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.

Ospreys in charge as Webb pulls the strings

30 January 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Ospreys …………23pts Tries: Protheroe 45, Parry 55 Conversions: Myler 46, 57 Penalties: Myler 29, 69, 75 Edinburgh……….19pts Tries: Venter 22, 26, 61 […]

Tougher than it looks for Munster

30 January 2022 0 comments

By RONAN O’NEILL Zebre …………….17 Munster ……….34 MUNSTER scrum-half Neil Cronin said they were flattered by the margin of their bonus point. It’s their 18th […]

Poor return for Peel as Ulster finish in fine style

30 January 2022 0 comments

By JIM SHORT Ulster …………….27pts Tries: Curtis 34, Carter 52, Milasinovich 65, Gilroy 67 Conversions: Doak 35, 66 Penalty: Doak 3 Scarlets …………15pts Tries: Lee […]

Scarlets sign All Black Vaea Fifita from Wasps

26 January 2022 0 comments

Scarlets have signed All Black Vaea Fifita from Premiership side Wasps. The 29-year-old, who can play in the second row and back row, will join […]

Wales hooker Bradley Roberts signs for Dragons

25 January 2022 0 comments

Wales hooker Bradley Roberts has signed for the Dragons. Currently part of Wales’ Six Nations squad, the 26-year-old has signed a long-term contract and will […]

It’s time to rethink a British and Irish League

23 January 2022 1 comment

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST The best we can say for the United Rugby Championship is that the revamped tournament is having a near-life experience: eyes […]

Leinster rout can devalue Euro Cup

23 January 2022 1 comment

COLIN BOAG Thrashing: Josh van der Flier evades the tackle of Josua Vici on his way to scoring Leinster’s ninth try I know there’s a […]

Munster job not for me yet says O’Connell

9 January 2022 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA By SAM JACKSON FORMER Ireland captain Paul O’Connell has ruled himself out of the running for the Munster head coach job after saying […]

Zebo’s red can’t stop Munster momentum

9 January 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Munster …………18pts Tries: Haley 60, Kendellen 76 Conversions: Healy 77 Penalties: Crowley 33, 39 Ulster………………13pts Tries: Herring 8 Conversions: Cooney 8 Penalties: […]

Marksman Anscombe trumped by Tuipulotu

9 January 2022 1 comment

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow …………38pts Tries: Forbes 22, Tuipulotu 27, 62; McKay 48, Brown 73 Conversions: Thompson 23, 28, 49, 63; Weir 74 Penalties: Thompson […]

Edinburgh too strong for wretched Cardiff

9 January 2022 1 comment

By BRYN PALMER Edinburgh ……..34pts Tries: Moyano 5, Boffelli 9, Bennett 30, 73; Lang 39 Conversions: Boffelli 6, 31; Van der Walt 74 Penalty: Boffelli […]

Elias eager to shake off the rust after Covid break

9 January 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS RYAN Elias has lived in the shadow of Ken Owens since breaking into the senior Scarlets squad in 2014 but took a […]

Cardiff sign Wales full-back Liam Williams from Scarlets

6 January 2022 0 comments

Wales full-back Liam Williams is the latest big name to join Cardiff for the start of the 2022-23 season after announcing he will be leaving […]

Ryan hopes derby integrity remains

2 January 2022 1 comment

DRAGONS director of rugby Dean Ryan hopes the “integrity of derby games will remain” as league organisers face the challenge of rescheduling. Three of four […]

Connacht come out on top in feisty Irish derby

2 January 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht ……….10pts Tries: Aki 58 Conversions: Fitzgerald 59 Penalties: Carty 15 Munster …………..8pts Tries: Conway 23 Penalties: Healy 17 PROMISING flanker […]

McNicholl double downs Ospreys

2 January 2022 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Scarlets …………22pts Tries: Davies 9, S Evans 52, McNicholl 65, 77 Conversions: Jones 10 Ospreys …………..19pts Tries: Webb 19, 56; L Morgan […]

Scarlets concede Champions Cup opener with Bristol Bears

7 December 2021 0 comments

Scarlets have been forced to concede their opening Heineken Champions Cup Pool game vs Bristol Bears on Saturday. The decision was made due to concerns […]

Bristol say No to plea by Scarlets to postpone

5 December 2021 2 comments

By PETER JACKSON BRISTOL Bears have turned down a request from the Covid-marooned Scarlets to postpone next Saturday’s Champions’ Cup tie at Ashton Gate. It […]

Blair: Win’s a win but fans need more entertainment

5 December 2021 1 comment

By GARY HEATLY Edinburgh ……..24pts Tries: Graham 13, Bofelli 21, Kinghorn 45, McInally 67 Conversions: Kinghorn 45, 67 Benetton ……….10pts Tries: Zuliani 59 Conversions: Marin […]

Big tackle count sees Ospreys win wrestle

5 December 2021 1 comment

By ROGER POANTING Ospreys …………..19pts Tries: Morris 32 Conversions: Myler 35 Penalties: Myler 17, 35, 58, 65 Ulster ………………13pts Tries: Penalty 14 Penalties: Cooney 19, […]

Dempsey stars as Warriors prepare for France

5 December 2021 0 comments

By GARY HEATLY Glasgow …………33pts Tries: Tuipulotu 1, Steyn 31, Dempsey 39, Price 59, Matthews 70 Conversions: Thompson 17, 39, 59, 70 Dragons …………14pts Tries: […]

Boks big guns get Sharks sparking

5 December 2021 0 comments

By SUFIAN ALAM Sharks …………30 Bulls …………….16 THE Sharks, boosted by a host of Springboks returning to club action, claimed a decisive victory against Bulls […]

Super-sub Porter sets up second-half stampede

5 December 2021 1 comment

By JOHN FALLON Leinster …………47pts Tries: Ruddock 23, Ringrose 32, Sheehan 39, Larmour 41, Doris 49, Baird 58, Deegan 74 Conversions: H Byrne 24, 33, […]

Lions end long wait for victory

5 December 2021 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Stormers ……..19 Lions …………….37 THE Lions picked up their first win since the opening round, as they comfortably saw off South African […]

The cooped-up players deserve our sympathy

5 December 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WALES’ four regions begin their European campaigns this weekend and they will head into the Champions Cup and Challenge […]

Cardiff and Munster are homeward bound from South Africa

1 December 2021 0 comments

Cardiff have announced that the majority of their playing and background staff will leave South Africa on Thursday morning following a week of coronavirus mayhem. […]

Nine new coronavirus cases in Munster camp

30 November 2021 1 comment

PA Rugby Union Munster have reported nine positive coronavirus cases among their players and staff following the latest round of PCR testing in Cape Town. […]

Dragons are blown away in the wind

28 November 2021 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Dragons …………14pts Tries: S Davies 22, Holmes 32 Conversions: S Davies 22, 32 Edinburgh ……..30pts Tries: Boffelli 3, Moyano 19, 36; Hoyland […]

Ospreys fail to find lift off as Friend’s men plunder seven

28 November 2021 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht ……….46pts Tries: Hansen 2, Bolton 13, McNulty 23, Arnold 43, Penalty 58, Blade 70, Fitzgerald 78 Conversions: Carty 44, 71, 79 […]

URC must be transparent on what happens next

28 November 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND In limbo: Cardiff and Scarlets players do not know when they can return to Wales FOR the Scarlets and […]

Cricket shrine is ‘ruined’ by Ospreys

28 November 2021 0 comments

Bounce back: Rob Simmons, centre, is mobbed after scoring for London Irish PICTURE: Getty Images THE Ospreys have been accused of ‘ruining’ one of cricket’s […]

Roberts likely to bid Ulster farewell for Wales future

28 November 2021 0 comments

By ALEX BYWATER Big impact: Bradley Roberts tackles Vincent Koch NEW Wales hooker Bradley Roberts admits his shock Test bow this autumn has complicated his […]

JP du Preez could quit Sale Sharks for Glasgow Warriors

10 October 2021 0 comments

SALE Sharks have four players called Du Preez on their books but could have one fewer from the start of next season with lock JP […]

Let Hallam Amos fill the void at 15 for Wales, says Dai Young

10 October 2021 2 comments

HALLAM Amos has been tipped to fill the full-back void left by Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny for Wales’ daunting autumn campaign. It leaves head […]

Opportunity knocks for Adam Beard after Hill and Ball departures from Wales scene

10 October 2021 1 comment

ADAM Beard plans on making the most of the departure of Cory Hill and Jake Ball from Welsh rugby. Ospreys second row Beard had a […]

Pressure is on South African sides says Jaque Fourie

26 September 2021 3 comments

WHEN South African rugby sent the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings to contest in the Pro14 against the Irish, Scots, Welsh and Italians, there was […]

Dai is ready to bring son Thomas Young home to Wales

19 September 2021 1 comment

WASPS are bracing themselves for a raid by former boss Dai Young who is eying up a family reunion with son Thomas at Cardiff Rugby […]

Exclusive: Ex-Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney gets job in Japan

19 September 2021 0 comments

GLENN Delaney has landed a job in Japan, four months after leaving his position as head coach of Scarlets. The 47-year-old New Zealander is currently […]

Scarlets 55-21 Nottingham: Nine-try Scarlets wow the crowd to kick-off Peel era

5 September 2021 0 comments

DWAYNE Peel’s first game as Scarlets head coach ended in a romp against Championship side Nottingham as 22-year-old winger Ryan Conbeer stated an early claim […]

Premiership clubs like look of Ospreys lock Rhys Davies

29 August 2021 0 comments

‘Several’ Premiership clubs are interested in young Ospreys lock Rhys Davies

Munster coach Stephen Larkham is wanted back by Brumbies

29 August 2021 2 comments

Larkham is under contract at Thomond Park until the end of the coming season

URC fixtures 2021-22: Leinster face Bulls first up

27 August 2021 0 comments

CHAMPIONS Leinster welcome the Bulls in Round 1 of the new United Rugby Champiosnhip which kicks off on September 24. Dates for the final eight […]

The Scarlets rebuild under Dwayne Peel and Sean Fitzpatrick

22 August 2021 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS SEAN Fitzpatrick is confident the Scarlets can turn their fortunes around under new head coach Dwayne Peel, but has warned it won’t […]