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.

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 […]

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 […]

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