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.

Do Wales have a chance at landing young gun Cameron Hanekom?

11 October 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Over the past decade, there has been a trend of players coming from overseas to compete for European countries. Many […]

I can take the pressure at No. 10, says Ben Thomas

6 October 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Much is made about the difference between club and international rugby and it’s something Ben Thomas is able to give a real […]

Ulster blown away in Pretoria

6 October 2024 0 comments

By THOMAS DANIELS Bulls ……………. 47 Ulster …………… 21 Last season’s finalists the Bulls secured backto-back wins by scoring seven tries to blow Ulster away […]

Tuipulotu’s power is too much for Cardiff

6 October 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Cardiff ……………..36pts Glasgow …………..52pts Tries: D Thomas 12, Winnett 20, Byrne 47, Martin 53, Donnell 68 Conversions: Sheedy 13, De Beer 48, […]

Davies double not enough for Scarlets

6 October 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Scarlets …………23pts Tries: Davies 22, 30 Conversions: Costelow 22, 30 Penalties: Costelow 42, 73; Lloyd 52 Connacht ……… 24pts Tries: O’Conor 7, […]

Ospreys can do nothing to stop Munster taking charge

6 October 2024 0 comments

■By JOHN FALLON Munster ………..23pts Tries: McCarthy 1, Farrell 26, Nash 40, O’Donoghue 64. Penalty: Crowley 9 Ospreys ………….. 0pts IRISH scrum-half Craig Casey said […]

Leinster top with perfect 15 pts

6 October 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Benetton ………. 5 Leinster ………..35 LEINSTER maintained their perfect start to the season with a bonus point victory in Treviso. Leo Cullen’s […]

Heartbreak for Dragons as Sharks snatch win

6 October 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Dragons …………. 30pts Tries: Basham 18, Coleman 27, Williams 38, Carter 55 Conversions: Evans 19, 39 Penalties: Evans 3, Reed 59 Sharks […]

Three defeats in a row for sorry Edinburgh

6 October 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Lions …………….55 Edinburgh ……21 EDINBURGH suffered a savage mauling by a rampant Lions outfit to leave their ambitions of a top-four URC […]

I’m happy to play anywhere – Mason Grady

6 October 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas How best to utilise the talents of Mason Grady is one of the big debates in Welsh rugby. At 6ft 5ins and […]

Dan Edwards – Wales’ next fly-half?

3 October 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan As a national side, Wales is still trying to find its feet after the 2023 World Cup. Many familiar faces walked away […]

Iwan Stephens enjoying life with Cardiff

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Growing up, rugby league was very much the sporting love for Iwan Stephens, with his heroes being the likes of Kevin Sinfield […]

Ben Thomas leads the charge for Cardiff

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Scarlets ………….. 15pts Tries: Page 1, Plumtree 11 Conversion: Costelow 2 Penalty: Costelow 5 Cardiff ……………. 24pts Tries: Belcher 18, Grady 21, […]

Dan Edwards finds his feet to lead Ospreys home

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Roger Panting Ospreys ………….37pts Tries: Morgan 25, Morgan-Williams 48, Edwards 64, Penalty 79 Conversions: Edwards 25, 48, 64 Penalties: Edwards 8, 38 Drop goal: […]

Sean Everitt: Accuracy is letting us down

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Phil Evans Bulls …………….22 Edinburgh ……. 16 Jaco van der Walt put in a pivotal performance against his former side as the Bulls opened […]

Leinster take control to put Dragons in their place

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Leinster ……….. 34pts Tries: Conan 18, R Byrne 38, Deegan 47, J McCarthy 64, Larmour 69, King 81 Conversions: R Byrne 48, […]

Lions on song to subdue Ulster

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Lions …………….35 Ulster…………….22 The Lions grabbed a bonus point win to kick off their season in front of an almost empty Ellis […]

Zebre stun Munster with almighty comeback win

29 September 2024 0 comments

By James Lyons Zebre, beaten in all 20 previous games by Munster, pulled off one of the biggest shocks in URC history by staging an […]

Connacht launch incredible second half comeback to down the Sharks

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Matt Couch Connacht overturned a 20-point half-time deficit to clinch a five-try victory to go third in the table. First Half They dominated the […]

Glasgow Warriors get back in the groove

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Glasgow ……… 42 Benetton………. 10 Captain Kyle Steyn scored two tries as champions Glasgow bounced back from last week’s defeat to Ulster […]

URC Welsh Round Up

24 September 2024 0 comments

Last weekend marked the return of the URC and our website correspondent Darren Powell fills us in on the Welsh side’s progress in the competition. Cardiff 22-17 […]

Gareth Thomas: I want to hold on at No.1

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Having finally established himself as Wales’ number one No.1, Gareth Thomas, above, is determined to hold on to the jersey. The Ospreys […]

James Ratti enjoys his ‘weird ride’

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas James Ratti is the first to admit his “mad journey” to becoming a Welsh international has been “a weird ride”. Back in […]

Scarlets denied in final minutes

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Benetton ……..20 Scarlets ……….20 The Scarlets were denied a memorable victory at the death out in Treviso, but came away with a […]

Alex Nankivell the difference as Munster win a thriller

22 September 2024 0 comments

By John Fallon Munster ………..35pts Tries: Nankivell 29, Haley 32, Hodnett 45, Coombes 60, Daly 70 Conversions: Burns 29, 33, 46, 61, 71 Connacht ………33pts […]

Luke Yendle in place to steal it for Dragons

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Dragons……………23pts Tries: Keddie 28, Yendle 84 Conversions: Evans 29, 85 Penalties: Evans 1, 24, 77 Ospreys …………… 21pts Tries: Williams 20, Conbeer […]

Emiliano Boffelli injury woes add to Edinburgh problems

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Edinburgh……… 31pts Tries: Schoeman 11, Van der Merwe 32, 65, Cherry 42, Scott 80 Conversions: Thompson 12, 43, Healy 80 Leinster………….33pts Tries: […]

Glasgow Warriors fall to Ulster’s late grab

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Rory Morrow Ulster …………..20 Glasgow……….19 Ulster struck late as substitute Dave Shanahan’s last-gasp try earned a dramatic win over the URC Champions, Glasgow Warriors. […]

Callum Sheedy gives Cardiff some reasons to be cheerful

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Cardiff …………..22pts Tries: Winnett 10, Stephens 18, D Thomas 24, McNally 56 Conversion: Sheedy 11 Zebre…………….. 17pts Tries: Bertaccini 64, Locatelli 80 […]

Toby Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving Ospreys

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens Toby Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the […]

Welsh regions facing another long, hard season to climb the URC mountain

15 September 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock and James Orpin report on the big moves as Siya Kolisi and Jordie Barrett prepare for their new clubs The United Rugby Championship […]

Phil Cokanasiga out to make his mark at Ospreys

8 September 2024 0 comments

Getting the better of his big brother in the back garden was always the goal for Phil Cokanasiga, and his sibling remains an inspiration.

Scarlets sign Australia A prop Archer Holz

8 September 2024 0 comments

Scarlets have signed Australia A and former Brumbies, Waratahs, and La Rochelle tighthead prop Archer Holz.

Ex-rugby player Nathan Macqueen shooting for gold at Paralympics

1 September 2024 0 comments

Former rugby prodigy turned paralympic archer Nathan Macqueen could fulfil a life’s ambition today for Team GB in Paris.

Huw Jones urges Scotland team-mates to produce strong season in Lions tour bid

29 August 2024 0 comments

The Scots had eight players involved in the 2021 tour of South Africa. Huw Jones has challenged his Scotland colleagues to produce the season of […]

Move to Glasgow suits Schickerling

25 August 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens It wasn’t all that long ago that Patrick Schickerling was being ear-marked as a potential England bolter, a player who was set […]

Ospreys are improving every season -Booth

25 August 2024 0 comments

By Rob Cole Toby Booth has his eyes on a prize for his ever-improving Ospreys this season and if he achieves his ambitious goal it […]

Ewers: I’m thrilled to be joining Stormers

18 August 2024 0 comments

AS the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain, Dave Ewers stepped off the plane, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and nostalgia.

Summerhill in hunt for a new deal

11 August 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Moving on: Aled Summerhill in action for Cardiff PICTURE: Getty Images AS he comes to terms with being unemployed, Aled Summerhill admits […]

Dan Thomas signs for Cardiff with the help of former teammates

4 August 2024 0 comments

Dan Thomas has revealed the significant part his former teammates, including England star Ellis Genge, played in his recent move to Cardiff.

Cardiff sign another scrum-half in Johan Mulder

4 August 2024 0 comments

Cardiff have announced the signing of 24-year-old South African scrum-half Johan Mulder from fellow United Rugby Championship side the Lions.

Josh McNally: I still have a lot more to give

14 July 2024 0 comments

Josh McNally views his move to Cardiff as the perfect outcome after contemplating for a time that his rugby career may be over.

Peter Jackson: Warrior Peter O’Mahony learns a brutal lesson

14 July 2024 0 comments

A Grand Slam winner last year, Peter O’Mahony backed it up by captaining Ireland to a second successive Six Nations title.

Scotland and Wales facing tough choices

7 July 2024 0 comments

The slow financial recovery from the pandemic showed in recent statements from the Scottish and Welsh unions who are both overseeing periods of austerity which […]

Stafford McDowall shocked to be leading Scotland against Canada

5 July 2024 0 comments

It will be only a third Scotland appearance for the Glasgow centre. Stafford McDowall revealed his shock at being told he would be Scotland co-captain […]

Warriors deserved to take the glory

30 June 2024 0 comments

Glasgow Warriors’ 21-16 win over the Bulls in Pretoria to clinch the URC title has earned them deserved accolades after outscoring the home side by […]

Tuipulotu shines in star-studded line-up

30 June 2024 0 comments

Following Glasgow’s epic victory in the final last weekend, Simon Thomas selects his team of the season from the URC It went down to the […]

Battling Glasgow grab final chance

16 June 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Glasgow stunned champions Munster 17-10 at Thomond Park last night to secure a place in the United Rugby Championship final where they […]

Bulls hold firm to keep Leinster out

16 June 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Bulls …………………………….. 25pts Tries: Goosen 30, Petersen 42, 67 Conversions: Goosen 31, 43 Penalties: Goosen 40, 61 Leinster…………………………20pts Tries: Lowe 24, Doris […]

Munster can’t live with slick Warriors

16 June 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Munster ………………………..10pts Tries: Frisch 56 Conversions: Crowley 57 Penalties: Crowley 13 Glasgow………………………..17pts Tries: Steyn 24, Cancelliere 51 Conversions: G Horne 25, 52 […]

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