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.

Domachowski has his eye on top spot

21 April 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Corey Domachowski is a man on a mission to be Wales’ number one No.1. The Cardiff prop now has 10 caps to […]

Envious eyes fall on Leinster’s recruits

21 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster’s ability to cherry-pick two of the 2023 World Cup final’s biggest stars, signing All Black centre Jordie Barrett to augment the arrival of Springbok […]

Robertson will cash in on Barrett move

21 April 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED LOOKING at it from Leinster’s point of view, the signing of the world’s best inside centre is a proper coup. Jordie […]

Long wait for away win goes on for Dragons

21 April 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Benetton………..36pts Tries: Smith 7, Lucchesi 30, Uren 35, Ratave 45, Iachizzi 71, Lamaro 75 Conversions: Albornoz 8, 36, Umaga 76 Dragons………….19pts Tries: […]

Goosen red card is game changer

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BRIAN FINN Bulls …………….22 Munster ……….27 GRAHAM Rowntree was pleased with the way his men came from behind to carve out victory at Loftus […]

Faletau injured again in gutting defeat to Ulster

21 April 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Ulster ……………..19pts Try: McCann 58 Conversion: Cooney 59 Penalties: Doak 28, 35, Cooney 65, 79 Tries: Cabango 11, 42 Conversions: De Beer […]

Leinster seconds suffer a mauling

21 April 2024 0 comments

By JIM COUCH Lions …………… 44 Leinster ……….12 LEINSTER crashed to a heavy defeat at Emirates Airline Park. Leo Cullen’s side had won 11 of […]

Warriors miss out on bonus point

21 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Glasgow ………21 Sharks ………… 10 GLASGOW kept themselves firmly in the playoff hunt with a convincing win at Scotstoun to stay second […]

Morgan at the double for Ospreys history boys

21 April 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Stormers………..21pts Try: Du Plessis 13, Roos 43, Penalty 80 Conversions: Libbok 14, 44 Ospreys………….27pts Tries: Morgan 8, 40; Parry 25, Deaves 63 […]

Livewire Devine the star of show

21 April 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON @therugbypaper Connacht …… 54 Zebre …………..16 CONNACHT skipper Dave Heffernan said they need to build on this easy win to keep their […]

Barrett, the man for every occasion

21 April 2024 0 comments

As a centre-three-quarter par excellence, there is nothing Jordie Barrett cannot do. Nobody in his position can truck it up the way he does, make […]

The Sheriff will be sorely missed

21 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON The gods played a dirty trick in denying Ken Owens a farewell appearance for his beloved Wales and equally beloved Scarlets but […]

Wales legend Owens retires at 37

17 April 2024 0 comments

Former Wales captain Ken Owens has retired from professional rugby aged 37. The ‘Sheriff’ was the oldest ever-player to hold the role, as he played […]

Leinster sign Barrett for 2024/25 season

15 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster have confirmed the signing of experienced All Black utility back Jordie Barrett on a short-term deal from December to the end of next season. […]

Another year for O’Mahony

14 April 2024 0 comments

Ireland skipper Peter O’Mahony has signed a new one-year contract at Munster after speculation he was set to retire. The 34-year-old has won two league […]

Leicester ace adds power to Ospreys midfield

7 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Ospreys have signed Phil Cokanasiga from Leicester Tigers for the 2024-25 season. Cokanasiga, the younger brother of England and Bath wing Joe, […]

Loader still has England in sight

7 April 2024 0 comments

Ben Loader still dreams of playing for England and is hoping his performances in Cape Town for the Stormers will one day offer a route […]

Montpellier lead chase for Munster ace Frisch

7 April 2024 0 comments

Montpellier are leading the chase for Munster centre Antoine Frisch, who has declared his allegiance to France over Ireland. Born in Fontainebleau, France, Frisch qualifies […]

Kitshoff set for return to Stormers

7 April 2024 0 comments

After weeks of speculation South Africa’s two-time World Cup winning prop Steven Kitshoff has decided to leave Ulster at the end of his first season […]

Hill looking forward to Edinburgh challenge

7 April 2024 0 comments

England prop Paul Hill will leave Northampton in the summer to join Edinburgh. The tighthead has made 187 appearances for Saints, having joined in 2015 […]

Scarlets prop star Thomas set for Ospreys

7 April 2024 0 comments

PROP Steffan Thomas will leave Scarlets at the end of the season to join Ospreys. Thomas, 26, will join his cousin and fellow loosehead Gareth […]

I’ve loved my time at Bath – Gallagher

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Matt Gallagher admits it will be a wrench to leave Bath at the end of the season and is doing so to […]

This is a dream come true, says Winnett

31 March 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Cam Winnett admits he is still pinching himself after his “unbelievable” Six Nations experience with Wales. The young full-back had started just […]

Craig enjoying new lease of life at Scarlets

31 March 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Alex Craig is an “old school” rugby player enjoying a new lease of life. The second row’s move to the Scarlets has […]

Cardiff fall just short as Crowley hits winner

31 March 2024 0 comments

■By JOHN FALLON Munster ………… 20pts Tries: Beirne 48, Crowley 64 Conversions: Crowley 49, 65 Penalties: Crowley 38, 75 Cardiff …………… 15pts Tries: Thomas 55, […]

Morris finds his form to help Ospreys see off Lions

31 March 2024 0 comments

■By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys …………36pts Tries: Botha 5, Parry 17, Morris 49, Lloyd 58, K Williams 80 Conversions: O Williams 18, 50, 59, Walsh 80 […]

Rowe’s the destroyer as Glasgow take charge

31 March 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER PANTING Scarlets ………………………….3pts Penalties: Lloyd 16 Glasgow……………………….. 45pts Tries: Rowe 6, 69, 80; Hiddleston 25, Cummings 41, Penalty 54, Matthews 64 Conversions: Weir […]

Dragons come good in basement battle

31 March 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Scarlets on his 100th apchief beneficiary Dragons…………. 20pts Tries: Owen 17, Rosser 23, Dee 42 Conversions: Evans 42 Zebre……………… 13pts Penalties: Evans […]

Stormers …… 13 Ulster ………….. 7

31 March 2024 0 comments

A LATE Evan Roos try helped Stormers seal a hard-fought win over Ulster. Nick Timoney’s converted score gave Ulster a 7-0 half-time lead but the […]

Sharks ……….23 Edinbrugh …. 13

31 March 2024 0 comments

EDINBURGH suffered back-to-back defeats in South Africa as the Sharks – who had begun the day bottom of the table with two wins from 12 […]

Big guns fire for Leinster

31 March 2024 0 comments

Leinster ………. 47 Bulls …………….. 14 By JOHN FALLON LEINSTER brought most of their big guns back for this one and head coach Leo Cullen […]

Benetton snatch it in final play of game

31 March 2024 0 comments

Benetton ……… 18 Connacht ……..14 By KEVIN FALLON BENETTON captain Eli Snyman said this is a huge win for the Treviso side as they struck […]

Wales can’t afford four

31 March 2024 0 comments

The Scarlets’ proud proclamation welcoming fans to ‘Heart and Soul Rugby Country’ looks even more threadbare this weekend. A loss of almost £3m last season […]

Ulster have little to offer

31 March 2024 0 comments

Shortly after Dan McFarland’s abrupt exit as Ulster’s head coach, chief executive Jonny Petrie dismissed any questions over his future at Ravenhill. “I’m committed to […]

Swart’s on message to grab it for Scarlets

24 March 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Scarlets ………………………..16pts Tries: Swart 80+4 Conversion: Costelow 80+5 Penalties: Costelow 3, 51, 55 Benetton Treviso…………13pts Tries: Ratave 12 Conversion: Umaga 13 Penalties: […]

Cardiff hope to win Grady tug-of-war

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By SIMON THOMAS The future location of Mason Grady is one of the biggest talking points in Welsh rugby – in more […]

Munster too hot in the red zone for Ospreys

24 March 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Ospreys …………. 17pts Tries: Giles 33, Parry 54, Cuthbert 74 Conversions: O Williams 54 Munster …………27pts Tries: Daly 3, O’Brien 5, 17; […]

Dempsey in control to lead Glasgow fightback

24 March 2024 0 comments

■By SIMON THOMAS Glasgow……….. 17pts Tries: Williamson 43, Sordoni 51 Conversion: Weir 44, 52 Penalty: Weir 67 Cardiff ………….. 13pts Try: Thomas 31 Conversion: De […]

Dragons show some style but fade away

24 March 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER PANTING Dragons…………. 10pts Tries: Baldwin 79 Conversions: Red 79 Penalties: Evans 20 Bulls ………………. 31pts Tries: Arendse 27, Gumede 44, Papier 76, Grobelaar […]

Sharks ……….22 Ulster ………… 12

24 March 2024 0 comments

THE Sharks recorded their first league win since November to climb off the URC basement as Ulster’s play-off bid took a knock. Sharks scored tries […]

Zebre …………… 7 Leinster …….. 31

24 March 2024 0 comments

LEADERS Leinster secured a bonus-point victory at Lanfranchi Stadium. First-half tries by Rob Russell and debutant Andrew Osborne, and further scores in the second by […]

Stormers overwhelm makeshift Edinburgh

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Stormers …….. 43 Edinburgh ……. 21 EDINBURGH’S URC play-off hopes suffered a major dent as Stor mers leapfrogged them in the table […]

Connacht left at the gate by proud Lions

24 March 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht ……..14 Lions …………….38 MAN of the match JC Pretorious said a first ever win in Ireland could now propel them into […]

Five-star Bath run URC leaders ragged

17 March 2024 0 comments

Bath ………………..35pts Tries: Cokanasiga 9, du Toit 34, Spencer 50, Muir 66, 75 Conversions: Bailey 10, 35, 51, 67; Worboys 76 Leinster…………… 7pts Tries: Connors […]

Carre back at Saracens

10 March 2024 0 comments

Saracens have re-signed Wales loosehead Rhys Carre from Cardiff. The 26-year-old previously played for Saracens in 2019-20, moving back to Cardiff after one season. He […]

Party time as Stormers win 12-try thriller

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton…29pts Tries: Glister 3, 29, Odendaal 40, Garside 63, Graham 77 Conversions: Salava 4, 40 Stormers………. 45pts Tries: Simelane 10, Morabe 14, […]

Wasps better off with URC – Sharp

3 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Coventry chairman Jon Sharp is convinced that Wasps’ future, if it has one, lies in the United Rugby Championship, not the RFU […]

‘Big Mac’ has his eye on the prize

3 March 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE The extent of the impact Wales newbie Mackenzie Martin is making this season can be judged in many ways. His club, Cardiff […]

McNicholl on his way

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales wing Johnny McNicholl has left the Scarlets with immediate effect to take up a playing opportunity in New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, […]