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.

IRFU put block on move for one of Andy Farrell’s assistants

1 August 2021 0 comments

Dwayne Peel had hoped to bring Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby back to the Scarlets

Corey Baldwin coming back to Scarlets

1 August 2021 0 comments

The Exeter Chiefs centre is leaving Sandy Park and returning to the Scarlets

Scarlets attack coach Richard Whiffin leaves club

22 July 2021 1 comment

More changes to the coaching staff at the Scarlets

‘I got lucky’ – Springbok De Allende makes admission about firepit explosion

21 July 2021 1 comment

Damian de Allende was one of four Munster players who received medical attention for burns from a firepit accident in June

Zander Fagerson agrees extension at Glasgow Warriors

20 July 2021 2 comments

The British & Irish Lions prop has signed a long-term contract at the Scotstoun club

Peel: In my heart I knew I had to join Scarlets

11 July 2021 0 comments

Scarlets role was the one Dwayne Peel always wanted, even if it meant upsetting the capital

Tomas Lezana aims to get Scarlets back row on the front foot

4 July 2021 0 comments

GROWING up as a football-mad River Plate supporter in the Argentinian city of Santiago del Estero, Tomas Lezana dreamed of a career with a round […]

Booth has helped Adam Beard find his consistency and regain Wales slot

27 June 2021 0 comments

ADAM Beard believes getting dropped from the national squad last autumn was a blessing in disguise and insists he can become Wales’ top second row. […]

Ospreys announce capture of Exeter wing Alex Cuthbert

22 June 2021 0 comments

The Ospreys have completed the deal to bring Alex Cuthbert back to Welsh rugby from Exeter Chiefs. As exclusively reported by The Rugby Paper on […]

URC will reshape the global game, says Rudolf Straeuli

20 June 2021 0 comments

Daniel Gallan talks to Rudolf Straeuli about his expectations of the league replacing PRO14

Benetton 35-7 Bulls: Benetton rip up the script to give Bulls a whipping

20 June 2021 1 comment

KIERAN Crowley wrapped up five seasons in Treviso before he takes charge of the Italian national side by leading Benetton to their first ever silverware […]

Wales fear more will follow Cory Hill to Japan

20 June 2021 0 comments

WALES run the risk of more senior players sacrificing their Test careers for pots of Japanese gold. Cory Hill’s abrupt removal from the national squad […]

Alex Cuthbert signing to be confirmed by Ospreys

20 June 2021 3 comments

THE Ospreys will confirm tomorrow that they have signed Wales and British Lion Alex Cuthbert from Exeter Chiefs. Blindside revealed in May that Cuthbert would […]

South African teams will be eligible for Champions Cup in revamped ‘United Rugby Championship’

15 June 2021 3 comments

PRO14 have unveiled a new format for next season’s expanded league which will welcome four South African franchises and be renamed the United Rugby Championship. […]

We’ll be the poor men of Europe say regions

13 June 2021 1 comment

WALES’ four regions fear they will be put at an even greater disadvantage next season with their English rivals being up to £10m-a-club better off. […]

Leinster 38-7 Dragons: Doris catches eye in Dragons slaying

13 June 2021 1 comment

DRAGONS have been told they must learn how to deal with the intense heat that quality sides such as champions Leinster can hit a team […]

Benetton qualify for Rainbow Cup final after Ospreys match cancelled

9 June 2021 1 comment

Unbeaten Benetton advance to the final where they will face South African oppposition on June 19

Patchell’s comeback must wait for autumn

6 June 2021 3 comments

The Wales and Scarlets fly-half has been dealing with a series of injuries dating back to the World Cup in Japan

Ospreys keen to help Elvis Taione rock on in Wales

6 June 2021 1 comment

The Exeter Chiefs hooker could be on his way to the Liberty Stadium this summer

Edinburgh 31-34 Ulster: Deadeye Madigan smashes winner for Ulster

6 June 2021 1 comment

ULSTER centre Stuart McCloskey said it was a neat way to finish the season as Ian Madigan landed a penalty at the death from 35 […]

Bulls 31-27 Stormers: Bok plans hit by injury to Duane Vermeulen

6 June 2021 0 comments

Ankle injury to No.8 Duane Vermeulen deals injury concern for Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber

Connacht 26-19 Ospreys: Toby Booth wants final day reaction after Ospreys come up short

6 June 2021 1 comment

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth wants a strong finish to the Rainbow Cup after seeing their final hopes ended in Galway

Glasgow 15-12 Leinster: Warriors surge to summit with late penalty

6 June 2021 0 comments

GLASGOW Warriors head coach Danny Wilson praised his “outstanding” side as they defeated Leinster on Friday to give themselves a chance of reaching the Rainbow […]

Exeter Chiefs confirm signing of Connacht centre Sean O’Brien

3 June 2021 1 comment

As revealed in The Rugby Paper last weekend, the reigning Premiership champions have signed the former Ireland U20 international

Wales star Tomos Williams signs long-term deal at Cardiff Blues

2 June 2021 1 comment

Significant news for the Welsh region as one of their senior figures commits for the long-term

Auschwitz memories motivate Cardiff prop Corey Domachowski

30 May 2021 2 comments

COREY Domachowski is on the verge of adding a new chapter to his family’s inspiring journey – from Auschwitz to the front row of Test […]

Leinster back Cian Kelleher wings his way into Ealing Trailfinders

30 May 2021 1 comment

Ealing Trailfinders add ex-Connacht wing to their squad for 2021-22

Exeter Chiefs sign highly-rated centre from Connacht

30 May 2021 1 comment

EXETER Chiefs have completed the signing of Ireland U20 outside centre Sean O’Brien who has agreed to a two-year deal. O’Brien, in his third season […]

Biarritz put Maddocks on wanted list

30 May 2021 0 comments

DRAGONS skills coach Barry Maddocks has emerged as a target for ProD2 outfit Biarritz who made the headlines last week after announcing a sponsorship with a […]

Prop duo join Bath

29 May 2021 0 comments

BATH have added two tightheads props to their squad for next season by signing D’Arcy Rae from Glasgow Warriors and Johannes Jonker from Ealing Trailfinders. […]

Japan have the pace to burn Gatland’s Lions says Parkes

28 May 2021 0 comments

The Top League title-winner with Panasonic Wild Knights has seen enough to know the Lions would be dangerous to underestimate Japan

Highlanders ‘unsung hero’ Michael Collins hopes to star at Ospreys

23 May 2021 1 comment

Steffan Thomas talks to the Wales-qualified back who will be playing at the Liberty Stadium next season

Rob Howley keen for Regions job after stay with Canada

23 May 2021 0 comments

Howley will arrive in Wales this summer with the Canada squad

Kieran Crowley to lead Italy at the next World Cup as FIR reshuffle coaching staff

19 May 2021 1 comment

Current head coach Franco Smith will step into a director of high performance role with the FIR

Glasgow Warriors centurion Chris Fusaro to retire at the end of the season

19 May 2021 0 comments

Ending an 11-year professional career at Scotstoun come the end of his contract with Glasgow Warriors

Worcester Warriors appoint ex-Gloucester coach Jonny Bell as new defence mastermind

18 May 2021 0 comments

Bell will return to the Premiership next season to link up with old pal Alan Solomons at Worcester Warriors

Ospreys hooker Scott Otten told to retire at the age of 26

18 May 2021 0 comments

A neck injury suffered in January has led to medical experts advising Ospreys hooker Scott Otten to hang up his boots

Rory Sutherland will dodge interest from Worcester Warriors

16 May 2021 0 comments

Sutherland now looks set to either move to the Top 14 or stay in the PRO14

Blues told to cut Cardiff ties

16 May 2021 2 comments

CARDIFF Blues are set to come under pressure from the WRU if they fail to conform with a stipulation that they cannot retain an interest […]

Scarlets 28-29 Cardiff Blues: Evans puts boot into Scarlets fightback

16 May 2021 1 comment

A LATE Jarrod Evans penalty put an end to a dramatic Scarlets comeback as Cardiff Blues came out on top in an exhilarating clash in […]

Tadhg Furlong allays fears of overseas move with new IRFU contract

11 May 2021 0 comments

The Ireland prop has reached a deal with the IRFU to stay with Leinster for the 2021-22 season

Exclusive: Scarlets snare Argentina back row star Tomas Lezana

9 May 2021 2 comments

Currently in Australia with the Western Force, for whom he helped reach the Super Rugby AU knockout final against the Brumbies

Munster 38-10: Ulster no match for Red Army

9 May 2021 0 comments

Will Addison’s long-awaited return for Ulster didn’t go quite according to plan as he was sent off in the second half, while ex-Sale teammate Mike Haley starred