Features

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

Aussies facing reality check

3 November 2024 0 comments

ANALYSIS PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR THE HOME NATIONS AS THE AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS GET UNDER WAY AUSTRALIA start only their third grand […]

I love it when I’m out in front of The Shed

3 November 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe hears from George Barton about his switch from No.10 to 15 and the propects for the Cherry & Whites this season IT’S still […]

I’ll stick with La Rochelle -O’Gara

3 November 2024 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA RONAN O’Gara has ruled himself out of the running to replace Graham Rowntree as Munster head coach. Munster announced Rowntree’s departure this week […]

Griffin’s not stopped by heart issue

3 November 2024 0 comments

WALES and Bath prop Archie Griffin is set to be fit for the autumn internationals despite being diagnosed with a heart condition. Griffin, 23, has […]

I’d just signed for the dirtiest team in France

3 November 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER BATH, ROUEN, EL SALVADOR, GRASSE, HARTPURY COLLEGE AND ENGLAND U20 FLY-HALF NOW HEAD COACH AT CLIFTON LUKE COZENS Happy: Luke […]

YOUNG GUNS

3 November 2024 0 comments

JIMMY STAPLES HARLEQUINS HOOKER Harlequins academy hooker Jimmy Staples has adapted to men’s rugby but recognises there is much work to do before he reaches […]

Results

3 November 2024 0 comments

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Series 4, Episode 9: Luke Pearce on 20-minute Red Card and Autumn Internationals Preview

31 October 2024 0 comments

We loved this one! Following last week’s 20-minute red card debate amongst the guys, we thought it best to call upon someone entrusted with enacting […]

We need to kick on after winning at last

27 October 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Ethan Grayson who heard from two rugby legends after he helped Newcastle end their 25-match losing run Delight: Ethan Grayson celebrates […]

Tuipulotu taking the long road to Scotland

27 October 2024 0 comments

THE All Blacks will perish the thought that their pioneering exploits extend beyond strictly come war dancing, amateur lineout theatricals (Andy Haden & Frank Oliver, […]

Murray’s on a wing – and a prayer …

27 October 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW BLAIR Murray began the week ‘in a state of shock’ at having gone from nowhere on one […]

England must show that this is their time

27 October 2024 0 comments

>> PAUL REES SAYS BORTHWICK’S MEN ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THE NEW ZEALAND CHALLENGE AND COME OUT ON TOP WHAT must Steve Borthwick […]

To play in two World Cups was a dream

27 October 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY DAVID SISI THE FORMER ITALY, ZEBRE, BATH, LONDON SCOTTISH, LEEDS, LONDON IRISH & ENGLAND U20 LOOSE FORWARD RUGBY started quite late for […]

YOUNG GUNS

27 October 2024 0 comments

JONNYWEIMANN NORTHAMPTON SCRUM-HALF Even though he was released from Saracens’ academy aged 16, scrum-half Jonny Weimann’s resilience helped him achieve his dream and get to […]

Series 4, Episode 8: 20-Minute Red Card Debate and Newcastle Falcons Finally End Drought

24 October 2024 0 comments

With the rugby world divided over the trial of the 20-minute red card during the November internationals, it’s only right that the Rugby Paper Podcast […]

Dream Team – Scott Sio

20 October 2024 0 comments

SCOTT SIO, THE EXETER CHIEFS AND FORMER AUSTRALIA AND BRUMBIES PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. James Slipper – […]

Life with Welsh was such a roller coaster

20 October 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY MATT CORKER THE CANTERBURY HEAD COACH AND FORMER WASPS, LONDON WELSH & RICHMOND FORWARD TO play professional rugby was such a privilege […]

Don’t sub captain just after half-time

20 October 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME In charge: Jamie George in action for England PICTURE: Getty Images WE have only a few […]

Young Guns – Max Clein

20 October 2024 0 comments

Young Guns Max Clein is enjoying learning from his childhood hero Sean Cronin at Munster and hopes to emulate the Ireland legend’s career. Cronin won […]

Murray out to make good in the land of his mother

20 October 2024 0 comments

TRP By SIMON THOMAS Probyn: Please don’t take captain George off too early >> Page 37 BLAIR Murray may have been born and raised in […]

Series 4, Episode 7: Nick Auterac’s Journey from Rugby to Music Composition + England Squad Reaction

17 October 2024 0 comments

We love a prop episode! The self-professed ‘oddball’ Nick Auterac joins host Ollie Little and columnists Chris Hewett and Nick Cain for this one. The […]

Japan will be latest destination for Richie Gray

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Scotland lock Richie Gray will link up with World Cup winners Pieter-Steph du Toit and Aaron Smith when his move to Japanese […]

Mark Ella & Co were the true pass masters

13 October 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Nineteen eighty four might have been one of the most […]

From 1 to 15: It’s all change

13 October 2024 0 comments

THEN AND NOW: BRENDAN GALLAGHER LOOKS AT HOW THE GAME HAS EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, POSITION BY POSITION FIFTY years ago, British rugby […]

Playing out in France was brutal -it really was

13 October 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY BRIAN MULLEN THE FORMER LONDON IRISH & CLERMONT FLY-HALF NOWADAYS it is a trend: players moving across the English Channel to play […]

JONNOBALDING

13 October 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS GLOUCESTER & ENGLAND U18 LOCK England U18s second row Jonno Balding is hoping performances for Radley College can impress his club Gloucester enough […]

Series 4, Episode 6: Gallagher Premiership, Exeter records and the need for speed with Olly Woodburn

10 October 2024 0 comments

After a few weeks debating the dramatic final rounds of the Rugby Championship, time to revisit the Gallagher Premiership! Three rounds in and despite question […]

Dream Team – Kyle Dench

6 October 2024 0 comments

Kyle Dench, the Otley head coach and former player, who also played centre for Harrogate, Yorkshire & England Counties, chooses the best XV he has […]

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. […]

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