What’s in The Rugby Paper: 05/11/23

The Rugby World Cup has come to an end, but there’s plenty of action, reaction and analysis to look forward to in The Rugby Paper this Sunday.

There is still some international rugby going on, for one more week at least, as the WXV 1 tournament swings into its final round with a repeat of last year’s World Cup final as England take on New Zealand once more away from home, a week after Scotland took the WXV 2 title and Ireland achieved promotion in winning WXV 3.

And reflections on the men’s World Cup continue, as Ben Jaycock speaks to Topsy Ojo in a Q&A to get his thoughts on England’s future without the likes of Jonny May, Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs, while Harlequins attack coach Nick Evans gives his verdict on Marcus Smith playing full-back for England at the tournament.

Chris Hewett discusses South Africa‘s record breaking fourth triumph in the competition and asks whether it is their best one yet, while Jeff Probyn calls for TMO and referee consistency after the officials blighted numerous World Cup games.

Finally, Brendan Gallagher provides his his final analysis on the showpiece tournament in his Rugby Matters column, but says that it’s time to move on from the World Cup and look at the elite club game.

They’ll be reports from another busy weekend of action in the Premiership, United Rugby Championship, and English Championship – a league which Bryan Redpath says could be fully professional in an interview with Nick Powell.

While former rival, Richmond boss Steve Hill, kicks off his Coach to Coach column by speaking to National League Two East leaders Dorking’s director of rugby Armand Roux, and Jon Newcombe analyses National League One Sedgley Park‘s Matt Riley breaking the record for most appearances for a single club either side of the English Channel after he made it game number 424 last weekend.

And as always, don’t miss our My Life in Rugby feature with former Moseley, Glasgow, Exeter, Connacht, Grenoble and Bristol lock Aly Muldowney looking at his career in the game, and  Dream Team with Cornish Pirates and former Gloucester back three player Kyle Moyle, who chooses the best XV he has played with or against.

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