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.

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 […]

Boyle turns down Exeter approach

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Exeter have failed with their attempts to land young Leinster prop Jack Boyle who has decided that his immediate future is with […]

Players discuss stresses of life

25 June 2023 0 comments

The times they are indeed changing. It was not so long ago that if a player used the services of a sports psychologist, they were […]

Craig leaving Gloucester for Scarlets

25 June 2023 0 comments

Scotland lock Alex Craig is joining Scarlets from Gloucester. Like their regional rivals, Scarlets are cutting costs and have lost lock options Lewis Rawlins, Tom […]

Loader signs two-year deal with Stormers

18 June 2023 0 comments

Ben Loader is moving to South Africa this summer and will play in the United Rugby Championship after signing for the Stormers following the demise […]

Neild back on market

18 June 2023 0 comments

Former Sale Sharks back-row Cameron Neild is looking for his third club in a year after his short-term deal with Glasgow Warriors ran out at […]

2018 Breakthrough Player of the Year Aphiwe Dyantyi to make Sharks return

13 June 2023 0 comments

The Sharks have signed 28-year-old former World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Aphiwe Dyantyi for the upcoming URC season after more than four years […]

Cardiff in fight for Thomas

11 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Gloucester have been linked with a move for highly-rated Cardiff coach T Rhys Thomas. The former Wales hooker, 41, […]

Evans tops wanted list

11 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Cardiff have made Ospreys full-back Cai Evans their number one summer target. The son of Wales and Lions legend […]

Diamond staying on

11 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Rugby’s Red Adair Steve Diamond is staying at Edinburgh until the end of the World Cup in November. The […]

Free agent Odogwu ready for URC

11 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former Wasps flyer Paolo Odogwu could finally ply his trade in the United Rugby Championship next season after last […]

Ospreys to demand a transfer fee for Francis

4 June 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Ospreys are demanding a transfer fee for Wales prop Tomas Francis, France-bound after completing business at the World Cup. “Tomas has one […]

Gatland releases Carre after he fails to hit targets

4 June 2023 0 comments

Cardiff prop Rhys Carre has been released from Wales’ World Cup training squad having “failed to meet individual performance targets”. “Rhys Carre has been released […]

Cardiff facing battle for prop Rae

4 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Cardiff are keen on signing Bath tighthead prop D’arcy Rae, below, but they are facing a late bid for […]

Stewart steps up for Ireland squad

4 June 2023 0 comments

Ulster hooker Tom Stewart, who set the record for the most tries in a URC season with 16, is one of four uncapped players in […]

Cardiff battle for ex-Junior Springbok

28 May 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Cardiff are involved in a stand-off with the Welsh Rugby Union over their bid to sign a stand-off from South Africa, Tinus […]

Hodnett grabs the glory for Munster

28 May 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Stormers……………………….14pts Tries: Libbok 5, Fourie 49 Conversions: Libbok 6, 50 Munster ………………………..19pts Tries: Barron 9, Nash 28, Hodnett 74 Conversions: Crowley 30, […]

O’Mahony praise for ‘excellent defence’

28 May 2023 0 comments

Munster’s winning captain Peter O’Mahony was delighted with the result as his side won their first URC title since 2011. “We performed really well in […]

Cambriani ready for his next shot in the pro ranks

28 May 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Zebre-bound winger Ben Cambriani is relishing the opportunity to return to professional full-time rugby and face his former side Ospreys next season […]

Alun Wyn bows out ahead of RWC axe

21 May 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Alun Wyn Jones abandoned the last goal of his monumental career amid growing fears of failing to make the final cut for […]

Warriors will learn from this – Smith

21 May 2023 0 comments

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith accepted that his side were outplayed but believes this experience will help his players in the long run. He said: […]

Tomi aiming for top after switch back to Scarlets

21 May 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Welsh flyer Tomi Lewis is adamant that moving back to his native land and working with head coach Dwayne Peel will provide […]

Leinster face fight for Boyle

21 May 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Leinster are trying to keep highly-rated prop Jack Boyle from moving to the Premiership this summer when his contract […]

Rowntree’s Red Army ready to roll

21 May 2023 0 comments

Saturday’s United Rugby Championship final between the Stormers, the holders, and Munster at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town is a 55,000 sell-out. Leinster, the […]

Crowley has final say in epic contest

14 May 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster…………………………15pts Tries: Jenkins 37, J McCarthy 62 Conversion: Byrne 38 Penalty: Byrne 2 Munster ………………………..16pts Tries: Beirne 45 Conversions: Crowley 46 Penalties: […]

Connacht go close but Stormers finish off in style

14 May 2023 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Stormers………. 43pts Tries: Libbok 28, 33, Davids 16, de Wet 65, Theunissen 77, Nel 80 Conversions: Libbok 17, 29, 34, 66, 80 […]

Miotti can be the main man for Glasgow – McDowall

14 May 2023 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Domingo Miotti can step up and fill the boots of banned fly-half Tom Jordan as Glasgow aim to become the first Scottish […]

Doris looking for revenge against La Rochelle

14 May 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Caelan Doris is hellbent on inflicting revenge on Saturday when Leinster meet La Rochelle in a re-run of last season’s Champions Cup […]

Paea is on his way to Zebre

9 May 2023 0 comments

Premiership clubs are poised to miss out on signing Tonga and Highlanders outside centre Fetuli Paea when his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union […]

Libbok leads way for Champs

7 May 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Stormers ……..33 Bulls ……………..21 Reigning champions the Stormers secured another home semi-final as their dominant display over the Bulls sets up a […]

Leinster’s double dream is on track

7 May 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Leinster……………35pts Tries: Doris 13, Milne 20, Larmour 23, Deegan 50, Gibson-Park 74 Conversions: H Byrne 14, 22, 24, 51, R Byrne 75 […]

Carty kicks Connacht to South Africa

7 May 2023 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Ulster …………….. 10pts Tries: O’Connor 65 Conversions: Cooney 66 Penalties: Cooney 21 Connacht ……….15pts Penalties: Carty 24, 34, 40, 45, 75 Connacht […]

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