Rugby World Cup

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

Jack: I’m ready for furnace

30 July 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Jack van Poortvliet insists England’s dismal Six Nations will help him cope with the furnace of the upcoming World Cup as Steve […]

Humphreys backing Plumtree to play major role for Wales

30 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales forwards coach John Humphreys says that new signing Taine Plumtree from New Zealand could play a big part in their World […]

England can go all the way, says Ojo

30 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Topsy Ojo believes England have a great opportunity in the World Cup to go deep in the tournament and provide a launchpad […]

Scotland get best out of a mixed bag

30 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Scotland ……………………… 25pts Tries: Graham 13, 56; Bayliss 80 Conversions: Healy 57, 81 Penalties: Healy 48, 74 Italy………………………………. 13pts Tries: Ioane 62 […]

Allan desperate to be starter at 10 for Italy

28 July 2023 0 comments

Tommaso Allan agrees his Italian side will have a tough job to get out of Pool A in the Rugby World Cup but is “quietly […]

Darge in charge as Scotland take on Italy

28 July 2023 0 comments

By Nick Powell, Online Editor Rory Darge will captain Scotland as they get their World Cup warm-up campaign underway against Italy at Murrayfield. The 23-year-old, […]

Series 3, Episode 1: Italy’s World Cup prospects with Tommy Allan

27 July 2023 0 comments

The Rugby Paper Podcast has officially entered its third season as we begin the run-up to the 2023 World Cup. The guys will be looking […]

Ludlam: It’s all coming together

23 July 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Lewis Ludlam insists England are not behind the eight-ball heading into the World Cup despite facing a race to get up to […]

Kolisi in line to face Wales

23 July 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON South Africa captain Siya Kolisi is set to feature in the World Cup warm-up match against Wales on August 19. Leicester fly-half […]

O’Brien: Sexton ban won’t affect World Cup prep

23 July 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been given a three-match ban that will see him miss his country’s three World Cup warmup matches. […]

Hansen’s hungry for another ‘first’

23 July 2023 0 comments

Mack Hansen has loved linking up with his Irish team-mates for this year’s World Cup preparations, and is eager to play a big part in […]

Underhill and Rodd cut by Borthwick

23 July 2023 0 comments

England head coach Steve Borthwick has cut two more from his training squad. Bath openside Sam Underhill and Sale Sharks prop Bevan Rodd have left […]

South Africa know right recipe

23 July 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees makes his case for why Springboks will be a very different animal come the World Cup In this instant age, one result makes […]

McCaw breaks pain barrier to deliver gold for All Blacks

23 July 2023 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage IT WAS close to midnight on a filthy wet Auckland evening outside […]

Nervy night as unfancied France fight till the death

23 July 2023 0 comments

After staging the inaugural World Cup in 1987, there was a feeling of now or never for New Zealand in 2011. The tournament had moved […]

Sexton escapes World Cup punishment in hearing

17 July 2023 0 comments

Johnny Sexton has been handed a three-match ban for his conduct after the European Champions Cup Final but will be available to play throughout the […]

Itoje: We can go all the way

16 July 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY MARO Itoje insists England have buried their Six Nations nightmare and are ready to be a force at the World Cup in […]

How Habana put the Rainbow Nation back on right course

16 July 2023 0 comments

World Cup Icons: 2007 – Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage South African Rugby was looking for a […]

England don’t panic but fall at the final hurdle

16 July 2023 0 comments

Rugby World Cup 2007 was a big-time tournament with a big-time feel with massive storylines to match. France were superb hosts even if, yet again, […]

Haskell: We must be tough

9 July 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK England’s World Cup hopes rest on building an aggressive, physical spine of ‘tough guys’ to intimidate their opposition. Former back row James […]

High life suits Wales as they prepare for World Cup assault

9 July 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Wales team manager Martyn Williams is hoping the that two weeks spent at altitude in the Swiss Alps and eight days in […]

We need to see some steel, says Dallaglio

9 July 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Steve Borthwick needs to conjure up some summer camp steel and fighting spirit within his squad if England are to be considered […]

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, […]

‘I wanted to keep on working with Steve’

9 July 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Richard Wigglesworth admits staying close to head coach Steve Borthwick was one of his biggest motivations to take his current England post. […]

The day Jonny saved his best until the final play of the game

9 July 2023 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage Johnno or Jonny? Who was the iconic English player of RWC2003? Hard […]

When Johnno’s Dad’s Army had one last hurrah

9 July 2023 0 comments

There are those, and I would be one, who still consider RWC2003 the best run and most enjoyable tournament to date although 2007 ran it […]

Richardson keen on Scotland role

9 July 2023 0 comments

By GRANT SHUB When Dylan Richardson was called up to play for Scotland against Japan at Murrayfield in 2021, the South African-born utility forward headed […]

The eyes have it! Marler sees Borthwick’s serious

2 July 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Steve Borthwick revealed he had to eyeball Joe Marler to persuade the prop to return to international rugby and mount a bid […]

Cowan-Dickie ruled out

2 July 2023 0 comments

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will miss this autumn’s World Cup in France with a shoulder injury. Newcastle’s Jamie Blamire and Saracens rookie Theo Dan, below, […]

Take it to the limit one more time

2 July 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees says the heat will be on for England and Wales as the training ramps up It is boot camp season. Every four years, […]

John Eales, the quiet man who became an inspiring skipper

2 July 2023 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage, this time focusing on John Eales’ leadership in Australia’s 1999 RWC triumph […]

Lamaison brought the house down

2 July 2023 0 comments

The 1999 World Cup was a curate’s egg of a tournament, combining the crass with the truly historic. This was the one World Cup for […]

“What we prepared for was way off” – O’Kelly on Ireland’s doomed RWC 2007

29 June 2023 0 comments

Malcolm O’Kelly has revealed why Ireland‘s last World Cup in France was such a disastrous campaign, but is confident such problems will not affect Ireland […]

Cohen: Mental strength is the key ingredient

25 June 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Ben Cohen insists England have the physical talent and power to be true World Cup contenders but he fears they will fall […]

Borthwick impressed with intensity of Prem final

25 June 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Steve Borthwick’s hopes that England can enjoy a successful World Cup campaign were boosted by the “Test match” performances of some of […]

Fading myth of invincibility

25 June 2023 0 comments

As the World Cup approaches, Paul Rees reports on why the All Blacks need to hit the ground running For the first time in 28 […]

Sensational Jonah, the game’s first global star

25 June 2023 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage, this time he goes back to 1995 and Jonah Lomu’s incredible tournament […]

Mandela inspires rainbow nation

25 June 2023 0 comments

The 1995 World Cup is a multi stranded story we never tire of. Nelson Mandela, elected at South Africa’s first President only a year earlier, […]

England squad on £100,000-a-man at World Cup

18 June 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON & JON NEWCOMBE England’s World Cup squad will be paid £100,000-a-man at the World Cup in France this autumn as some of […]

Borthwick: Mercer a contender for France

18 June 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Steve Borthwick claims Zach Mercer has “grown” into a true World Cup back row contender for during his time across the Channel. […]

Crowley’s quick exit was not deserved

18 June 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN The most discordant note struck in the international game this week was Kieran Crowley’s axing by Italy. Crowley’s contribution to Italy’s progress outstrips […]

Borthwick has it all to play for

18 June 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees considers the head coach’s options as he prepares to name his World Cup squad on August 7 England may have struggled in recent […]

Samoan underdogs and an Australian masterclass stole the show in ’91

18 June 2023 0 comments

The Rugby World Cup really started to hit its stride in 1991, scaling up from the inaugural event in 1987 in terms of spectacle and […]

Gatland would have rejected Wales with hindsight

14 June 2023 0 comments

Warren Gatland has claimed that had he been aware of the full extent of Welsh rugby‘s problems, he would not have returned for a second […]

Care and Marler return as England World Cup preparation squad announced

12 June 2023 0 comments

Harlequins duo Danny Care and Joe Marler have been named in the England squad for the first time under Steve Borthwick as he announced the […]

Gatland to consider sending SOS to second row Ball

11 June 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON The World Cup man-power crisis engulfing Wales will force them to reconsider sending an SOS to Australia for Jake Ball. The bearded […]

No more excuses: Time to get serious, England

11 June 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK AS soon as Steve Borthwick got the England head coach job he will have been straight into the […]

Crusaders give Gats a blueprint to beat Fiji

11 June 2023 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Thank you, Scott Robertson and your Crusaders players for showing Wales the way to beat Fiji in their opening […]

When Kirk took the All Blacks right to the top of the world

11 June 2023 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher begins a series on the star man at each global gathering Being the first in anything often confers iconic status on those involved. […]