International Rugby

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

Jones facing Italy tester

21 July 2024 0 comments

Preview ■By BEN JAYCOCK Japan v Italy Today. 6.05am EDDIE Jones will be hoping his horror start in charge of Japan will come to an […]

Mapimpi hat-trick sparks Springboks as Portugal go under

21 July 2024 0 comments

■By SAM JACKSON DISCIPLINE was an issue for a much changed South Africa but, despite their numerical disadvantage, the Springboks had more than enough to […]

Valetini leads the way for Wallabies

21 July 2024 0 comments

■By BEN JAYCOCK Diving home: Rob Valetini scores for the Wallabies PICTURES: Alamy THE good times keep on rolling at the start of Joe Schmidt’s […]

Building for a brighter future

21 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS AT WHAT WENT RIGHTAND WHAT WENT WRONGFOR THE TOURING HOME NATIONS After Wales had lost the second Test, and the rubber, to […]

Cory Hill apologises for past ‘mistake’ as he prepares to captain Wales

18 July 2024 0 comments

Wales end their Australia tour by tackling Queensland Reds. Wales lock Cory Hill says he regrets an incident that happened three years ago and has […]

Rugby union rookie Regan Grace handed Wales start against Queensland

17 July 2024 0 comments

The former rugby league star played twice for Bath last season. Regan Grace will start for Wales in only his third game of rugby union […]

George: I just can’t wait for rematch

14 July 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Eden Park England captain Jamie George is desperate for a rematch with the All Blacks after another gut-wrenching reverse down under. […]

Ireland stun world champions

14 July 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Super-sub Ciaran Frawley landed a last second drop-goal to write his name into Ireland legend as Andy Farrell’s side clinched a dramatic […]

Borthwick approach tempted Strawbridge

14 July 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge reckons England are a team on the up and that persuaded him to throw in his lot with […]

Underhill so impressed by England’s improvement

14 July 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Sam Underhill is a decent barometer of England’s progress in the last 12 months having watched them from in and outside the […]

Agony for England as they fail to breach the All Black fortress

14 July 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway in Eden Park New Zealand………………. 24pts Tries: Tele’a 11, 61 Conversions: McKenzie 12 Penalties: McKenzie 21, 38, 69, 75 England ………………………… 17pts […]

A thunderous match that had no losers

14 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES The first thing that needs to be said is that this was an absorbing Test match between two teams which on their current […]

High-risk blitz puts England in charge

14 July 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK There’s nothing not to like about England’s blitz defence. It’s bold, gutsy, and good to see because it […]

Hat-trick for Ashman as Scots down the Eagles

14 July 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson USA …………………… 7pts Tries: Boni 32 Conversions: MacGinty 33 Scotland ………. 42pts Tries: van der Merwe 6, Ashman 19, 26, 40+3; Horne […]

Aussies made to fight all the way

14 July 2024 0 comments

By Roger Panting Australia……………………… 36pts Tries: Daugunu 7, 67; Gordon 25, Alaalatoa 54 Conversions: Lolesio 8, 26 Penalties: Lolesio 15, 31, 39; Donaldson 77 Wales…………………………… […]

We have makings of a good team – Gatland

14 July 2024 0 comments

Wales produced their best performance of the year but still fell to their ninth successive defeat – and a 15th loss in 21 Tests since […]

Wales show defiance but the wait goes on

14 July 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON All week long the Red Dragon legions had planned their regimental mobilisation with just enough military precision to let them catch the action […]

Overseas stars are blocking new talent

14 July 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There is a double standard in English rugby that stands out as a carbuncle-like sign of the […]

Ireland’s ecstasy as cool Frawley steals it

14 July 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER South Africa………………… 24pts Penalties: Pollard 19, 35, 45, 48, 53, 57, 61, 65 Ireland…………………………. 25pts Tries: Murray 14 Conversions: Crowley 15 Penalties: […]

On-target Garbisi shows the way for Italy

14 July 2024 0 comments

International round-up Italy beat Tonga 36-14 in Nuku’alofa as the Azzurri bounced back from a shock defeat to Samoa on their Pacific tour. Fly-half Paolo […]

European elite keen to exclude outsiders

14 July 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Whichever way you care to define the i-word, it was an interesting few hours for Canadian sport. On July 6 in […]

Slipper deserves place at top table

14 July 2024 0 comments

Wallaby props? How we used to snigger at them over here in England as Jason Leonard, Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan chucked their weight around […]

Entertaining the crowds is not the only thing

14 July 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, while attracting a new audience is important, the game must not ignore its core support Scott Robertson made his name with […]

Why is captain replaced so early?

14 July 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME So the All Blacks keep their home record of wins at Dunedin by just one point […]

The key talking points ahead of the second Test between Australia and Wales

12 July 2024 0 comments

Wales have not won a Test match since the 2023 World Cup. Wales will have another chance to try and end their long losing run […]

5 key talking points ahead of England’s clash with New Zealand in Auckland

12 July 2024 0 comments

Steve Borthwick has sought to unnerve New Zealand by highlighting the pressure that comes with their remarkable record at Eden Park. England are aiming to […]

George Furbank ruled out of England’s second Test against New Zealand

12 July 2024 0 comments

Freddie Steward replaces Furbank at full-back in his first appearance for England since February 10 when he started against Wales in the Six Nations. England […]

Andy Farrell impressed by captain Peter O’Mahony’s response to being dropped

11 July 2024 0 comments

Caelan Doris will skipper the Six Nations champions against South Africa on Saturday. Ireland boss Andy Farrell feels captain Peter O’Mahony has shown “proper leadership” […]

Steve Borthwick looking forward to testing New Zealand at Eden Park

11 July 2024 0 comments

England narrowly lost the first Test last weekend England boss Steve Borthwick has stepped up his efforts to unsettle New Zealand ahead of Saturday’s second […]

Smith is enjoying the life of a tourist

7 July 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Dunedin Marcus Smith has been throwing himself into touring life down under as he makes the most of the current trip […]

England go close but All Blacks have enough to take honours

7 July 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN New Zealand……………….. 16pts Tries: Reece 16, Savea 25 Penalties: McKenzie 55, 66 England ………………………… 15pts Tries: Itoje 21, Feyi-Waboso 48 Conversion: Smith […]

England know this was a chance missed

7 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES After Marcus Smith missed a penalty two minutes into the second half from 30 metres out and just to the left of the […]

NZ chief is backing All Blacks to get back to top

7 July 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY New Zealand CEO Mark Robinson is confident the All Blacks can rise to the top of the world game despite the recent […]

Aussies prove too powerful for Wales

7 July 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Australia……………………… 25pts Tries: Tupou 21, Daugunu 53, Wright 69 Conversions: Lolesio 21, Lynagh 69 Penalties: Lolesio 6, 14 Wales……………………………. 16pts Tries: Penalty […]

Gatland: We need to learn from this

7 July 2024 0 comments

Warren Gatland feels frustrated that Wales did not get the 50-50 calls in crucial moments but was encouraged by his inexperienced side’s performance despite defeat. […]

High life proves step too far for Ireland

7 July 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER South Africa ……………….. 27pts Tries: Arendse 3, Kolbe 65, Penalty 78 Conversions: Pollard 4, 67 Penalties: Pollard 18, 29 pts Ireland…………………………..20pts Tries: […]

We will fix things for next week, promises O’Mahony

7 July 2024 0 comments

Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony was proud of his side for remaining resilient in South Africa’s lions den and staying in the fight until the […]

Borthwick happy to go back for future

7 July 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME So it looks like Steve Borthwick has learned a lesson and decided what many thought was […]

Cox treble puts Wales into 2025 World Cup

30 June 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Wales……………..52pts Tries: Callender 3, Fleming 12, Butchers 35, 55, Cox 46, 64, 77, Hesketh 71 Conversions: Bevan 3, 12, 35, 46, 55, […]

Stylish Smith passes audition at No 10

23 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Japan……………………………. 17pts Tries: Nezuka 66, Tua 69 Conversions: Matsuda 67, 70 Penalties: Seungsin-Lee 2 England ……………………….. 52pts Tries: Cunningham-South 14, […]

Borthwick’s England are on the right track

23 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES EDDIE Jones praised Japan’s improvement in the set-pieces, and a 100 per cent record tended to back him up. But the lineout was […]

Classy May enjoys his day in the sun

23 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Fiji …………………. 32pts Tries: Momo 22, 26, 54, Valetini 61 Conversions: Muntz 23, 27, Valetini 62 Penalties: Muntz 40, Valetini 66 Barbarians […]

Wales show spirit but Springboks just have too much in reserve

23 June 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER PANTING Wales……………………………. 13pts Tries: Lake 30 Conversions: Costelow 30 Penalties: Costelow 7, 34 South Africa …………………41pts Tries: Kriel 3, Penalty 11, Mapimmpi 42, […]

Gatland: I saw lots of positives out there

23 June 2024 0 comments

WELSH head coach Warren Gatland was still upbeat about his side’s performance after their defeat to the current wold champions. Wales were hit by two […]

Lake gives body and soul to lift Wales

23 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Powerhouse: Dewi Lake, left, bursts over for Wales and Mason Grady, right PICTURES: Getty Images THE sixth best team in Europe against the […]

Warren Gatland eager to see Josh Hathaway’s potential after Wales squad call-up

3 June 2024 0 comments

Warren Gatland is relishing seeing uncapped Gloucester back Josh Hathaway’s potential at first hand after naming him in a Wales training squad for summer Tests […]

I want my England shirt back says JVP

2 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD The sight of the world’s best scrum-half strutting his stuff at the home of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club last weekend increased the […]

Sanderson warns about selecting Curry too soon

2 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Selecting Tom Curry for this summer’s England tour comes with a warning from Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson – pick him now […]

Chessum ‘gutted’ to miss out on England

2 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Ollie Chessum admits he is “gutted” to be missing out on a busy summer with England in the southern hemisphere. However, the […]

France & Japan are showing the way

2 June 2024 0 comments

Rugby’s governing class might explain it this way: “We’re making the game leaner and meaner by cutting off the excess fat.” Or alternatively: “There’s too […]

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