BRENDAN GALLAGHER Rugby has its favourites and we in the media are as guilty as any of promoting them above others but I’ve always been […]
Latest Posts
New Zealand schools side in ’93 was the best ever
The greatest national schools team ever? That debate kicked off on Twitter recently and my mind immediately went back 30 years to 1993 and interviewing […]
Refs must demand immediate release
Another game, yet another big “jackal” injury, this time it was the unfortunate Ben Curry as he bent low to turnover Leicester, was violently rolled […]
Riley back as Park lead the field
Now that the National Two North season has run its course, Ben Jaycock canvassed the views of our reporters to compile The Rugby Paper’s 2022-23 […]
Academy at TJs thriving with Withers at the helm
By BEN JAYCOCK At a time when participation levels have fallen across the country, Tonbridge Juddians’ academy are revelling in healthy numbers and recently secured […]
If Sale win it could be a real game-changer
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson was close to tears after last week’s semi-final win […]
Pontypool run in 13 tries to finish perfect season
Championship round-up Pontypool brought down the curtain on their remarkable season by running in 13 tries in an 83-7 win at Ystalyfera to make it […]
Maynard aiming to sink his old mates
Premiership Final preview By ROB COLE Cardiff Llandovery v Today, Kick-off 5.15pm JACK Maynard helped Cardiff to win the Premiership title last season, but he […]
The Rocks edge out Rumney to lift title
National 1 round-up ST PETER’S held their nerve to win 17-7 at Rhydyfelin to pick up the points they needed to pip arch-rivals Rumney to […]
Galthie’s message of hope to top 100
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Top 14 coaches, pundits and fans have had the calculators, slide rules and computer modelling programmes out this weekend as they […]
Chiefs bounce back to tame Hurricanes
Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Tupou Vaa’i scored two tries as the Chiefs bounced back from their first loss of the season to […]
Western Province stake claim
Currie Cup round-up Western Province staked their claim for the Currie Cup playoffs by beating the defending champions Pumas 22-14. The Pumas took an early […]
Spears secure their first championship
Japan League One round-up Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay caused a major upset by winning their first ever piece of silverware and became the second team […]
Young refs need to ignore the trolls -Barnes
NEWS EXTRA WAYNE Barnes believes that ignoring social media is the best way for referees to operate, but is also concerned that online abuse is […]
European Champions Cup final preview
357 days and 62 matches later, the Heineken Champions Cup final is poised for a hugely-anticipated rematch as Leinster take on La Rochelle. This time […]
Squads announced for Barbarian F.C. vs World XV
Barbarian F.C. and the World XV are delighted to confirm the two playing squads for next weekend’s Killik Cup match at Twickenham Stadium. The Killik […]
European Challenge Cup final preview
The word “historic” is often overused when it comes to sporting triumphs, but there can be no doubt that will be the case for whoever […]
Barnes fears impact of social media on grassroots referees
Wayne Barnes believes that ignoring social media is the best way for referees to operate, but is also concerned that online abuse is affecting the […]
Series 2, Episode 19: Wayne Barnes on the World Cup, social media and bilingualism
World Rugby has announced its refereeing roster for the 2023 World Cup, and it was no surprise to see the highest-capped test referee of all […]
Sharks end 17-year wait to reach Premiership Final
By Nick Powell, Online Editor Sale Sharks………………………………21 Tries: Roebuck 20, Reed 64 Conversions: Ford 21 Penalties: Ford 47, 57, 69 Leicester Tigers……………………..13 Tries: Potter 55 […]
GB Women end tough Toulouse campaign on a high
Amy Wilson Hardy’s length of the field extra time try meant Great Britain Women finished seventh at the Toulouse Sevens after winning their final match […]
Toulouse 7s: GB eliminated from Cup in both men’s and women’s
Great Britain endured a disappointing day two as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of both the men’s and women’s Toulouse World Series Cup […]
Thorburn: Test rugby becoming a ‘circus’
By PETER JACKSON World Rugby stands accused of ‘ruining the international game’ by allowing Wales to pick England prop Henry Thomas. The rule permitting players […]
Saracens on track for sixth Prem title
By GARY FITZGERALD Mark McCall hailed “outstanding and controlled” Owen Farrell after the England star pulled the strings at StoneX Stadium and kept Sarries on […]
Morgan: Move away from culture of debt
By LUKE JARMYN Jersey Reds chairman Mark Morgan has called for a complete refocus so rugby can move away from a culture of debt and […]
Put an independent person in charge – Goode
Alex Goode, who this week signed a contract extension at Saracens, has called on Premiership Rugby to provide “clarity” and “certainty”. Wasps and Worcester have […]
Salary cap hurting, not helping – Biggar
By BEN JAYCOCK Dan Biggar feels the Premiership’s exodus of players to France is a result of the league’s reduced salary cap ‘hurting it more […]
Kelly ready to work hard for starting place
By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle’s new recruit John Kelly has come a long way from working as a nightclub doorman in Plymouth, but believes it’s given […]
Bath battle back to grab elite spot
By PAUL REES The final round of the regular Premiership season boiled down to who would claim England’s final place in next season’s Champions Cup. […]
Steward: Wiggy’s the main driver
By ADAM HATHAWAY Richard Wigglesworth, the Leicester interim head coach, is not happy taking the plaudits for Tigers’ resurrection but Freddie Steward is happy to […]
Agents on alert over takeover concerns
London Irish players are attracting interest amid suggestions that the takeover of the club from a group of former American sports stars is in danger […]
Sharks keen to get Veainu back in Prem
ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Sale Sharks are set to bring former Leicester fullback Telusa Veainu back to the […]
Leicester swoop for Kata
NEIL FISSLER Leicester have snapped up Solomone Kata, who is leaving Exeter after only one season when his contract runs out next month. Kata, 28, […]
Reihana edges to the exit
NEIL FISSLER Northampton legend Bruce Reihana faces an uncertain future in Montpellier amid suggestions that he could part company with the Top 14 side. Reihana, […]
Eyes on Meehan
Gloucester scrum-half Ben Meehan is attracting interest from Australia and could be allowed to leave Kingsholm despite having another year on his contract. Meehan, 30, […]
DREAM TEAM
ANDY DARLINGTON, THE CALDY, NETHERLANDS AND FORMER FYLDE, CHINNOR , BLAYDON & MAIDENHEAD PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. […]
Lawrence bounces back from adversity
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Most of the players who get awards are deserving, and I think that is the case with Ollie […]
Ludlam: It hurts to miss out on history
Deflated Saints flanker Lewis Ludlam was left emotionally exhausted at the end of a pulsating but ultimately losing contest where the Franklin’s Gardens men came […]
Battling Saracens seize the moment
By PAUL REES Saracens …………………….. 38pts Tries: Maitland 5, 21; van Zyl 29, Penalty 70, Malins 75 Conversions: Farrell 6, 22, 30, 76 Penalties: Farrell […]
Fazzball too much for Jekyll and Hyde team
BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens might still be searching for their European mojo but domestically they were in regal form Sunday as the dismissed a Northampton side […]
Roebuck aims to rise high for Sale
By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Sale v Leicester Today. Kick-off 3pm, AJ Bell Stadium IN-FORM Sale winger Tom Roebuck hopes to help fire his boyhood team […]
I’m proud we stuck together, says Leicester’s Montoya
By PAUL REES Julian Montoya, who leads Leicester in today’s Premiership playoff semi-final at Sale, is proud the team stuck together during the tough times […]
Carpenter washes stress away
By PAUL REES SALE full-back Joe Carpenter only made his Premiership debut in October, but he starts today’s semifinal and has attracted the notice of […]
Crowley has final say in epic contest
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster…………………………15pts Tries: Jenkins 37, J McCarthy 62 Conversion: Byrne 38 Penalty: Byrne 2 Munster ………………………..16pts Tries: Beirne 45 Conversions: Crowley 46 Penalties: […]
Connacht go close but Stormers finish off in style
By JOHN FALLON Stormers………. 43pts Tries: Libbok 28, 33, Davids 16, de Wet 65, Theunissen 77, Nel 80 Conversions: Libbok 17, 29, 34, 66, 80 […]
England need to get it right at scrum time
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Steve Borthwick’s decisionion to raid Leicester for his latest scrum coach – and England’s third in the […]
Second tier clubs are ready to play tough
The Championship clubs have taken a long time to become a coherent collective voice for change – with promotion and relegation at its core – […]
Wales refs fail to make the World Cup grade
Jon Newcombe talks to WRU head of refereeing Paul Adams about the dearth of top officials in Wales For the first time in the Rugby […]
Why Ojomoh could be in with a shout
CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST SO Bath won the big one against Saracens Under-12s and secured their Champions Cup qualification at the final tap of the […]
Smith has vision to see through the fog
Wayne Smith, who secured a place in the pantheon of great coaches long before his astonishing triumph with the Black Ferns at last year’s Women’s […]
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