Six Nations

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

Jeff Probyn: It was the Scotland game that cost England the title

28 March 2014 2 comments

Sometimes in life everything conspires to bring about the right outcome and make dreams come true, even if it takes a little luck. First we […]

Apprentice Maro Itoje ready to replace the grand master

28 March 2014 0 comments

Maro Itoje could barely pluck up the courage to speak to Steve Borthwick when the pair first met at Saracens four years ago.

Top ten hit Owen Farrell has climbed up to No.3

27 March 2014 2 comments

Owen Farrell can be bracketed among the world’s top three fly-halves alongside Dan Carter and Jonny Sexton, according to Wasps and former England star Andy Goode.

Jeremy Guscott: England lead the way in my team of Six Nations

26 March 2014 0 comments

There was not much separating the four top sides in this year’s Six Nations, as the tournament took us on a journey that was great […]

Mike Brown named RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship

21 March 2014 1 comment

Mike Brown has been named RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship to cap a superb tournament. The England full-back secured over 34 per cent […]

Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury are ‘best in the world’

21 March 2014 0 comments

Former England lock Ben Kay has hailed the Courtney Lawes/Joe Launchbury double act as the perfect second row partnership.

Fight for Dan Cole’s place won’t change Henry Thomas

20 March 2014 0 comments

Henry Thomas is the first to admit that he cannot match Dan Cole’s all-court ability in an England shirt.

Stuart Hogg banned for three weeks

19 March 2014 0 comments

Stuart Hogg has been handed a three-week ban for the red card he received against Wales last Saturday in Cardiff. The Scotland full-back was found […]

Sam Warburton to miss Wales summer tour

17 March 2014 2 comments

Sam Warburton will miss Wales‘ summer tour to South Africa after dislocating his shoulder in the 51-3 win over Scotland on Saturday. The Welsh captain suffered […]

Six Nation previews

14 March 2014 0 comments

The 2014 Six Nations title will be decided tomorrow between Rome and Paris with Ireland, England and France still in the running to be crowned […]

Vunipola replaces Marler in England XV

14 March 2014 1 comment

Mako Vunipola will start at loose-head for England in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. The Saracene prop replaces Joe Marler […]

Leigh Halfpenny out for four months

14 March 2014 0 comments

Leigh Halfpenny will be out of action for up to four months as he requires a shoulder surgery. The Wales full-back dislocated his shoulder in […]

Italy v England preview

14 March 2014 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi will make his long awaited England return on Saturday after being named on the bench to face Italy in Rome. The Leicester centre is […]

France v Ireland preview

14 March 2014 1 comment

Louis Picamoles has been recalled by Philippe Saint Andre to face Ireland on Saturday but the Toulouse No.8 will start at blindside for France. Picamoles, who […]

Wales v Scotland preview

14 March 2014 1 comment

Dan Biggar and Mike Phillips will form a new half-back partnership as Warren Gatland makes six changes to his Wales team ahead of their game […]

Jim Mallinder staying to finish his Leicester hunt

14 March 2014 0 comments

Jim Mallinder has revealed how the desire to break Leicester Tigers’ hegemony and establish Northampton as domestic rugby’s leading force persuaded him to snub the chance of coaching England two years ago.

Peter O’Mahony returns for Ireland

13 March 2014 0 comments

Peter O’Mahony returns to the Ireland starting XV as they chase the Six Nations title in Paris on Saturday. The Munster captain has recovered from the […]

Dougie Fife to make Scotland debut

13 March 2014 1 comment

Dougie Fife will make his Scotland Test debut in Cardiff on Saturday after being named on the wing to face Wales in the last round of […]

Castro out but Parisse is back for Italy

13 March 2014 1 comment

Martin Castrogiovanni has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with England but influential captain Sergio Parisse returns at No.8. The former Leicester prop suffered an limped […]

VIDEO: O2 Inside Line

12 March 2014 0 comments

In this episode of O2 Inside Line, Exeter duo Tom Johnson and Jack Nowell offer their insights and analysis of the Wales game and then […]

Manu Tuilagi set for England return

12 March 2014 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi will make his England return on Saturday in Rome after being named in the matchday 23 to face Italy in the last round […]

Master spy James O’Connor is impressed by England

5 March 2014 1 comment

James O’Connor believes England are “building towards something special” and admits Australia will have their work cut out to beat them at the 2015 World Cup.

Defeat at Twickenham carries £2m price tag

4 March 2014 0 comments

England and Wales will be playing for high stakes in next Sunday’s Six Nations eliminator at Twickenham.

Courtney Lawes left it too long to hit heights, says Simon Shaw

28 February 2014 0 comments

Courtney Lawes’ burgeoning reputation as a world-class lock has been a while in coming – indeed England legend Simon Shaw thinks it has taken too long.

Stop us if you can, George North tells England

25 February 2014 1 comment

Wales descend on Twickenham next week with a challenging message to England: “Stop us, if you can.”

Stuart Lancaster’s youth policy is a gamble says Mark Cueto

14 February 2014 0 comments

Mark Cueto fears England have turned to youth on a wing and prayer – claiming it would be wrong to leave Saracens’ two speedsters on the scrapheap for good.

One of world’s best No.8s? I’m not even top in Wales, says humble Taulupe Faletau

13 February 2014 0 comments

Trying to make Taulupe Faletau sing his own praises, and watching him refuse to brand himself as one of the best No.8s in the world, is as painful as it is refreshing.

Tomasso Allan refuses to be eclipsed by Diego Dominguez shadow

7 February 2014 0 comments

Tomasso Allan is a gifted 20-year-old of natural sunny disposition – as befits a young tyro who spends most of his time living the dream in Perpignan, Cape Town and Rome – but the mention of Diego Dominguez produces something akin to a frown.

Six Nations previews

7 February 2014 1 comment

Following their defeat to France in the opening round, England must win in Scotland if they want to have any chance of winning the Six […]

New-look Danny Care can tick all the boxes now

7 February 2014 1 comment

Attacking flair has always been Danny Care’s calling card, that airborne reverse flick pass against Clermont just the tip of an iceberg of inventive highlights.

You must stick with Luther Burrell now says Alex King

5 February 2014 0 comments

Northampton backs coach Alex King insists his protégé deserves long-term backing in the international set-up

Billy Twelvetrees and Joe Marler head the Haywards Heath talent factory

4 February 2014 0 comments

Haywards Heath may be languishing in the sixth tier of English rugby but it hasn’t stopped the London 1 South side from producing home-grown rugby talent destined for the very top.

Dai Young fears that weary Welsh Lions will suffer in Six Nations

31 January 2014 1 comment

Dai Young feels the after-effects of a gruelling Lions tour could hinder Wales’s chances of becoming the first side to claim three Six Nations titles in a row.

Chris Ashton dropped by England

28 January 2014 0 comments

As expected, Chris Ashton has been dropped by England ahead of their Six Nations opener against France on Saturday.

Priestland at 10, Warburton on bench for Wales

28 January 2014 0 comments

Rhys Priestland will lead Wales attack on Saturday as they kick off their Six Nations campaign against Italy at the Millennium Stadium.

Luther Burrell gets defensive about his big chance

21 January 2014 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi may be the irresistible force but Luther Burrell believes he can be the immovable object if Stuart Lancaster hands him England’s No.13 shirt.

Boy George Ford will man-up for England says Peter Stringer

16 January 2014 0 comments

Stuart Lancaster has challenged George Ford to show he can handle the international stage – but the Bath prodigy has already proved he’s tailor-made for the England shirt, according to the man with the best seat in the house.

Delon Armitage: Toulon will release us for England

10 January 2014 1 comment

Delon Armitage has described England’s refusal to pick France-based players as a “big opportunity missed”, insisting he and brother Steffon are available for all international training camps.

George Ford called up by England as Toby Flood is dropped

9 January 2014 1 comment

George Ford has been called up by England ahead of the Six Nations as Stuart Lancaster named his new EPS and Six Nations training squad today.

Dead-eye Stephen Myler has England in his sights

1 January 2014 0 comments

Northampton’s marksman Stephen Myler has revealed his burning to desire to represent England during the forthcoming RBS Six Nations.

Graham Kitchener can be England lineout king says Louis Deacon

20 December 2013 0 comments

Louis Deacon has backed Leicester second row partner Graham Kitchener to break into the England team.

Alex Goode: Well played Mike Brown, but I still want your place

19 December 2013 2 comments

While Alex Goode admits Mike Brown’s current form makes him deservedly England’s No.15, that does not mean the Sarries man is letting up in his pursuit.

Billy Twelvetrees: It’s my fault if England drop me

11 December 2013 1 comment

The longer that Gloucester’s struggles continue, the more Billy Twelvetrees knows his England place is under threat.

Don’t just look at my power, says Luther Burrell

5 December 2013 1 comment

Luther Burrell is determined to keep knocking on the England door – rather than smash it down – after being overlooked for the Autumn Internationals.

Stuart Lancaster must dare to dream, says Brian Ashton

26 July 2013 0 comments

Brian Ashton hopes that England‘s new-found attacking style will be no passing ‘fad’. A young England team destroyed Argentina with some stunning running in the […]

Why Charlie Sharples may be on fast-track for recall

24 July 2013 0 comments

England discard Charlie Sharples has put the pain of rejection behind him and wants to prove the selectors wrong by starring for Gloucester next season. […]

BBC win battle to avert Sky monopoly

24 April 2013 3 comments

The BBC has won its fight to keep Wales on network television, averting the threat of Sky seizing almost the entire autumn Test schedule. After […]

England open 2014 RBS Six Nations with trip to France

16 April 2013 1 comment

England will start their 2014 Six Nations campaign with a trip to the Stade de France to face France on Saturday, February 1. On the […]

Just get rid of the hit-squad to solve this scrum farce

12 April 2013 3 comments

Scrum guru Phil Keith-Roach claims the chaos and controversy surrounding the set-piece would be gone within a month if the IRB removed one sentence from […]

Billy Twelvetrees has vision to perform Ma’a Nonu role for England

29 March 2013 0 comments

Brian Ashton believes that centre Billy Twelvetrees holds the key to the next stage of England‘s evolution as an attacking force. After scoring 38 points […]

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