Miscellaneous

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

Ben double as England are crowned champions

1 November 2020 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD BEN Youngs celebrated his century of caps with a sizzling, inspirational performance in Rome that saw England secure the muchdelayed Six Nations […]

Pivac: We must win any how now

1 November 2020 1 comment

By ALEX BYWATER WAYNE Pivac and Alun Wyn Jones admitted Wales have to start winning now, beginning with their Autumn Nations Cup opener with Ireland […]

Double Devon cream for magnificent Chiefs

25 October 2020 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Encore: Captain Joe Simmonds holds his second major trophy aloft inside seven days as Chiefs celebrate PICTURE: Getty Images JOE Simmonds was […]

Hail to the Chiefs!

18 October 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Champagne moment: Joe Simmonds raises the trophy in delight as Chiefs’ celebrations begin PICTURE: Getty Images PROUD Exeter Chiefs reached the summit […]

‘Stand-out’ Sheedy’s ready for his big Test

18 October 2020 2 comments

CALLUM Sheedy reports for Wales duty tomorrow armed with a cast-iron case for resuming his French bombardment in Paris on Saturday night. Bristol’s uncapped flyhalf […]

Behave in the bubble, Eddie tells his squad

11 October 2020 0 comments

By NICK CAIN EDDIE Jones has warned his England players to learn the lessons of others as they head for their international bubble. Jones has […]

Chiefs still in line for their big double

11 October 2020 0 comments

PICTURE: Getty Images Stuart Hogg dives over to score for Exeter Chiefs as they beat Bath 35-6 to set up a Premiership final with Wasps […]

Diamond amazed by snub to WillGriff

11 October 2020 1 comment

SALE Sharks say they are ‘astounded’ by WillGriff John’s exclusion from the Wales squad following his selection before the Six Nations went into lockdown. John […]

RFU plan National Leagues shake-up

4 October 2020 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY RADICAL plans to salvage lower league rugby in the New Year could see National One and Two sides pooled in a regionalised […]

Saints call off match amid new covid crisis

4 October 2020 0 comments

Double delight: Matt Protheroe celebrates scoring Ospreys’ third try – and his second – against Edinburgh yesterday PICTURE: Getty Images NORTHAMPTONhave forfeited today’s match against […]

Top flight rugby may not return until 2021

27 September 2020 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY PREMIERSHIP clubs may seek to delay the start of the 2020/21 season until the New Year unless Government officials relax their policy […]

Crisis in Wales as clubs face extinction

27 September 2020 1 comment

THIRTY Welsh rugby clubs are ‘teetering on the brink of extinction’ as the game lurches towards the bleakest of winters. The worsening crisis is being […]

Saracens make case for a Euro defence

20 September 2020 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Brothers in arms: Saracens’ point scorers Alex Goode and Elliot Daly celebrate their sensational victory over Leinster PICTURE: Getty Images SARACENS’ stunning […]

Sheedy closes on Wales call-up

20 September 2020 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON CALLUM Sheedy has played himself into serious contention for a Wales place – almost six years after opting out of their U20 […]

Boks given full backing to play in 8 Nations

6 September 2020 1 comment

By PETER JACKSON THE Six Nations have joined forces in a united attempt to bring South Africa into the European fold with almost immediate effect. […]

Red-card Farrell set to miss Leinster

6 September 2020 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Crunch: Owen Farrell catches Charlie Atkinson on the head ENGLAND captain Owen Farrell looks certain to be banned from Saracens’ European Champions […]

Sweeney urged to battle the ‘fat cats’

30 August 2020 0 comments

■ By NEALE HARVEY TAKING an axe to Premiership funding would earn RFU boss Bill Sweeney applause from the community game, says Berkshire RFU and […]

North in race to be fastest ton-up kid

30 August 2020 1 comment

Hitting six: Marland Yarde goes over for Sale’s sixth try against Bristol PICTURE: Getty Images Match action – starts Page 8>> GEORGE North’s charge towards […]

Desperate Wales eye West Ham for bale-out

23 August 2020 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON WALES are hoping West Ham United can help them out for their autumn internationals after abandoning a plan to play their rescheduled […]

Drop-kick Farrell puts the boot into Quins

23 August 2020 0 comments

Fast and furious: Sam Underhill helped Bath to a big win at Welford Road to stay on track for the top four PICTURE: Getty Images […]

Flyer Grace could be Eddie’s new Billy Whizz

16 August 2020 1 comment

■By PETER JACKSON REGAN Grace, the Welsh flyer whose amazing hat-trick for St Helens has been acclaimed as the greatest in Super League, is eligible […]

Lancaster ‘perfect’ coach for the Lions

16 August 2020 0 comments

■By NEALE HARVEY STUART Lancaster would be a “perfect” choice to join Warren Gatland’s Lions’ coaching team in South Africa next year, says Lions legend […]

Boyd: Why do England always pick foreigners?

9 August 2020 2 comments

By NEALE HARVEY NORTHAMPTONSaints supremo Chris Boyd finds England’s obsession with employing overseas coaches hard to fathom given the current surfeit of homegrown talent. Boyd […]

Bath time for Pollard?

9 August 2020 1 comment

Bath are chasing South Africa’s World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard, with another Bok on their radar as well … Continue reading… Access all our premium […]

I’m no-go for Lions declares Edwards

9 August 2020 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON SHAUN Edwards today declares himself a nonstarter for the Lions, thereby eliminating any chance of a Test reunion with Warren Gatland. After […]

Nightmare goes on for injured Asncombe

2 August 2020 1 comment

By PETER JACKSON GARETH Anscombe, already out of action for all 15 Wales matches over the last 12 months, is in danger of missing six […]

Ring-fence inevitable says owner of Gloucs

2 August 2020 1 comment

By COLIN BOAG GLOUCESTER owner Martin St Quinton believes ring-fencing the Premiership is inevitable, describing the current situation of a team spending a season against […]

Clubs plan massive Tier Two shake-up

19 July 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY REVOLUTIONARY plans for a new Championship league are set to be discussed. Clubs in Tier Two have spent lockdown formulating ways of […]

Leicester eye Moroni

19 July 2020 0 comments

Jaguares centre Matias Moroni is in advanced talks to be the next Puma to join the Premiership PICTURE: Getty Images Full Story: P10 … Continue […]

Lead fight against racism, WRU told

19 July 2020 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON THE Welsh Rugby Union are being urged to spearhead a global movement within the sport under the banner of Black Lives Matter. […]

Rebel Manu begs for his Tigers job back

12 July 2020 1 comment

By PETER JACKSON MANU Tuilagi made a forlorn attempt to save his Leicester career before the Tigers confirmed his departure on Friday after ten eventful […]

Regions fret over Welsh ban on scrums

12 July 2020 3 comments

By PETER JACKSON Ben passes loyalty test Ben Youngs is determined to finish his career as a one-club man at Leicester Tigers after agreeing a […]

‘Iron Mike’ cuts all ties with Gloucester

5 July 2020 0 comments

By NICK CAIN EXCLUSIVE MIKE Teague’s disenchantment with Gloucester has led the talismanic England and Lions flanker who played with such distinction for the club […]

JJ joins call for diversity

5 July 2020 0 comments

England ace Jonathan Joseph believes rugby still has a long way to go in terms of accepting and welcoming black culture PICTURE: Getty Images … […]

Clubs will not release players for Test dates

5 July 2020 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON WORLDRugby’s plan to salvage an Eight Nations’ tournament from the wreckage of their Test schedule ploughed into a new version of an […]

Spencer slams PRL for player welfare U-turn

5 July 2020 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Lions manager John Spencer has accused Premiership Rugby (PRL) of double standards over player welfare. The Rugby Paper understands the umbrella […]

County Championship loses funding in RFU cuts

5 July 2020 0 comments

AN RFU announcement that funding for the County Championship, the U20 County Championship, and the Aspirational Pathway for season 2020/21 has been suspended has seen […]

Williams can be star for Wales – Tompkins

5 July 2020 0 comments

By ALEX BYWATER NICK Tompkins made an immediate impression in the Six Nations and he believes his Wales boss Wayne Pivac will soon have another […]

Coach Ward serves up his new all-court game

5 July 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Multi-talented: Dave Ward shows off his racket skills NEWLY appointed Ampthill forwards coach Dave Ward is taking an alternative approach to honing […]

Big guns snub call for rugby in summer

21 June 2020 1 comment

By PETER JACKSON Non! Paul Goze THE English and French clubs are refusing to sacrifice their traditional winter game on the altar of a global […]

Earl eyes up Prem crown

21 June 2020 0 comments

England flanker Ben Earl is gunning for Premiership glory on loan at Bristol from Saracens Full Story: P5 PICTURE: Getty Images … Continue reading… Access […]

Wales face oblivion in new World Club Cup

21 June 2020 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON WALES will be without a single contender for the proposed World Club Cup unless all four regional teams raise their game. Under […]

Orange card gets thumbs up from Nigel

31 May 2020 1 comment

By PETER No cop out: Nigel Owens THE orange card is today given the green light by the world’s most-capped Test referee – provided the […]

Bristol get set to welcome back fans

31 May 2020 0 comments

Mills aims to up his game Ryan Mills admits his form was not consistent enough at Worcester and is determined to shine at Wasps Full […]

Bristol get set to welcome back fans

31 May 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY PREMIERSHIP clubs are preparing to welcome back spectators, with Bristol leading the way in being ready to accommodate socially-distanced crowds at Ashton […]

World Rugby law trials not for us says Davies

31 May 2020 1 comment

By SAM JACKSON Integrity: Gareth Davies WORLD Rugby have approved ten optional law trials to help reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission – but Wales […]

Baron’s Coronavirus Cup proposal dismissed

31 May 2020 1 comment

FRANCIS Baron’s idea of a major international tournament to be held in England in 2021 to ease the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis has […]

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31 May 2020 0 comments

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Saracens lads ‘will thrive in Tier Two’

31 May 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY High hopes: Adam Powell Home-grown: Joel Kpoku, left, and Ralph Adams-Hale can spark Saracens SARACENS academy coach Adam Powell is backing youngsters […]