Features

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

Georgian challenge

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE RUGBY Europe champions Georgia have challenged Wales to a match this autumn in what would be dubbed a ‘Six Nations playoff ’. […]

Cardiff hope to win Grady tug-of-war

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By SIMON THOMAS The future location of Mason Grady is one of the biggest talking points in Welsh rugby – in more […]

Munster move in for Ulster ace Burns

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BILLY Burns will swap Ulster for Munster in the summer to replace Joey Carbery who is off to France. The 29-yearold, above, […]

Jantjies to give back

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE FORMER Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies, below, has taken up a coaching role with youth rugby programme Rugga Schools in Johannesburg as he […]

Dream Team with Mackenzie Martin

24 March 2024 0 comments

The Cardiff and Wales back row, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Rhys Carre – The Big Red! The way […]

Late drama as Scots hold on to deny Wales

24 March 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 ■By SAM JACKSON Wales…………….. 18pts Tries: Tuipulotu 58, Callender 78 Conversions: Bevan 59 Penalties: Bevan 5, 40 Scotland ……….. 20pts Tries: Grant […]

Packer’s proud to join the 100 club

24 March 2024 0 comments

■By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW… Italy v England Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi CAPTAIN Marlie Packer earns her 100th cap as England begin their quest […]

Ireland battle but can’t stop France taking the honours

24 March 2024 0 comments

■By TOM REYNOLDS France………………38pts Tries: Bourdon Sansus 3, Menager 31, Fall 46, Sochat 61, Riffonneau 74 Conversions: Queyroi 3, 33, 48, 62; Bourgeois 76 Penalties: […]

Red Roses: Gloucester-Hartpury lock Zoe Aldcroft

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Birthplace: Scarborough Date of birth: 19/11/96 Community club: Scarborough RFC Red Roses Debut: vs France July 2016 Caps: 48 Why I Play […]

I’m ambitious. I want to coach as high as I can

24 March 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Alex Rae – The former Northampton Saints, Saracens, Wasps and Bedford Blues lock, now head coach at Coventry, talks about […]

The whistleblowers under the spotlight

24 March 2024 0 comments

Matthew Luddington talks to two referees at the lower end of the game about the trials of taking charge of a match IN TODAY’S digital […]

Ten Italian tyros who will hit the headlines

24 March 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS IT’S BECOME almost a mantra or article of faith recently that reinforcements, in the form of a squadron of hungry young guns, are […]

I’m delighted to be helping Ukraine prepare for big match

24 March 2024 0 comments

STEVE HILL While Ireland and Georgia have recently been crowned champions of their respective European tournaments, the fight to see who wins the men’s Europe […]

Young Guns: Exeter & England U20 back row Kane James

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales-born back row Kane James has opted to represent England due to the support received by U20s head coach Mark Mapletoft and […]

You must reward and value effort

24 March 2024 0 comments

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill puts the questions to Ryan Watkins, head coach of Luctonians RFC, currently second in National League Two West […]

Series 3, Episode 30: Nigel Owens reviews Six Nations 2024

18 March 2024 0 comments

What a Six Nations the 2024 edition has been! Super Saturday did not disappoint, and it was Ireland that ultimately claimed back-to-back titles. To look […]

NFL sides look set to take punt on Mallinder

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Harry Mallinder’s dream of winning an NFL contract has moved a step closer after the former England U20 captain made it through […]

Vermeulen open to England offer

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By GRANT SHUB Jacques Vermeulen, who is eligible for England having been in the UK since 2019, has dreamed of playing for […]

Aussies battling to keep Petaia

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Australian utility back Jordan Petaia is being chased by the country’s leading rugby league clubs. Reds flyer Petaia is out of contract […]

Dream Team with Alex Day

17 March 2024 0 comments

The Bedford and former Cornish Pirates, Northampton & Saracens scrum-half chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Paul Andrew – I […]

I was thrilled to bits to be picked for England

17 March 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Magnus Lund – The former England, Sale and Biarritz flanker talks about his life in the game AS most people […]

Lucky? No, that was pure skill

17 March 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER THE sainted Antoine Dupont might be on a sabbatical but France enjoyed […]

Did that just happen? Five other jaw dropping moments

17 March 2024 0 comments

FRANS STEYN DROPPED GOAL (2010) The huge Bok centre was playing for Racing at Clermont. His side were trailing 14-12 when Clermont cleared their lines […]

Beating Ealing proves anything is possible

17 March 2024 0 comments

Matthew Luddington talks to London Scottish flanker Jack Ingall about combining work and play in the Championship ANECDOTES from rugby’s amateur era paint a vivid […]

Rosslyn Park Sevens will host 3,710 matches

17 March 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS THE Rosslyn Park Sevens takes place this week with more than 3,710 fixtures to be played from Monday to Friday across 11 […]

Andrews signs up at Sale

17 March 2024 0 comments

RUGBY SHORTS SALE have signed Sharks lock Hyron Andrews on a short-term deal until the end of the season. The 28-year-old South African joins from […]

Young Guns: Saracens & England U20 lock Olamide Sodeke

17 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Powerful second row Olamide Sodeke is earning plaudits for his ferocious defence during the U20s Six Nations but is paying close attention […]

Series 3, Episode 29: Maxime Mermoz previews final round and shares bold views on France

14 March 2024 0 comments

It is time to look ahead to Six Nations super Saturday! The best Saturday of the year is upon us, and with three tantalising contests […]

Podcast reacts to stunning wins for England and Italy

11 March 2024 0 comments

What a weekend of rugby! The latest round of the 2024 Six Nations was without doubt its best so far, as Italy and England pulled […]

Quins nab Lamositele

10 March 2024 0 comments

Harlequins look to have signed tighthead prop Titi Lamositele, below, to replace the Castres-bound Will Collier. Lamositele, 29, spent five years at Saracens before joining […]

McNicholl goes home

10 March 2024 0 comments

Wales back Johnny McNicholl has rejoined Crusaders for the remainder of the season after leaving Scarlets to return to New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, who has […]

Carre back at Saracens

10 March 2024 0 comments

Saracens have re-signed Wales loosehead Rhys Carre from Cardiff. The 26-year-old previously played for Saracens in 2019-20, moving back to Cardiff after one season. He […]

Baxter turns his attention to top Ealing pair

10 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE – EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE Having already snapped up Coventry’s star centre Will Rigg in a mid-season swoop, Exeter are going back […]

French setting sights on Tuilagi

10 March 2024 0 comments

Perpignan and Montpellier are chasing the signature of England centre Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi would join up with his nephew Posolo Tuilagi at Perpignan and represent […]

Dream Team with Redford Pennycook

10 March 2024 0 comments

The former Bristol, Newcastle and Ealing Trailfinders back rower, chooses his best XV he has played with or against… 1. Ellis Genge – Even at […]

Red Roses: Gloucester-Hartpury back row Sarah Beckett

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Birthplace: Liverpool Date of birth: 14/02/99 Community club: Firwood Waterloo RFC Red Roses debut: vs USA November 2018 Caps: 34 Why I […]

It’s a huge honour to play for your country

10 March 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Marcus Rose – the former England, Cambridge University, Leicester, Coventry, Harlequins and Barbarians full-back looks back on his career in […]

Reid: We want to build new legacy

10 March 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to Bath back rower Miles Reid who wants to see the glory days return, if only to keep his dad quiet Combative […]

Sorry Cockers, but it’s Portugal for me

10 March 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER I wish the doughty warriors of Georgia no ill will – on […]

We are going to miss you guys a lot

10 March 2024 0 comments

All career-ending injuries are to be mourned but the last couple of weeks or so have been hard to digest for Italy fans and indeed […]

Each day, I can see the positive impact of rugby

10 March 2024 0 comments

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill puts the questions to Alex Rae, below, the head coach at Championship side Coventry RFC Why and how […]

Young Guns: Sale Sharks second row Tom Burrow

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Towering Yorkshireman Tom Burrow has found his calling at Sale Sharks and, after transitioning from the U18s programme, he has his sights […]

Episode 100! Previewing England vs Ireland with Jonny Bell

6 March 2024 0 comments

This week, the Rugby Paper Podcast brings up 100 episodes! A huge thank you to all those who support and continue to follow the podcast […]

Martin relishing playing with pals

4 March 2024 0 comments

George Martin is a familiar name to English rugby fans, but the man behind the player is still very much a mystery. The towering Leicester […]

Andre’s heading home

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Andre Esterhuizen will leave Harlequins at the end of the 2023/24 season and return to South Africa for family reasons. The Springboks […]

McNicholl on his way

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales wing Johnny McNicholl has left the Scarlets with immediate effect to take up a playing opportunity in New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, […]