Features

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

25 years on and it’s still a special place

30 June 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER It was the 25th anniversary of the first-ever game at the Millennium […]

Gloucesterer are facing a defining season

30 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR COACH GEORGE SKIVINGTON AND CEO ALEX BROWN AT KINGSHOLM Gloucester marked their 150th anniversary last season. Celebrated […]

I’m thrilled to see Bath enjoying its success

30 June 2024 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY GJ VAN VELZE THE FORMER BULLS, NORTHAMPTON, WORCESTER AND BATH BACK ROW/LOCK My journey with rugby began at the age of […]

Golden oldies who had speed to burn

30 June 2024 0 comments

Rob Cole looks back at rugby players like Ken Jones and Jack Gregory who enjoyed success at the Olympic Games… It’s a question that is […]

TOM BRIGG

30 June 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS ULSTER & IRELAND U20 BACK ROW Tom Brigg is determined to put his injury woes behind him by making his mark at the U20s […]

Series 3, Episode 43: England beat Japan and the crazy life of Shaunagh Brown

24 June 2024 0 comments

In a congested weekend of rugby England put 50 points past Japan to carry some momentum into their two-test series against New Zealand. The Rugby […]

When two tribes go to war

23 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SAYS IRELAND’S TWO-TEST SHOWDOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA WILL BE THE REAL THINGAND NOT A FUND-RAISER THE pick of the summer series pitches the […]

I was offered a NFL trial but it was too big a risk

23 June 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY IAN DAVEY THE FORMER BATH, BEDFORD, EL SALVADOR AND PERTEMPS BEES WINGER WHEN I was 16, in my first season for Colston’s, […]

CONOR BYRNE

23 June 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS ENGLAND U20S FULL BACK England U20s full back Conor Byrne balances his time at Harlequins by going back and forth from Exeter University. […]

Diamond must find gems for Newcastle

23 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES ASSESSES THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FACING STEVE DIAMOND, THE MAN AT THE TOP AT KINGSTON PARK IT SEEMED that the only way for Newcastle […]

Showcasing a Touch of class to the world

23 June 2024 0 comments

Chris Wearmouth previews the Touch Rugby World Cup, taking place in Nottingham next month WORLD Cup cycles provide a handy barometer for the wellbeing of […]

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 […]

Quartet help Cardiff pull off unlikely double

16 June 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson discovers which clubs and players come out best and worst when it comes to red and yellow cards Despite winning just four matches […]

Sorry, but Obano did not have to do that

16 June 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED The best definition of madness in rugby? There are several contenders: picking a fight with Eben Etzebeth springs immediately to mind, […]

Another lesson from the French

16 June 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT Now that Vannes have made it into the top tier of French rugby and the people running things across the water are preparing […]

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 […]

Dream Team – Andy Booth

16 June 2024 0 comments

For this week’s Dream Team Andy Booth, the former Neath, Swansea, Cardiff, Cambridge University, and Wales B scrum half, chooses the best XV he has […]

There is no warm welcome for Spain

16 June 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Gone but still winning. Sort of! London Irish may have met with […]

We’ve had brilliant seasons in Croatia

16 June 2024 0 comments

Coach to coach Steve Hill puts the questions to Anthony Posa, below, head coach of Sheffield RUFC and the Croatia National XVs and 7s teams […]

Young Guns – Henry Pollock

16 June 2024 0 comments

Feature HENRY POLLOCK NORTHAMPTON & ENGLAND U20 FLANKER Henry Pollock has burst onto the scene at Northampton Saints, with the energetic England U20s flanker eyeing […]

Pirates were one hell of a club to be at for so long

16 June 2024 0 comments

Feature MARLEN WALKER THE NOW-RETIRED CORNISH PIRATES PROP MY LIFE IN RUGBY Beating Saracens when we hadn’t played for almost a year was probably the […]

Series 3, Episode 42: Tom Pearson reflects on Premiership win and England summer squad debate

12 June 2024 0 comments

Northampton have ended their 10-year drought, securing the Gallagher Premiership title against 14-man Bath in a thriller at Twickenham on Saturday. Tom Pearson was one […]

Dream Team

9 June 2024 0 comments

Rhys Crane, the former England sevens international and Bath, Sale, Nottingham, London Welsh & Ealing winger, chooses the best XV he has played with or […]

Born to run! A XV with X-factor

9 June 2024 0 comments

Analysis Premiership Team of the Season Paul Rees Finds he has some Tough Choices to make as he Selects his 2023/24 Premiership Team of the […]

Shattering end to Iestyn’s dreams

9 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Iestyn Harris had only just started to run with a rugby ball when two very large Tongan […]

The Welsh dentist who smiled on England

9 June 2024 0 comments

A WELSH dentist arrives at Murrayfield for his one and only shot at the Triple Crown when a question wings its way from a corner […]

I want to improve and be best 9 in the world

9 June 2024 0 comments

Matthew Luddington talks to Gloucester and Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney following his eye-catching campaign Stephen Varney has truly had a breakthrough season. The 23-year-old scrum-half […]

It’s close but Dupont edges out Edwards

9 June 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Your columnist fell in love with rugby watching Gareth Edwards in the […]

Young Guns – Angus Hall

9 June 2024 0 comments

BEN JAYCOCK YOUNG GUNS SARACENS & ENGLAND U20 CENTRE England U20s versatile back Angus Hall is hoping his club Saracens’ transitional period will mean he’ll […]

I’ll miss the shared joy after a big win

9 June 2024 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE NOW FORMER NORTHAMPTON SAINTS, WASPS, LONDON IRISH, ROTHERHAM, MACCLESFIELD AND STOCKPORT HOOKER TOM CRUSE Now that my playing career is […]

Wimbledon give Jim a spendid send-off

9 June 2024 0 comments

Q&A Ben Jaycock caught up with Wimbledon stalwart Jim Green, who recently stepped down as chairman after 45 years of service at the club as […]

Series 3, Episode 41: Gallagher Premiership Final debate and general rugby revelry with Craig Doyle

7 June 2024 0 comments

The big one is upon us! Northampton Saints and Bath are set to battle it out in one of the most eagerly anticipated Gallagher Premiership […]

Pirates move for prop Andrews

2 June 2024 0 comments

Cornish Pirates have signed Coventry prop Ollie Andrews. The 24-year-old spent two years at Coventry having come through Exeter’s academy. “We expect Ollie to be […]

Dream Team – George Hammond

2 June 2024 0 comments

George Hammond, the Harlequins lock, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Joe Marler – Has been doing it for years […]

Flanagan: We want to keep Leon

2 June 2024 0 comments

Dragons hope Wales tighthead Leon Brown will sign a new contract. Injury-hit Brown, 27, last played in the Six Nations opening game against Scotland in […]

Scarlets swoop for Aussie lock

2 June 2024 0 comments

Scarlets have signed Australian lock Max Douglas from Japanese side Yokohama Canon Eagles. Douglas, 24, who is 6ft 7in and 112kg, played for the Waratahs […]

Time to let Borthwick pick from the best

2 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SAYS THE ENGLAND COACH SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY SELECTING PLAYERS WHO PLAY IN THE PREMIERSHIP England’s preliminary training squad for the […]

Playing rugby ‘Bristol fashion’ suited me well

2 June 2024 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY – RALPH KNIBBS THE FORMER ENGLAND, BRISTOL & CLIFTON CENTRE I spent some of my youth in Knowle West, 30-plus years […]

Pink city deserves its place at the top

2 June 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Anybody watching the crowd scenes in front of the big screen […]

Young Guns – Reuben Logan

2 June 2024 0 comments

YOUNG GUNS NORTHAMPTON SAINTS & ENGLAND U20 BACK ROW Being the son of a Scotland legend can be quite daunting but England U20s back row […]

Series 3, Episode 40: Lee Dickson – Premiership semi-finals preview

29 May 2024 0 comments

What a Champions Cup final it was, and Antoine Dupont’s Toulouse ultimately condemned Leinster to a third consecutive final defeat to claim their sixth European […]

Dream Team

26 May 2024 0 comments

Rob Miller, the former Newcastle, Wasps, Sale, Tynedale & England U20 full-back, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Peter Southern […]

Try tsunami sends a mixed message

26 May 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson looks at an increase in points scored but suggests the figures may be hiding a problem for the Premiership. Over the last seven […]

Fantastic four face final tests

26 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: NORTHAMPTON v SARACENS AND BATH v SALE NORTHAMPTON The Saints finished at the top of the […]