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.

stdClass Object ( [id] => 2 [league_id] => 2 [season_name] => United Rugby Championship Regular Season [season_slug] => united-rugby-championship-regular-season [season_start] => 2021 [season_end] => 2022 [wp_league_id] => 3836 [status] => 1 )

Ewers set for home debut

29 October 2023 0 comments

PREVIEW… Ulster v Bulls Today. Kick-off 5pm By BEN JAYCOCK Kieran Treadwell, who hopes to pick up where he left off after being awarded the […]

Rowntree makes double change

29 October 2023 0 comments

PREVIEW… Benetton v Munster (Today, Kick-off 2pm) By BEN JAYCOCK Munster will be hoping to secure back-to-back wins today as they travel to Italy to […]

Kleyn could never have imagined final with South Africa

24 October 2023 0 comments

Former Ireland player Jean Kleyn has revealed that being involved in a World Cup Final for his native South Africa was “outside the realm of […]

Connacht make it tough for Ospreys

22 October 2023 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht ……… 34pts Tries: Blade 12, 24, 34, Forde 58 Conversions: Hanrahan 13, 25, 34, 59 Penalties: Hanrahan 3, 6 Ospreys ………….26pts […]

Stormers edge it in day of drama

22 October 2023 0 comments

Lions …………….33 Stormers ……..35 By MARK DOCHERTY The Stormers managed to edge the Lions 35-33 in a thrilling match that swung back and forth throughout […]

Penny ready for Glasgow clash

22 October 2023 0 comments

Preview… Glasgow v Leinster Today, ko 4pm By BEN JAYCOCK SCOTT Penny captains Leinster for the first time as the Irish province begin their campaign […]

Healy’s on target to take it for Edinburgh

22 October 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Dragons…………………………17pts Tries: Tomkinson 2, Baldwin 17 Conversions: Evans 2, 17 Penalties: Evans 45 Edinburgh…………………….. 22pts Tries: Vellacott 65 Conversions: Healy 65 Penalties: […]

Umaga holds nerve to cut down Cardiff

22 October 2023 0 comments

By ANDY HOWELL Cardiff……………22pts Tries: Belcher 18, Carre 27, Bevan 32 Conversions: De Beer 19, 27 Penalties: De Beer 59 Benetton………….23pts Tries: Lucchesi 37, Albornoz […]

Zebre push Ulster all the way

22 October 2023 0 comments

Zebre …………….36 Ulster ……………40 By BEN JACKSON Ulster survived a major scare on the opening day of the new URC season as they recovered from […]

Carbery shows his worth

22 October 2023 0 comments

Munster ……… 34 Sharks …………. 21 By KEVIN FALLON Joey Carbery, who lost both his Munster and Ireland places last season, led from the front […]

New signings face tough test

22 October 2023 0 comments

Preview… Bulls v Scarlets Today, ko 2pm By BEN JAYCOCK NEW Scarlets signings Ioan Lloyd, Taine Plumtree and Alex Craig make their URC debuts today […]

Assiratti’s hard work is starting to pay off with Wales call-up

22 October 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Keiron Assiratti will never forget April Fools’ Day in 2023 – it was the day his career suddenly took off. Up until […]

Saracens keep eye on Carre

15 October 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Premiership Champions Saracens could re-sign out-of-favour Wales loosehead Rhys Carre for next season. Carre, 25, made eight appearances after joining Sarries following […]

Grace aiming to get back in game

15 October 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Regan Grace looks set to stay in Rugby Union after turning down approaches from several Super League clubs, including Grand Finalists Wigan […]

Sutherland on way to Oyonnax

15 October 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Scotland and Lions star Rory Sutherland has joined Top 14 new boys Oyonnax, who have had a tough introduction to life in […]

Regions facing a battle to stay afloat

15 October 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW ACCORDING to the official blurb, Wales’ match against the Barbarians next month is designed as a homecoming […]

Regions determined to fight their corner

15 October 2023 0 comments

Welsh outfits will be hoping to improve on last season with Ireland and SA teams still looking like the ones to beat. Ben Jaycock reports. […]

Winger Fricker flies in at Ospreys

1 October 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former Bristol Bears winger Toby Fricker, below, who left the Premiership side at the end of last season, has […]

De Beer keen to drive Cardiff forward

1 October 2023 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Tinus de Beer is relishing being out of his comfort zone as he looks to make his mark with Cardiff Rugby. It’s […]

Lloyd: I’m here to get back into Wales squad

1 October 2023 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Ioan Lloyd has arrived at the Scarlets with two big targets – playing No.10 and forcing his way back into the Wales […]

Madigan takes his skills to Blackrock

24 September 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Bristol Bears fly-half Ian Madigan is starting a coaching career at his former club, Blackrock College, after announcing his retirement after […]

French keen to recruit yet more

24 September 2023 0 comments

The exodus of players from England and Wales to France is set to continue next summer, with one source claiming as many as 13 players […]

Bonjour a tous, je m’appelle Steve Diamond

17 September 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Steve Diamond is taking intensive French lessons as he eyes up a move across the channel after finishing a […]

Cardiff boosted by the arrival of Pirate Robson

17 September 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Cardiff have signed former Dragons fly-half Arwel Robson from English Championship club Cornish Pirates. Robson, 26, left Dragons for Pirates in 2021 […]

Scarlets pay the ultimate tribute to Bennett

17 September 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The Scarlets honoured legend Phil Bennett with an impressive display of running rugby to beat the Barbarians 33-19. Former Llanelli, Wales, and […]

Young Guns: Glasgow Warriors fly-half Richie Simpson

17 September 2023 0 comments

Former Scotland U20s fly-half Richie Simpson is hoping to earn some minutes at URC franchise Glasgow Warriors this season. The 20-year-old received plaudits for […]

Smith commits future to Warriors until 2026

17 September 2023 0 comments

Coach Franco Smith has signed a new contract with Glasgow Warriors, extending his stay until 2026. The 51-year-old South African – linked with the Scotland […]

Bristol set to revive big match

10 September 2023 0 comments

Bristol are looking to revive plans to play a ‘big match’ across the Severn Bridge in Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium next season. The Bears were […]

Neild on road to Scotland

3 September 2023 0 comments

Cover: Cam Neild Former Sale and Worcester flanker Cameron Neild is moving back to Scotland on a short-term deal at Edinburgh. Neild, who had a […]

Burgess makes Bath switch

3 September 2023 0 comments

Former agent and England team manager Rob Burgess, who was head of recruitment at the Dragons, is leaving to take up a similar role with […]

Davies: I almost gave up on Wales career

27 August 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies has revealed he came close to giving up on his international career before Warren Gatland’s return as head […]

Arms Park set for a pay day

13 August 2023 0 comments

Cardiff Rugby could get a much-needed cash boost with the Arms Park being considered to host Joe Cordina’s IBF super-featherweight title defence next year. Cordina […]

Ex-Zebre players ask URC bosses for help

13 August 2023 0 comments

The United Rugby Championship could be called in to settle a dispute between Zebre and a group of former players who left the club in […]

Playing in both hemispheres helps Springboks – Le Roux

10 August 2023 0 comments

1995 Rugby World Cup winner Hennie Le Roux feels South Africa have had the best of both worlds in having their club sides playing in […]

Gold adds his experience to the Blue Bulls

6 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Bath boss Gary Gold is back in coaching after agreeing to join Jake White’s coaching staff at the Blue Bulls in […]

Howley keen on replacing Young

30 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Rob Howley is interested in replacing Dai Young as the next boss of Cardiff, but […]

Young leaves Cardiff following investigation

25 July 2023 0 comments

Dai Young has left Cardiff Rugby despite being cleared after an independent investigation into bullying allegations against him. Young was suspended on 20 April this […]

Anscombe the latest to head for Japan

23 July 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is the latest Wales player to head to Japan by signing for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath after the 2023 World […]

Edinburgh appoint ex-Sharks supremo Everitt

23 July 2023 0 comments

Edinburgh have appointed experienced South African Sean Everitt as their senior coach for the 2023-24 season. The former Sharks head coach joins from his consultancy […]

Exeter sign O’Connor from Munster

23 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Exeter Chiefs have signed Munster second row Eoin O’Connor. The 22-year-old moves to Sandy Park after four years with the United Rugby […]

Prem and URC to make October starts

12 July 2023 0 comments

The Premiership and United Rugby Championship (URC) will both start in October for the upcoming season, with each of their finals taking place in June. […]

Dragons get their man

10 July 2023 0 comments

The Dragons have won a three-way battle royale to land Ospreys full-back Cai Evans, who was named in Warren Gatland’s World Cup training squad earlier […]

Gatland calls up uncapped Plumtree

9 July 2023 0 comments

Uncapped back row Taine Plumtree, who Scarlets last week unveiled as a new signing, has been called up to the Wales squad. Swansea-born Plumtree, 23, […]

Cardiff land prop Litterick

9 July 2023 0 comments

Cardiff have signed Harlequins prop Rhys Litterick for next season. The 24-year-old front row from West Sussex is Wales-qualified through his Bridgend-born father. He made […]

Dragons to go private

2 July 2023 0 comments

Dragons RFC will return to private ownership this summer after a takeover deal for the Newport-based region was agreed on Friday with a consortium led […]

Akker’s on way to Bulls

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former Sale Sharks hooker Akker van der Merwe is set to return to South Africa, where he has been offered a deal to join the […]

Kiss weighing up his options

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former London Irish boss Les Kiss appears to be in demand after speaking to clubs in Super Rugby and United Rugby Championship about making a […]

We are not going anywhere, say Ospreys

25 June 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Ospreys are adamant they will be open for business as usual in Swansea next season despite talks about relocating to Cardiff. The […]