What’s in The Rugby Paper: 28/04/24

For the third time in a row England and France meet in a Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider, and you can find all the action from Bordeaux in The Rugby Paper this Sunday.

On the same day Wales face Italy hoping to avoid whitewashes in both the men’s and women’s tournaments in front of what is expected to be their record crowd at the Principality Stadium, with Scotland looking to secure a top-half finish for the first time since 2005 against Ireland.

In addition to reports and reaction from all three matches Maddie Feaunati features in our Red Roses column, and while the Roses still have to wait to see if they can claim the Six Nations title England U20s Sean Kerr discusses how his boys did it at the junior level in our Young Guns feature.

Back on the domestic front, Harlequins host Northampton Saints at Twickenham for their “Big Summer Kick-Off”, the pick of three Premiership and seven United Rugby Championship reports on that will be across our pages, as well as previews for two Prem games on Sunday.

In one such preview, hard hitting Jacques Vermeulen reveals he wants his side to be aggressive and ruthless when Exeter travel to Kingsholm to face rivals Gloucester, and on the topic of the Chiefs, Chris Hewett explains why the Devonians feel they represent the true south west rather than ‘northerners’  Bristol, Bath or Gloucester.

In the other preview, Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson has called Sunday’s meeting with Newcastle the ‘Steve Diamond derby’, and Leinster flanker Will Connors looks ahead to their Champions Cup semi-final clash against Northampton Saints next Saturday in front of over 82,000 fans at Croke Park.

Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam says he’ll never stop recruiting from the Championship as he tops up his squad with second tier talent, while Saracens and Wales star Nick Tompkins gives his thoughts on the Premiership run-in and what his side need to regain if they are to secure back-to-back titles.

Elsewhere in our weekly features former Bath hooker and Scotland ‘B’ captain, and ex-Bristol and Saracens boss, Rob Cunningham looks back on his career in My Life in Rugby, with former Australia Sevens, Bedford and Coventry flanker Ben Adams – now at Cambridge – picking the best XV he has played with or against in Dream Team.

And in the final round of the National Leagues, will it be Leeds Tykes or Rotherham Titans claiming the National Two North title?

Joining The Rugby Paper Podcast on Thursday to preview the Women’s Six Nations decider was none other than Red Roses captain and 100-cap club member, Marlie Packer.

Stream this week’s episode of The Rugby Paper Podcast on YouTube (also above), Apple Podcasts, Spotify (also below), Castbox, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app.

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