International Rugby

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s International Rugby news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Romain Ntamack: I’d love to take on All Blacks

23 March 2025 0 comments

By James Harrington – French Column So, Romain Ntamack wants to go to New Zealand in July. New Zealand have already made it clear they […]

Rassie Erasmus still has faith in Deon Fourie

16 March 2025 0 comments

Deon Fourie began the week back on Springbok duty, at 38 going on 39 still refusing to abandon hope of socking it to Father Time […]

Good news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain, my first reaction to […]

Steve Borthwick backs new skipper Maro Itoje to lead England at 2027 World Cup

15 January 2025 0 comments

Steve Borthwick insists Maro Itoje can lead England into the next World Cup after appointing him captain for the upcoming Six Nations at the expense […]

Handre Pollard: Argentina will test Steve Borthwick’s England

12 January 2025 0 comments

England have been warned to expect “tough battles” when they enter the backyard of the Pumas later this year.

Bill Sweeney facing SGM following Six Nations

12 January 2025 0 comments

The RFU will hold a special general meeting after the men’s Six Nations with chief executive Bill Sweeney facing demands for his removal.

Sam Underhill to undergo surgery and miss Six Nations

12 January 2025 0 comments

England flanker Sam Underhill is an injury doubt for the Six Nations after Bath announced that he requires ankle surgery.

Jack Singleton on breaking into the England set-up, again

12 January 2025 0 comments

Much time has passed since Jack Singleton’s leg break sustained against Northampton two years ago and the hooker is looking to move on.

Jeremy Guscott: Four changes to fire up England

12 January 2025 0 comments

Whoever makes the England Six Nations squad, to be announced on Tuesday by Steve Borthwick, I cannot imagine much in the way of change.

Wales prop Leon Brown forced to retire after multiple neck surgeries

8 January 2025 0 comments

Wales and Dragons prop Leon Brown has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect because of a neck injury. Brown won the last of […]

Stick with Marcus Smith, he’s the best in England

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Steve Borthwick has put three outside halves on hybrid contracts and he has less than a month to decide which one to […]

Steve Borthwick and England facing historic USA test

5 January 2025 0 comments

EXCLUSIVE By Jon Newcombe England’s summer tour will include a historic Test against the USA, as well as the already announced two-match series against Argentina. […]

Six uncapped Welsh youngsters ready to break out

5 January 2025 0 comments

As the new year gets underway, Simon Thomas looks at six uncapped youngsters who could have big Welsh futures Dan Edwards (Ospreys) No one has […]

George Ford set to follow family line and take up coaching

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Ross Heppenstall George Ford admits he sees himself following in the footsteps of his father and two brothers by moving into coaching one day. […]

Ollie Sleightholme is the right man for England

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Jeremy Guscott – Outspoken and unmissable every week… Since Ollie Sleightholme won his first two England caps against New Zealand last summer, and then […]

Matt Sherratt backing Taulupe Faletau to hit the heights

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Taulupe Faletau has been tipped to move on up through the gears as he continues his long-awaited comeback. The Wales and Lions […]

No Franco Mostert? That’s got to be a mistake

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed Here’s a funny thing: one of the more prominent rugby sites on the worldwide web super information highway thingy […]

Warren Gatland to stay as Wales coach but must ‘change fortunes on the pitch’

20 December 2024 0 comments

Warren Gatland is to remain in charge for the 2025 Six Nations following a review into Wales’ slump but has been warned by the Welsh […]

Grassroots revolt triggers vote over futures of RFU chief executive and chairman

19 December 2024 0 comments

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney and chairman Tom Ilube are facing motions calling for their removal after a grassroots revolt gathered enough support […]

Bundee Aki and James Ryan commit to Ireland by signing new deals

17 December 2024 0 comments

Bundee Aki and James Ryan have signed contract extensions with Ireland. Aki has agreed a new one-year deal that will keep him at Connacht until […]

Start with Tom Roebuck, Ben Curry tells Steve Borthwick

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Ross Heppenstall Steve Borthwick has been urged to make in-form Sale star Tom Roebuck a starting winger in the Six Nations. Roebuck enjoyed an […]

Scotland will benefit from winning habit – Blair Kinghorn

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Blair Kinghorn has been getting into the winning habit with Antoine Dupont and co at Toulouse and reckons that could spell bad […]

Georgia just want a fair chance – Richard Cockerill

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Jackson – The man truly in the know One day soon, Josef Tkemaladze will renew his presidential invitation to Wales requesting the pleasure […]

Jack Crowley or Sam Prendergast – Who is Ireland’s true number one fly-half?

13 December 2024 0 comments

Much has been made of Sam Prendergast’s recent arrival on the international scene, with fans and pundits alike quick to point out comparisons with Ireland’s […]

Ronan O’Gara would ‘bite hands off’ for top Test coach role – but not Wales job

10 December 2024 0 comments

Ronan O’Gara says there are international jobs he would “bite people’s hands off for” as he underlined a burning desire to coach at Test level. […]

England were not too far off – Henry Slade

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens Henry Slade believes England deserved more credit for their performances this autumn, insisting it was ‘small margins’ that prevented them from truly […]

Tommy Freeman is happy to have a crack at centre

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Tommy Freeman has started all of England’s internationals this year on the wing but fancies having a crack in the centre. Freeman […]

Fit-again Alex Mann is planning to come back with a bang

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas After a year of ups and downs, Alex Mann is back bigger and better than ever and determined to return to the […]

France won’t play All Blacks in USA

8 December 2024 0 comments

French Column – By James Harrington The FFR has rejected a proposal from New Zealand to relocate the third Test of next July’s tour to […]

Autumn Nations Series grades for each team

2 December 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott No one could have expected some of the results that happened over the Autumn Nations Series, with Australia overperforming and Wales furthering […]

The best XV of the Autumn Nations Series

2 December 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott After an Autumn filled with drama, where underperformances from home nations were compounded by Southern Hemisphere brilliance, here is the best XV […]

150th party nearly ends in tears for sloppy Irish

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Ireland…………………………. 22pts Tries: van der Flier 23, Doris 49, G McCarthy 73 Conversions: Prendergast 50, Crowley 74 Penalty: Prendergast 43 Australia……………………….. 19pts […]

Andy Farrell: It can’t be all singing, all dancing all of the time

1 December 2024 0 comments

Head coach Andy Farrell signed off from Ireland duty with another win as he turns his attention to the British and Irish Lions tour in […]

Springboks going to need a bigger trophy cabinet …

1 December 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson looks back on a season where, once again, South Africa proved to be the best team on the planet Now that they have […]

My body is telling me to quit, says Rob Evans

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Jackson – The man truly in the know Wales are about to be hit by another loss despite spending the final weekend of […]

Ireland vs Australia – Autumn Nations Series Match Preview

29 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports As Ireland prepares to host Australia this Saturday, both teams are coming off contrasting results. Under Andy Farrell’s leadership, Ireland […]

Could Toby Booth be Wales’ next head coach?

28 November 2024 0 comments

It’s safe to say the sun isn’t shining on Welsh rugby right now. Warren Gatland’s team suffered a record 12th consecutive defeat to South Africa […]

The most surprising results of the Autumn Nations Series

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott A combination of strong teams underperforming and perceived ‘weaker’ teams overperforming has resulted in a lot of shocks over this Autumn Nations […]

Autumn Nations Series: Biggest Stock Risers and Fallers

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott This Autumn Nations Series there have been plenty of moments and performances which are enough to define a career, and here are […]

Autumn Nations Series Team of the Week: England trio impress in final game of disappointing campaign

25 November 2024 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott England managed to salvage some dignity in their final game against Japan, while Australia failed to continue their form over the home nations. In the […]

Eddie Jones fires back at Danny Care as Steve Borthwick vows to persist with blitz

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys In typical Eddie Jones fashion the Japan head coach, following his side’s 59-14 defeat to England on his Twickenham homecoming, teased at […]

England solidify flat-track bully status to spoil Eddie Jones’ comeback

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys England……………… 59 (35)Tries: Earl 10, Underhill 14, George 24, 31, Sleightholme 37, Furbank 53, Cowan-Dickie 60, 65, Roebuck 68Conversions: M. Smith 11, […]

England vs Japan – Match Betting Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports England, currently on a five-game losing streak, is in a crucial position as they prepare to face Japan at Twickenham. […]

Scotland vs Wallabies – Match Betting Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports As Australia head to Murrayfield in pursuit of a clean sweep in the autumn series, both teams are riding high […]

We’ll reject changes to promotion, vow Championship clubs

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain Championship clubs are refusing to accept late changes to promotion-relegation regulations. They assert it contravenes the RFU Council’s decision in June to […]

Future is out of my control – Warren Gatland

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Roger Panting Wales head coach Warren Gatland indicated that he was still in the dark as to his future but despite a 12th successive […]

Shadow of Eddie Jones still hangs over Steve Borthwick – England vs Japan Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway PREVIEW… England v Japan Today. Kick-off 4.10pm, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Steve Borthwick is in the ultimate no-win situation today against Japan at […]

Wales are battered by force of Storm Sprinbok

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Wales ……………………………. 12pts Tries: Dyer 40, Botham 80 Conversion: B Thomas 80 South Africa ……………….. 45pts Tries: Mostert 6, Etzebeth 9, Arendse […]

Sione Tuipulotu: This is where I’m supposed to be – Scotland vs Australia Preview

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer PREVIEW… Scotland v Australia Today. Kick-off 1.40pm, Murrayfield Sione Tuipulotu’s journey from the suburbs of Melbourne to the Scotland captaincy will come […]

Steve Borthwick can’t afford another run of failure

24 November 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week When it comes to “jam tomorrow” England teams have produced more jars of it than […]

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