Features

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

Wallace Sititi is following in father’s footsteps, but for how long?

6 October 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed Cast your minds back, those of you who are sufficiently long in the tooth, to Melbourne in late October […]

Antoine Dupont & Co need to take on the very best

6 October 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters By Brendan Gallagher – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points I think we established long ago that my admiration of […]

Los Pumas have worked hard to forge own identity

6 October 2024 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher reports on how one country has built a rugby stronghold down in South America There was a time back in the noughties when […]

My dream tour: The Lions in Argentina

6 October 2024 0 comments

OF COURSE, the British and Irish Lions should be touring Argentina, I’ve been arguing the case for 20 years or more. As a rugby nation […]

Remembering those early trips

6 October 2024 0 comments

THE Lions staged three tours to Argentina in the early days before giving up on the idea. The 1910 tour was essentially an English Invitation […]

I put in three good shots on Jonah Lomu

6 October 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY JOHN DUDLEY THE FORMER ROTHERHAM & NORTH OF ENGLAND LOCK/BACK ROW Take that: John Dudley celebrates Rotherham’s famous play-off victory against Bedford […]

I’ll play for Wales again, says Francis

6 October 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Strong man: Tomas Francis scoring for Wales against Georgia at last year’s World Cup PICTURE: Getty Images […]

Adair runs riot for Ireland

6 October 2024 0 comments

ROSS Adair, acknowledged in this column last week as the first ex-rugby professional to play international cricket, rose so magnificently to the occasion that his […]

Days when Kristofferson put his heart into rugby

6 October 2024 0 comments

WHEN he entered Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship in the autumn of 1958, Kris Kristofferson, right, had already been bashed about on the football […]

DYLANHICKS

6 October 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS MUNSTER & IRELAND U20 FLY-HALF Tyro Munster fly-half Dylan Hicks is hoping to continue progressing through Ireland’s successful age-grade system and would love […]

How London Welsh are working way back to top

6 October 2024 0 comments

William Gupwell goes down to south-west London to find a club out to rediscover itself London Welsh were once a club at the pinnacle of […]

Campese:Schmidt is wrong man for Aussies

6 October 2024 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS DAVID Campese delivered a blunt message regarding Joe Schmidt’s position as Australia’s head coach, claiming the Kiwi isn’t right for the role […]

We lost but it was great to watch, says Lam

6 October 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PAT Lam believes his side’s thrilling defeat to Gloucester last Friday is a continuation of a trendy, entertaining style of rugby that […]

Series 4, Episode 5: David Campese reviews Rugby Championship and Australian Rugby

2 October 2024 0 comments

The Rugby Championship has a new winner for the first time since 2019, as South Africa clinched the last trophy available to them with a […]

Dream Team – Nathan Williams

29 September 2024 0 comments

NATHAN WILLIAMS, THE FORMER SCARLETS, CARMARTHEN QUINS, MOSELEY, DRAGONS & WALES U21 PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Front Row […]

Drop group action and examine selected cases

29 September 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points by Brendan Gallagher I was very struck the other day by our conversation […]

15 who have a chance to shine in the Premiership

29 September 2024 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher selects a team of young, and not so young, players in the Premiership to keep an eye on this season. The new season […]

I came on against Italy and made a difference – Lee Dickson

29 September 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby – Lee Dickson Enjoying life: Lee Dickson playing for Northampton Saints PICTURES: Getty Images Lee Dickson the former England, Newcastle, Northampton […]

Ten years on and a handful still stand

29 September 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Veteran: George Ford playing against Australia in November 2014 PICTURE: Getty Images NOVEMBER 8, 2014 and some […]

When every story always seems to lead back to that lineout…

29 September 2024 0 comments

WHILE his native Ulster were in Johannesburg for their fixture against the Lions, one of the province’s old players was otherwise engaged on international duty […]

Young Guns – Tom Dye

29 September 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS NORTHAMPTON & ENGLAND U18 PROP Tom Dye has the rare ability to play both sides of the scrum and sees scrummaging as by […]

Series 4, Episode 4: Argentina make history, but can they do it again?

26 September 2024 0 comments

For the first time since their involvement in the Rugby Championship, Argentina have secured a win against the other three nations in a single tournament. […]

Rugby Rivalries that don’t stand the test of time

22 September 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Eyes down all you pub quiz fiends, it’s quiz time […]

Despite bankruptcy, USA Sevens are in good shape

22 September 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock talks to Mike Friday about his ten years with USA Sevens – and watching son Lucas Mike Friday recently called time on his […]

Making the game pay is still the main challenge

22 September 2024 0 comments

>> PAUL REES CONSIDERS THE OPTIONS AS TEAMS FROM ACROSS EUROPE AND SOUTH AFRICA KICK OFF THE NEW SEASON The dawn of a new season […]

Playing rugby is about more than just winning – Dave Attwood

22 September 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby – Dave Attwood, the former England, Bristol, Bath, Gloucester and Toulon second row Being blunt about it, I was crap at […]

Young Guns – Fraser Rawlins

22 September 2024 0 comments

Young Guns Fraser Rawlins burst onto the scene during the England U18s tour to South Africa, scoring a brace of tries in the fightback victory […]

Series 4, Episode 3: Gallagher Premiership season preview with Luther Burrell

18 September 2024 0 comments

The Gallagher Premiership returns! Can Northampton defend their title? How will Saracens fare without Owen Farrell? Will Newcastle give a better account of themselves? Ex-England […]

Dream Team with Rich Vasey

15 September 2024 0 comments

Rich Vasey, the Caldy backs/attack coach and former fly-half chooses the best XV he has played with or against… Forwards 1. Mike MacDonald – Played […]

Time for Steve Borthwick to prove his worth

15 September 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s talking points By Brendan Gallagher Honeymoon periods are not set in stone and in my estimation […]

Just being paid to play was a dream

15 September 2024 0 comments

DAN BAUGH MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER CANADA AND CARDIFF FLANKER, WHO COACHED CARDIFF, WALES AND WASPS AND IS NOW GEORGIA’S HEAD OF S&C THERE’S […]

Young Guns – Harlequins’ Felix Champain

15 September 2024 0 comments

Young Guns Felix Champain felt his trip to South Africa last month with England U18s was a great indication in what it takes to go […]

Series 4, Episode 2: Juandré Kruger on unstoppable Springboks and woeful Wallabies

12 September 2024 0 comments

The Rugby Paper Podcast’s microscope moves south of the equator for today’s episode, as in the latest round of the Rugby Championship South Africa wrapped […]

For me, you have to go out to play good rugby and enjoy yourself

8 September 2024 0 comments

Q&A As he approaches his 20th season as director of rugby at Bedford Blues, Mike Rayer chats to Jon Newcombe about his tenure at Goldington […]

PGP analysis – Borthwick given strong hand

8 September 2024 0 comments

Analysis Paul Rees looks at the new men’s Professional Game Partnership Gand says it’s a deal which suits the RFU more If the devil is […]

I couldn’t let my old club go to the wall

8 September 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER WEST HARTLEPOOL PLAYER, CAPTAIN AND COACH, WHO ALSO REPRESENTED DURHAM, THE NORTH AND BRITISH POLICE JOHN STABLER Regular guy: John […]

PATRICK HOGG

8 September 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS NEWCASTLE & ENGLAND U18 FORWARD England U18s captain Patrick Hogg is using his time at Newcastle Falcons to pick the brains of club […]

Q&A: Leigh Steinberg on Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL chances

2 September 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock caught up with American sports agent Leigh Steinberg to discuss Louis Rees-Zammit and his chances of making it in the NFL.

Borthwick faces starting again

1 September 2024 0 comments

ANALYSIS PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE DEPARTURES OF FELIX JONES AND ALED WALTERS AND WONDERS WHAT IT MEANS FOR ENGLAND ONE of the most remarkable […]

Barker determined to hit the heights at Bristol

1 September 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Steele Barker, a young player who was once told he was too small to make it in the second row Rising […]

Energetic thinking urgently required

1 September 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED CRITICAL supporters of Bristol in the late amateur era believed their team was being straitjacketed by a rigidly traditional committee structure […]

Am I planning to hang up my boots? Hell, no!

1 September 2024 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY ALUN WALKER THE CHINNOR HOOKER, FORMERLY OF EALING, NEWCASTLE, NOTTINGHAM, EDINBURGH & SCOTLAND U20s IHAD a bad injury at the start […]

Good to see Adams back and raring to go

1 September 2024 0 comments

JOSH Adams’ pain last season extended beyond a run of one try in nine matches for Wales. Despite torn shoulder ligaments, recurring knee problems and […]

Price glad he played under old regime

1 September 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW AT Pontypool Park on September 24, 1986, with the sweet chestnut trees in full autumnal regalia, the […]

ELLIOTWILLIAMS HARLEQUINS & ENGLAND U20 LOCK

1 September 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS England U18s enforcer Elliot Williams is hoping to reach the heights of beefy senior lock George Martin after playing his part on the […]

Dream Team – JJ Hanrahan

25 August 2024 0 comments

JJ Hanrahan, the Munster, Northampton, Clermont, Dragons, and Connacht fly-half, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. David Kilcoyne – I […]

I want that winner’s medal this time around

25 August 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to Bath back rower Miles Reid as he prepares for the new Prem season Miles Reid is saving space on his mantlepiece […]

Daley-McLean keen to build game in north-east

25 August 2024 0 comments

By Paul Martin Katy Daley-McLean hopes hosting next summer’s World Cup will provide a much-needed boost for women’s rugby in her native north-east. The South […]

Robertson needs to redress the balance

25 August 2024 0 comments

Chris Hewett Thinking allowed It was a cheap shot, admittedly, but only a pacifist or a fool would spurn the opportunity to kick the New […]

TV deal will boost women’s game

25 August 2024 0 comments

THERE are two ways of looking at the BBC’s latest foray into rugby broadcasting: a deal securing exclusive rights to next year’s Women’s World Cup, […]

Features

Recent Posts

Search