New Zealand head into Friday’s match against South Africa in top form having won their last 11 Tests and were crowned Rugby Championship winners for […]
Latest Posts
De Klerk: We’re out to prove a point
By BEN JAYCOCK Faf de Klerk says South Africa have a point to prove against New Zealand when they clash at Twickenham on Friday. The […]
Champions Crusaders begin with Chiefs tester
SUPER Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season with a repeat of last year’s final when they take on the […]
England’s discipline now a major concern
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WELL it has to be said, the win last week was certainly a surprise given the […]
Lyon take the heat to topple Toulon
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A “heat dome” settled over France last weekend to send temperatures soaring as the new Top 14 season’s three-match pre-World Cup […]
French go on the rampage with 13 tries
By JACK TREGONNING W Province …………20 France………………….85 FRANCE U18s scored 13 tries to blow away Western Province and round off their summer tour of South […]
S Africa ward off England fightback
By BEN JAYCOCK South Africa …………..33pts Tries: Mars 12, Cupido 25, Jooste 28, Theron 51, Nell 56 Conversions: Smith 13, 26, 29, 52 England…………………..19pts Tries: […]
Bracken at his brilliant best
By NICK POWELL W Province ………… 15 England……………….76 ENGLAND built on their opening 47-0 win against France by hammering a Western Province XV. Finlay Wiseman […]
Young Guns: Bristol Bears full-back Matt Jones
After enduring a brutal pre-season, Matt Jones is hoping to capitalise on the mass exodus at Bristol Bears and become a first team player. Jones, […]
South Africa .. 24 France……………37
FRANCE bounced back from their humbling by England to beat the hosts on Tuesday. France took an early lead as Diego Jurd kicked three successive […]
What’s in The Rugby Paper this Sunday (20/08/23)
As the summer of warm-up games continues, we’ll have all the action as England travel to Ireland and Wales host South Africa in The Rugby Paper this […]
Campese: Union and League are swapping sports
Australian legend David Campese is concerned that rugby union is starting to mimic traditional rugby league and is a poorer sport as a result. Campese, […]
Ireland and England name strong teams for crucial warm-up clash
Ireland and England have both named strong sides in what is set to be the best indicator of the progress they have made in preparation […]
New twist in Farrell tackle saga as World Rugby launch appeal
World Rugby have lodged an appeal against Tuesday’s independent judicial committee (IJC) decision to rescind Owen Farrell‘s red card for a dangerous tackle made in […]
Jones labels press conference ‘worst ever’ in airport rant
Australia coach Eddie Jones criticised the media in a press conference at Sydney Airport before heading off to France for the Rugby World Cup. Among […]
Super Rugby fixtures: Crusaders begin title defence with a repeat of last year’s final
Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season with a repeat of last year’s final when they take on the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato on February […]
Tonga do the double over Canada
Tonga 36-12 Canada Tonga completed the double over Canada, running in six tries for a comfortable 36-12 victory at Teufaiva Stadium. The 23rd-ranked Canadians lost […]
Canterbury unveil purple speed infinite elite pack
Off the back of the launch of the Speed Infinite Elite boot, which at 217 grams, is Canterbury‘s lightest rugby boot ever made, they have […]
Derby Rugby legend remembered at charity match this Sunday
A charity rugby match is being held this Sunday in memory of a former player and inspiring coach at Derby Rugby Football Club who passed […]
Series 3, Episode 4: Australia’s World Cup prospects and Owen Farrell’s red card with David Campese
The Rugby World Cup 2023 draws ever closer and following another weekend of preparation fixtures, things are hotting up. Eddie Jones named man-mountain Will Skelton […]
Superb Bracken hat-trick gives England another thumping win
England U18s 76-15 Western Province XV U18s Jack Bracken’s second-half hat-trick England continued their free-scoring tour of South Africa as they hammered a Western Province […]
Farrell red card overturned in shock ruling
Owen Farrell‘s red card from Saturday’s win against Wales has been overturned, clearing him to play from the start of the Rugby World Cup. The […]
Van Poortvliet and Ntamack out of World Cup
England‘s first choice scrum-half Jack Van Poortvliet and France‘s first choice fly-half Romain Ntamack have both been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with […]
Major blow as Farrell set to miss Argentina
By BEN JAYCOCK at Twickenham Captain Owen Farrell could miss England’s World Cup opener against Argentina after being sent off in the warm-up win over […]
England & Wales hit by injury concerns
Both England and Wales ended yesterday’s game with injury worries over senior players. Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet was forced off for England with a leg […]
Hill: We must clarify Championship role
By BEN JAYCOCK Former Richmond boss Steve Hill says it’s disappointing how the Championship has changed its regulations around dual registration and questions the identity […]
Late Ramos penalty denies Scotland in Paris
A Thomas Ramos penalty in the 79th minute denied Scotland a draw in Paris. Replacement George Horne had darted down the blindside and put in […]
Blake out to make No.2 slot his own
By BEN JAYCOCK A hooker crisis at Kingsholm last season saw tyro Seb Blake chucked in at the deep end but now he wants to […]
Motorbiking duo riding to raise funds for Doddie
By BEN JAYCOCK Len Bage and Robin Down are fundraising for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation as they embark on a 1,300-mile motorbike ride this month […]
Dowson: Pearson will get another chance
By PAUL REES Phil Dowson has backed Tom Pearson to bounce back after winning his first England cap last week and then being left out […]
England break cover to glimpse new life
By NICK CAIN England …………………………19pts Tries: Itoje 68 Conversions: Ford 68 Penalties: Farrell 10, 40+2, 42; Ford 76 Wales……………………………. 17pts Tries: Penalty 59, T Williams […]
Ford puts England on the front foot
PAUL REES There was a moment six minutes into the second-half which summed up England. Courtney Lawes stole a lineout near Wales’s line, prime attacking […]
At last! The old hands finally agree to come to the party
BRENDAN GALLAGHER Fired up: Jamie George found his second wind when England were on the ropes I THINK it’s the Buddists who insist one of […]
Charity try relay finishes in style at Twickenham
The Longest Try concluded yesterday afternoon at Twickenham to round off the rugby relay in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and pay tribute […]
No excuses – Wales simply switched off
SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND For about 60 minutes of England versus Wales, I wondered why I was watching it – it hadn’t been […]
Ramos steals it as Scotland go close
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER France……………………….. 30pts Tries: N’tamack 31, Penaud 42, Ollivon 43 Conversions: Ramos 32, 43, 44 Penalties: Ramos 7, 22, 78 Scotland ……………………27pts Tries: […]
Russell has been captain for a long time – Hogg
By BEN JAYCOCK Finn Russell captained Scotland for the first time last weekend in their win over France and former teammate Stuart Hogg says the […]
It’s now time for England to reboot
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK There are a number of utility players selected in the England World Cup squad of 33 announced this […]
Can Big Billy the tank still break the barriers?
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK WHEN Steve Borthwick picked his 33man England squad for the 2023 World Cup this week there were […]
Ruling out France-based players is yet another self-inflicted wound
NICK CAIN The RFU is in a mess over international player eligibility, because its rules dictate that rising England stars Jack Willis (Toulouse), Henry Arundell […]
Erasmus on Ireland’s wanted list
South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is being tipped for a possible return to Ireland to replace David Nucifora as IRFU performance director. Nucifora […]
Arms Park set for a pay day
Cardiff Rugby could get a much-needed cash boost with the Arms Park being considered to host Joe Cordina’s IBF super-featherweight title defence next year. Cordina […]
Top 14 clubs keen to bring in Carreras
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Mateo Carreras’s red-hot performances for Argentina in the Rugby Championship haven’t gone unnoticed in […]
Sam’s back in Super League
FORMER England centre Sam Burgess is returning to work in the UK later this year after agreeing to become coach of Super League outfit Warrington […]
Searle to join Biarritz after World Cup
Former Worcester Warriors and Wasps playmaker Billy Searle has signed a three-year deal to become the 28th player to join big-spending Biarritz after the World […]
Hoyland out to shine on Barbarians duty
Scotland winger Damien Hoyland will be looking to put himself in the shop window for a move to the Premiership when he plays for the […]
Ex-Zebre players ask URC bosses for help
The United Rugby Championship could be called in to settle a dispute between Zebre and a group of former players who left the club in […]
Dream Team with Jon Goodridge
The former Gloucester, Leeds and Bristol full-back, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Mike MacDonald – Ireally enjoyed playing with […]
A hat-trick for Sam would be deserved
CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED We’ll know soon enough if Sam Whitelock is finally past it. The venerable All Black lock from Palmerston North, home to […]
Sorry we won’t see Hooper in France
CHRIS HEWETT Wayne Shelford lost matches as captain of the All Blacks as often as he finished second in hand-to-hand combat. Which was never. So […]
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