Summer Tours

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

Gatland hits the 50-mark for Wales

30 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Unless they change the habit of a lifetime in Australia over the next fortnight, Wales will be […]

England have enough to down the All Blacks

30 June 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Steve Borthwick’s England team have taken their first step of their summer tour and returned with […]

Try from the end of the world…

30 June 2024 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looks back to 1994 when New Zealand last lost at Eden Park, beaten by a brilliant French team that scored one of the […]

It means nothing – Mike Catt not interested in South Africa comments on Ireland

28 June 2024 0 comments

The Springboks camp have accused the Irish of being “arrogant”. Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt dismissed the significance of potentially provocative comments from the South […]

Jamie George wants his England team-mates to ‘love’ facing the All Blacks

28 June 2024 0 comments

England have only won two Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Jamie George has urged his England team-mates to embrace the challenge of […]

Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Conan to miss Ireland Tests against South Africa

19 June 2024 0 comments

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and back-rower Jack Conan will miss Ireland’s two-Test series against world champions South Africa, whilst head coach Andy Farrell has handed a […]

Eddie Jones’ mind games will not unsettle England against Japan – Jamie George

19 June 2024 0 comments

Jones’ seven-year Twickenham stewardship ended 18 months ago because of an ongoing decline in results and he is now back in charge of Japan. Jamie […]

Marcus Smith given the keys as Borthwick goes all guns blazing

18 June 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys Steve Borthwick has decided there is no room for experimentation as he names his strongest squad for this weekend’s fixture against Japan. […]

Carpenter looking to make his mark

16 June 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Sale’s Joe Carpenter is aiming for a cap with Steve Borthwick’s Red Rose touring side but admits his heart is […]

Borthwick: We want to get kids engaged

16 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Steve Borthwick has urged his side to help youngsters in England fall in love with rugby again after being blanked […]

Townsend targeting four wins out of four

16 June 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Scotland will have a target on their backs this summer but Gregor Townsend has urged his squad to front up and win […]

Thomas keen to make things happen

16 June 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS To get an idea of what Ben Thomas will offer as he returns to the Wales fold, it’s illuminating to consider who […]

Borthwick should go with Marcus first up

16 June 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK It will be a choice between Harlequins’ Marcus Smith and Northampton’s Fin Smith at fly-half for the first […]

Green tipped to take chance with England

16 June 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Key Harlequins figures believe that if Tyrone Green doesn’t get picked for the Springboks this summer, then he’ll turn his attentions to […]

All Blacks will be ready to roll

16 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Rumours that New Zealand are in a state of flux heading into their two-Test summer series against England should be handled with care. […]

The unexpected revolutionary

16 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says this should be a summer of opportunities for England and head coach Steve Borthwick Steve Borthwick is an unlikely revolutionary. When he […]

Hill’s recall flies in the face of loyalty

16 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Cory Hill walked out of the Wales squad last summer, preferring to join a Japanese team nobody […]

Bath prop Beno Obano handed four-match ban for dangerous tackle in final defeat

13 June 2024 0 comments

Beno Obano has received a four-match ban for his dangerous tackle in Bath’s defeat by Northampton in the Gallagher Premiership final. Obano was sent off […]

Gregor Townsend will not close the door on George Turner’s Scotland career

13 June 2024 0 comments

Gregor Townsend is adamant the door is not closed on George Turner’s Scotland career although he acknowledged it will be “challenging” for the hooker to […]

Gus Warr among 10 uncapped players named in Scotland squad for Americas tour

13 June 2024 0 comments

Sale scrum-half Gus Warr is among 10 uncapped players named in Gregor Townsend’s 37-man Scotland squad for the summer tour of the Americas. Nathan McBeth, […]

Tom Curry named in England’s summer tour squad despite limited game time

12 June 2024 0 comments

Tom Curry has been included in an England squad that contains seven players from newly crowned Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton. Curry features in the 36-man […]

RFU opens books to Team England Rugby as player contract talks reach key stage

11 June 2024 0 comments

The Rugby Football Union has opened up its books to Team England Rugby Ltd as talks over future player contracts reach a key stage. England […]

Fin Smith sets sights on England fly-half spot as George Ford ruled out of tour

11 June 2024 0 comments

Fin Smith intends on claiming England’s fly-half jersey once he has recovered from Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership title celebrations – a prospect that moved a step […]

England have no issues with taking Tom Curry and Maro Itoje on summer tour

11 June 2024 0 comments

England are comfortable taking Tom Curry and Maro Itoje on their summer tour to Japan and New Zealand after rejecting concerns over their involvement. The […]

Steward: Sinfield has given me belief

9 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Freddie Steward hopes to enjoy some Southern Hemisphere comfort after coming through what he admits has been one of the most “challenging” […]

Cane calls time on international career

13 May 2024 0 comments

New Zealand skipper Sam Cane will end his test rugby career at the end of the year and give up his captaincy of the All […]

New-boy Roots has his eye on NZ return

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES One of England’s Test debutants this year has a big incentive to make the summer tour to New Zealand – he would […]

Game in England is good, says Ford

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Ford feels English rugby is on the up after a testing couple of years on and off the field and has […]

England could be one of world’s best teams – Care

29 April 2024 0 comments

England legend Danny Care feels it is “frightening” to consider just how good the national team can become. Care called time on his glittering international […]

Quins duo tipped to power up England

21 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Will Collier and Fin Baxter could galvanise the England scrum with their technique and power, according to World Cup-winning scrum coach Phil […]

Malins keen to get back into England contention

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Malins will use the closing weeks of the season to give the England selectors a nudge ahead of the summer Tests […]

Domachowski has his eye on top spot

21 April 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Corey Domachowski is a man on a mission to be Wales’ number one No.1. The Cardiff prop now has 10 caps to […]

England must take Quins pair to NZ

21 April 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK WILL Collier and Fin Baxter have been showered with praise following Harlequins epic European Cup quarter-final away […]

Strawbridge appointed to England on permanent basis

9 April 2024 0 comments

Andrew Strawbridge will join Steve Borthwick‘s England coaching staff on a permanent basis as an assistant coach and coaching advisor. Strawbridge, 59, supported England in […]

England need access to their overseas stars

7 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK ENGLAND and New Zealand, who meet in a two-Test series this summer, find themselves in similar places due […]

Dingwall has his eye on All Blacks

1 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Fraser Dingwall is set on helping Northampton finish the season on a high and putting himself in contention for England’s summer tour […]

Japan rugby full of talent, warns Savea

31 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ardie Savea has issued a warning to England not to underestimate Japan in the two sides’ first ever meeting in Tokyo this […]

England A need to face ‘real’ Portugal

17 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Portugal face multiple champions Georgia in the Rugby Europe final at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris today, and the team that they […]

Second Barbarian chance for Mercer

3 March 2024 0 comments

Zach Mercer will pull on the famous Barbarians jersey again this summer in the Killik Cup clash against Fiji. Mercer, 26, joins England’s most-capped men’s […]

Wales to play Boks in double header at HQ

25 February 2024 0 comments

Four heavyweights of world rugby will grace the Twickenham turf in an historic double header on June 22 – with a clash between South Africa […]

Sinfield stepping down after England’s summer tour

4 January 2024 0 comments

Steve Borthwick‘s leading assistant coach Kevin Sinfield will step away from the England set-up after the World Cup bronze medalists’ summer tour to Japan and […]

Farrell set to remain Sarries marquee man

3 December 2023 0 comments

Saracens are closing in on agreeing terms to a new contract with skipper Owen Farrell, below, who is out of contract at the end of […]

Don’t get carried away with Ireland series win

24 July 2022 30 comments

COLIN BOAG In last week’s letters page a Mr Ireland (!) accused me of being curmudgeonly about Ireland beating the All Blacks, but the reality […]

Tiger Jack has all the attributes of a top 9

24 July 2022 24 comments

NEIL DE KOCK THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICA AND SARACENS SCRUM-HALF From a scrum-half perspective there were some real standout performers for the Home Unions over […]

Back tells ‘fickle’ England fans to give Eddie a break

24 July 2022 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Eddie Jones may have been targeted by an irate compatriot in Sydney but Neil Back has called for those “fickle” England fans […]

Chile stun States to spice up World Cup

17 July 2022 0 comments

USA 29-31 Chile (19-14 HT, 51-52 agg) Santiago Videla’s late penalty saw Chile beat The USA in a thrilling second leg to qualify for the […]

That was tougher than 2016 – Jones

17 July 2022 1 comment

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Sydney EDDIE Jones last night insisted England’s Test series triumph over Australia was “tougher’ than their victory against the Wallabies back […]

Pivac: We have much to build on

17 July 2022 0 comments

Wayne Pivac insists Wales are heading in the right direction despite getting battered into submission 30-14 by South Africa in Cape Town yesterday. Wales have […]

Mears: England showed grit beyond their years

17 July 2022 0 comments

Former England hooker Lee Mears was impressed by the fight shown by Eddie Jones’ side in the final Test but says they are still some […]

Brilliant to win series but far from perfect

17 July 2022 1 comment

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK England are clearly in a better place now than they were when they started their tour to Australia, […]

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