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.

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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