Six Nations

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

Borthwick is still in search of right mix

18 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees predicts a close encounter in the Calcutta Cup but sees Ireland winning another Grand Slam THE second round of the Six Nations was […]

We need action, not words, England

18 February 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WITH the second game and a second victory, it seems that all is well in the […]

Scotland launch restructuring plan

18 February 2024 0 comments

Scottish Rugby is to scrap its Super 6 club series and reinstate a national “A-team” as part of a comprehensive restructure of the professional game. […]

Five capped players named in England A squad

15 February 2024 0 comments

England have named five capped internationals in their ‘A’ squad to face Portugal on 25th February. Jamie Blamire, Nick Isiekwe, Tom Pearson, Harry Randall and […]

Tuilagi, Martin and Cowan-Dickie return to England squad

14 February 2024 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi, George Martin and Luke Cowan-Dickie have all returned to the England squad in preparation for their round three match against Scotland. The trio […]

Series 3, Episode 24: Round Two controversy with Peter Winterbottom

13 February 2024 0 comments

The second round of the 2024 Six Nations was marred by refereeing controversy, most notably TMO Brian MacNeice and referee Nic Berry not awarding a […]

Ireland’s sole focus is Wales – Conan

13 February 2024 0 comments

Ireland back row Jack Conan says his side’s focus “will be all about Wales“ in the next fortnight with no danger of the reigning champions […]

Earl backing England temperament to help “right the wrongs” against Scots

13 February 2024 0 comments

Ben Earl has praised England‘s improved ability to bounce back from pressure situations which he feels will stand them in good stead to end a […]

Ireland breeze past Italy to return to top of the table

11 February 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Ireland……………………………………..36 Tries: Crowley 7, Sheehan 24, 50; Conan 37, Lowe 62, Nash 78 Conversions: Crowley 25, 38; Byrne 79 Italy…………………………………………0 Ireland scored […]

We’re not far off the top teams – George

11 February 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY AT TWICKENHAM Skipper Jamie George claimed his England side were not a million miles off the top teams in the Six Nations […]

Townsend stunned by TMO decision

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER AT MURRAYFIELD Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend vented his frustration after his side were denied what he felt should have been a […]

Williams sets his sights on Wales return

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Liam Williams has left the door open on a return to the Test scene for Wales’ summer tour of Australia but faces […]

Once again, England escape to victory

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By NICK CAIN at Twickenham England ………………………… 16pts Tries: Earl 20, Dingwall 63 Penalties: Ford 48, 72 Wales…………………………….14pts Tries: Penalty 17, Mann […]

Are England in transition? Not really, and they should be kicking on purposefully

11 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Two very average teams produced a pretty sub par Test match in front of an intermittently mute Twickenham crowd with the volume only […]

Scotland heartbreak after TMO has the final word in late drama

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By BRYN PALMER Scotland ………………………. 16pts Tries: White 7 Conversions: Russell 9 Penalties: Russell 22, 30, 58 France……………………………20pts Tries: Fickou 31, Bielle-Biarrey […]

Russell: For me, that was a try at the end

11 February 2024 0 comments

Finn Russell felt Scotland were on the end of a wrong decision at the death of their defeat to France, but refused to directly criticise […]

That was a try – but the record will not reflect it

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 BRENDAN GALLAGHER THERE is a three-volume book to be written on false dawns, shattered dreams and broken hearts in Scottish rugby and […]

This Irish dynasty will keep on going

11 February 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WAS the speed of the Irish recovery after the World Cup surprising? No, because I don’t call it […]

Italy need to stay in the game – if they can

11 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW…Ireland vs Italy (Today. Kick-off 3pm, Aviva Stadium) DUBLIN has been anything other than a fair city for Italy in the last […]

Enough! No more ref chat

11 February 2024 0 comments

When is the incessant yapping between players and referees going to end? These appeals and “consultations” are becoming a blight at the professional end of […]

Reynolds: It’s fantastic to see George with England

11 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Rams director of rugby Seb Reynolds has praised England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft for his “refreshing” decision to pick George Makepeace-Cubitt […]

Short-term ban means Willemse is evading natural justice

11 February 2024 0 comments

Natural justice is conspicuous by its absence in the union game. Think of the relegation-free protectionism of the Six Nations and the Premiership, or the […]

Farrell’s England career is not over – Hartley

11 February 2024 0 comments

Dylan Hartley believes his successor as England captain Owen Farrell will come back from France a better player and does not think his international career […]

Now watch Dyer take off, says Thomas

11 February 2024 0 comments

By MEGAN ARMITAGE Gareth Thomas is backing Rio Dyer to fill the void left by Louis Rees-Zammit’s shock departure from rugby. The former Wales and […]

England stick, Wales twist for Twickenham test

8 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: England vs Wales (Saturday, 4:45pm) Wales have made seven alterations with England unchanged for Satuday’s crucial contest at Twickenham. The hosts stick with an […]

Scotland call in Darge for defining game against France

8 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Scotland vs France (Saturday, 2:15pm) Scotland have brought in Rory Darge to start ahead of the dropped Jamie Ritchie as they look to set […]

Series 3, Episode 23: Six Nations latest and remembering Barry John with Jonathan Davies

7 February 2024 0 comments

The opening round of the 2024 Six Nations threw the script out the window as Scotland almost let a 27-point lead slip against Wales, Ireland […]

George demands England front up

4 February 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Stadio Olimpico New England skipper Jamie George laid down the law after England stumbled to a 27-24 win in Italy – […]

Russell relief as Scotland hold on to keep Wales at bay

4 February 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING at Principality Stadium Scotland captain Finn Russell was hugely disappointed with his side’s second-half performance yesterday after Wales nearly pulled off an […]

Dallaglio urges England to win more matches than they lose

4 February 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Lawrence Dallaglio has challenged England to “get some credit” back in the bank by winning more games than they lose in this […]

At last! Freeman and Roots give Borthwick reasons to be cheerful

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By NICK CAIN Italy………………………………. 24pts Tries: A Garbisi 11, Allan 26, Ioane 85 Conversions: Allan 13, 27; P Garbisi 86 Penalties: Allan […]

England look ready to throw off the chains

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 PAUL REES CLOSE yet comfortable summed up a contradictory England performance. Exposed in defence at times, they smothered Italy after the interval, […]

It wasn’t quite Bazball but George’s men did enough to get the job done

4 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER WELL, it wasn’t quite the ‘Bazball’ rugby that Jamie George apparently aspires to – did we really expect things to change overnight? – […]

Scotland hold off amazing Wales revival

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By PETER JACKSON Wales…………………………… 26pts Tries: Botham 47, Dyer 53, Wainwright 60, Mann 68 Conversions: Lloyd 54, 61, 69 Scotland ……………………… 27pts […]

Why you don’t give up on your dreams

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 BRENDAN GALLAGHER It’s been said before but needs reiterating on a regular basis but there is no sporting tournament quite like the […]

RFU double standards alive and well

4 February 2024 0 comments

Surprise, surprise, double standards are alive and well at the RFU. The latest example is the decision is to give a dispensation to Junior Kpoku, […]

France can only watch as Irish put on a show

4 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES France……………………………17pts Tries: Penaud 40, Gabrillagues 53 Conversions: Ramos 42, 53 Penalties: Ramos 27 Ireland…………………………. 38pts Tries: Gibson-Park 16, Beirne 30, Nash 46, […]

That was a must-watch match of real quality

4 February 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT SIX NATIONS 2024 THE Six Nations opener in Marseille between France and Ireland was a really good game of rugby in which the […]

Confident Crowley shows why he deserves the keys to No.10

4 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER SIX NATIONS 2024 Regular readers of The Rugby Paper will recall that I told you a very long time ago that Jack Crowley […]

I didn’t see that coming! France as flat as a crepe…

4 February 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Ireland’s trouncing of France in Marseille – a record Irish win on French soil – trashed most pundits prediction of a Gallic Grand […]

Colossus following in family tradition

4 February 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A teenaged colossus introduced himself to the Six Nations late on Friday night in the mayhem of […]

Ojomoh delight as England call up his boy Max

4 February 2024 0 comments

By EDDIE McATEER Former England back row Steve Ojomoh is thrilled that his son Max has been called into the England squad and is eager […]

Carnduff learns the Leicester way

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Finn Carnduff is honoured to join an illustrious list of England U20 captains and made it four of their past five age-grade […]

Why Six Nations is pinnacle of game

4 February 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME HERE we are at the start of another Six Nations with everything to play for as […]

The Six Nations round one unavailable XV

1 February 2024 0 comments

As the first Six Nations campaign of the new World Cup cycle draws nearer, the respective international coaches will be praying their major stars are […]

“Those days are long gone” – Mapletoft not underestimating Italian job

1 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Preview: Italy U20s vs England U20s (Friday, 7:15pm) England U20s are chomping at the bit ahead of their clash with an Italy […]

Five uncapped players in Borthwick’s England squad for Italy

1 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Italy vs England (Saturday, 2:15pm) Ethan Roots makes his debut up front with Fraser Dingwall getting his first cap in the backs as a […]

North and Kinghorn miss out on Cardiff clash

1 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Wales vs Scotland (Saturday, 4:45pm) Wales’ George North and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will both be absent from the two countries’ opening game of the […]

Slammers France and Ireland clash in seismic opener

31 January 2024 0 comments

Preview: France vs Ireland (Friday, 8pm) The highly anticipated 2024 Six Nations gets underway as the two tournament favourites, France and Ireland, clash in Marseille on […]