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Rugby’s holy trinity prove the difference

12 May 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED SINCE time immemorial, rugby has been cloaked in its own cliches: Prince Obolensky was always “dashing”; Colin Meads lived his life […]

Power of the four musketeers

12 May 2024 0 comments

A common theme of last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals was the influence of the four scrum-halves, the catalysts of teams that look to get the […]

I may sell Toulon for €1 – Lemaitre

12 May 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A matter of weeks after ProD2 strugglers Biarritz were sold for €1, Toulon owner Bernard Lemaitre suggested he might be willing […]

Chessum out till next season in England and Tigers injury blow

9 May 2024 0 comments

Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum will miss the rest of this domestic season and England’s summer tour to Japan and New Zealand after shoulder surgery. […]

Series 3, Episode 37: Champions Cup, Dupont and Olympics with Mike Friday

9 May 2024 0 comments

There’s plenty on the agenda for the Rugby Paper Podcast this week. Ollie Little and columnists Brendan Gallagher, Chris Hewett and Nick Cain review English […]

Care extends Quins stay into 19th season

8 May 2024 0 comments

Harlequins and former England scrum-half Danny Care has signed a new contract to spend a 19th season at the London club. The 37-year-old has accumulated […]

Saints so close to stunning Leinster

5 May 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Croke Park Northampton boss Phil Dowson was left to rue the one that got away after Saints went down 20-17 to […]

Smith: I’m better at handling mistakes

5 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Fin Smith credits his superb form this season to a mental mind-shift that enables him to now take the rough with the […]

Murley admits he’d be tempted to try out league

5 May 2024 0 comments

By STEFAN FROST Cadan Murley has revealed he could cross over codes once he has fulfilled his trophy-winning ambitions at Harlequins. The wing, preparing for […]

Fit-again Ewels enjoying new life under Johann

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES When Charlie Ewels suffered knee ligament damage on England’s 2022 tour to Australia, his club Bath were at rock bottom. They had […]

Am: Chance to win silverware shows we’re on right track

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The Sharks have endured an emotional rollercoaster this season but, after booking their place in the Challenge Cup final with yesterday’s sensational […]

It’ll be tough for us but we’ll meet fire with fire, says Care

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vs Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stadium de Toulouse WHEN Harlequins went to Bordeaux last month they vowed to swing the […]

Kinghorn: Move to Toulouse has given me fresh impetus

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK BLAIR Kinghorn feels his move to European giants Toulouse has been a career revitalisation after ‘becoming stagnant at Edinburgh’. The versatile 27-yearold […]

Hotshot Hastings has the final say

5 May 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………………….. 40pts Tries: Hathaway 6, Blake 29, Hastings 58, Clarke 61, Thorley 78 Conversions: Hastings 29, 58, 61 Penalties: Hastings 19, […]

Roebuck out to impress England

5 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale’s Tom Roebuck is a man on a mission as he looks to use the final weeks of the Premiership season to […]

Without referees, there is no game

5 May 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at the pressures on the men and women in the middle and asks what can be done to help them Who would […]

We had belief in our ability

5 May 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens talks to Exeter Chiefs legend Gareth Steenson as he embarks on a new chapter away from Sandy Park IN THE heart of Exeter, […]

How one match at Croke Park changed European Rugby

2 May 2024 0 comments

They say history doesn’t repeat itself but it does rhyme. 15 years since Leinster dominated Munster in front of a world record crowd at Croke […]

Baxter: “We are overachieving” this season

29 April 2024 0 comments

Rob Baxter praised his young side’s competitive edge and their ability to learn from mistakes after their comfortable victory against Gloucester. “We probably are overachieving […]

Saracens know how to win – Tompkins

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With the Premiership run-in hotting up, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins claims ‘experience matters’ in these blockbuster end-of-season contests and says his side […]

Langdon is quick to make his point

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton have placed an emphasis this season on putting pace in the legs of their players and that suits Curtis Langdon, a […]

Scotland lock Gray heads for Exeter exit

28 April 2024 0 comments

SCOTLAND lock Jonny Gray has left Exeter with immediate effect to “explore other playing opportunities”. The 30-year-old joined the Chiefs in 2020 but has not […]

Scarlets move in to sign Hepburn

28 April 2024 0 comments

Scarlets have signed Scotland prop Alec Hepburn from Exeter for next season. The Australian-born 31-year-old helped the Chiefs win the Champions Cup in 2020 and […]

Leinster all-stars set for blockbuster battle

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Having finally toppled their Champions Cup bogey team La Rochelle, next up for Leinster is Premiership pacesetters Northampton Saints and flanker Will […]

Leinster manage to stem the flow

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BRIAN FINN Stormers ……. 42 Leinster………..12 LEINSTER suffered another chastening experience in South Africa as their understrenth side were hammered by five tries to […]

Ulster …………..38 Benetton ……. 34

28 April 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON ULSTER interim coach Richie Murphy is hopeful they have turned a corner and are poised to secure a knockout place in the […]

Wales on a mission to survive or decline

28 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees asks whether the country which has won 12 Grand Slams can still afford to run four regional sides A chastening season for Welsh […]

‘Ireland in blue’ will provide stiffest test

28 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Phil Dowson and Leo Cullen first crossed paths in European action 10 seasons ago when Northampton did […]

Record crowds flock to matches

28 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN More people than ever are flocking through the turnstiles of Top 14 and ProD2 matches, according to figures published by […]

Sharks battle past Quins to keep play-off hopes alive

21 April 2024 0 comments

Sale Sharks…………………………37 Tries: Curry 3, Dugdale 7, Reed 40+2, 64; Quirke 59 Conversions: Ford 4, 40+4 Penalties: Ford 16, 44 Harlequins………………………….31 Tries: Lynagh 24, 35; […]

Be quick! McKellar’s lowdown on Leinster

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton had the chance last night to quiz Dan McKellar about their Champions Cup semi-final opponents Leinster but, before the East Midlands […]

Furbank: We were spoonfed too much

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Furbank feels Northampton’s rise this season is down to a pre-season meeting when the players resolved to take more responsibility. The […]

Exeter forward Davis shocked by cancer diagnosis

21 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Such is the nature of rugby union, players often tend to think lumps and bumps are part and parcel of the modern-day […]

Johann has brought us true belief, says Bayliss

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath have turned themselves from also-rans to title contenders in less than two years under Johann van Graan and to Josh Bayliss […]

We knew we had to swing the bat – Porter

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Few gave Harlequins a chance at Bordeaux-Begles last weekend, but where there was a Will Porter there was a way. The 25-year […]

Sorrell pleased to see English clubs stand up

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite their fierce London rivalry with Harlequins, Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell is pleased two Premiership sides reached the last four of […]

Barrett’s Leinster move seems strange to me

21 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK JORDIE Barrett’s signing by Leinster on a six-month contract from December until the end of next season looks […]

Sanderson: We can’t fall in closing stages

21 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Sale Sharks v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, AJ Bell Stadium SUCCESSFUL Grand National punter Alex Sanderson knows victory against Harlequins today […]

Wilson: Our test is to back up victory over Bordeaux

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Return: Joe Marler NEVER mind the 50-22, it is the 80-20 that is commanding the attention of Harlequins as they enter the […]

Lam knows Diamond’s Newcastle will be tough to crack

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ready: Virimi Vakatawa PAT Lam has told his players to be aware of the Steve Diamond effect when Bristol face Newcastle this […]

I’m loving every single minute

21 April 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens finds former Exeter Chiefs playmaker Joe Simmonds enjoying his new life in France In the picturesque town of Pau nestled at the foot […]

Try-fest with big issues below the surface

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Paris Games, more formally known as the XXXIII Olympiad, are almost upon us and the Rugby Sevens schedule is full to overflowing. Yet there […]

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

21 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]

S Africa is crying out for its own league

21 April 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IF I remember my A level geography correctly, Africa is moving […]

Nominees listed for top award

21 April 2024 0 comments

Northampton pair Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith, and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith have been nominated for the Champions Cup player of the year award. Leinster […]

JIFF looks likely to play a vital role

21 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN It’s logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins – to think purely in […]

Premiership previews: Round 15

19 April 2024 0 comments

The Gallagher Premiership returns this week after a two-week Champions/Challenge Cup hiatus, and with teams second through to eighth all on eight wins and separated […]

England didn’t understand Sinckler – Crane

19 April 2024 0 comments

Jordan Crane feels England have failed to get the best out of Kyle Sinckler during his international career, with the tighthead prop set to be […]

Wales legend Owens retires at 37

17 April 2024 0 comments

Former Wales captain Ken Owens has retired from professional rugby aged 37. The ‘Sheriff’ was the oldest ever-player to hold the role, as he played […]

Leinster sign Barrett for 2024/25 season

15 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster have confirmed the signing of experienced All Black utility back Jordie Barrett on a short-term deal from December to the end of next season. […]

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