4 September 2022 0 comments

Determined: JJ Hanrahan in action for Clermont last season There have been several false dawns at Rodney Parade over the past decade, but JJ Hanrahan […]

Scarlets sign Shenton and Evans as they boost forwards

31 August 2022 0 comments

Scarlets have signed two young forwards as they look to bolster their options in the pack ahead of the new URC season. Back row Iwan […]

Clark on a mission to prove his Test quality

21 August 2022 0 comments

By ROB COLE Wales have capped two former England U20 centres in the last few years and new Dragons recruit Max Clark is hoping to […]

URC ‘blown away’ by TV figures as SA join the party

21 August 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Chief: Martin Anayi The United Rugby Championship enjoyed record television audiences last season thanks to the inclusion of South Africa’s leading franchises, […]

Delight for Wales as Tipuric is fit again

14 August 2022 2 comments

By PETER JACKSON Justin Tipuric has finally been given the all-clear to begin playing again after a 14-month fight to save his career. The Ospreys’ […]

I’m confident I can get back to my best – Hewitt

14 August 2022 0 comments

By ROB COLE Ashton Hewitt can still recall the brace of tries he scored in his last outing for the Dragons – some achievement given […]

Talent everywhere you look in URC

14 August 2022 1 comment

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND With the United Rugby Championship season fast approaching I’ve been having a good look at the recruitment each side […]

Williams: Some people may think I’m crazy but switch to Scarlets feels right

7 August 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Gareth Williams is comfortable he has made the right decision leaving the Wales coaching team and is confident he can help fire […]

Fans left at the bottom of the pile when it comes to kick-off times

7 August 2022 0 comments

PETER JACKSON A summer of sorrow over Llanelli draws towards a close, leaving the Scarlets to prepare for their 150th anniversary season without the most […]

Franco Smith appointed as new Glasgow boss

2 August 2022 2 comments

Former Italy boss Franco Smith has been appointed Glasgow Warriors head coach on a two-year deal. Smith, 50, joins the URC side after a spell […]

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 […]

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