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Tag: Paul Rees

West Country derby is the best – Jordan

13 April 2025 0 comments

■ By PAUL REES Hard man: Cam Jordan in action for Gloucester PICTURE: Alamy CAM Jordan thought that the East Midlands derby between Leicester and […]

Champions Cup: Toulon’s power too much for Saracens

6 April 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Toulon …………………………. 72pts Tries: Wainiqolo 5, Isa 35, 55, 59; Jaminet 39, 70; Alainu’uese 44, Fainga’anuku 62, Serin 74, Tuicuvu 76 Conversions: […]

Bill Sweeney’s survival is good news – Steve Diamond

30 March 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Steve Diamond believes calls to oust the RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, who last week survived a no confidence vote at a […]

James Williams: Bristol have to work harder on our defence

30 March 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees On point: James Williams scoring against Exeter Bristol have a licence to thrill but James Williams acknowledges that if they are to […]

I’m prepared to rip anything up to improve – Hunter

30 March 2025 0 comments

By PAUL REES NEW Exeter head coach Rob Hunter says he has taken charge at the right time even though the Chiefs are enduring their […]

Bristol Bears 52-38 Exeter Chiefs: Hat-trick for Jack Bates but little to savour

23 March 2025 1 comment

By Paul Rees Bristol Bears ………………. 52pts Tries: Bates 2, 27, 56; Williams 6, 15; van Rensburg 10, Randall 40+2, Luatua 46 Conversions: Slade 6, […]

George Kloska gets his chance to show Steve Borthwick what he can do

23 February 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees George Kloska was one of the surprise picks in the England A squad but Steve Borthwick had been tracking the prop for […]

Tom James: From the start, Fin Smith was destined to make it to the top

16 February 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Tom James realised almost instantly that Fin Smith was destined for the top when the outside-half arrived at Franklin’s Gardens little more […]

Rising star Sean Kerr sets his sights on England

9 February 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees As a consequence of the financial strife Premiership clubs have found themselves in this decade has been a fixed focus on developing […]

Six Nations: French errors open the door for England

9 February 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees It was like Messi blazing over in front of an open goal, Virat Kohli holing out in the deep after tucking into […]

Easterby keeps faith with Prendergast at fly-half

9 February 2025 0 comments

■ By PAUL REES IRELAND have kept faith with outside-half Sam Prendergast who will make his first Test appearance outside Dublin against Scotland. The 22-year […]

Once again, England blow their chances

2 February 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees England continue to find ways to lose. As in their previous six Tests against tier-one opposition, they led at one point in […]

Rob Baxter: Tom Hooper will be the first of a few big-name signings for Exeter Chiefs

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Tom Hooper is the first of a number of big signings Exeter intend to make before the end of the season as […]

Will Wand enjoying life as a Leicester Tiger

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Will Wand is living his dream with Leicester, the club he supported as a boy, having become a professional rugby player in […]

Lam on the lookout for cover at No.10

19 January 2025 0 comments

PAT Lam is looking to add an outside-half to Bristol’s squad with only one fit 10 on the books. AJ MacGinty will be out for […]

Too easy to blame governing body

5 January 2025 0 comments

Congratulations to Paul Rees for his piece last week offering a reasoned and balanced assessment of the risks associated with a peremptory sacking of the […]

Tomos Williams in control to finish off Sale Sharks

5 January 2025 1 comment

By Paul Rees Gloucester ………………….. 36pts Tries: Carreras 5, Llewellyn 20, 60; Hathaway 25, Williams 76 Conversions: Carreras 21, 26, 61, 77 Penalty: Carreras 13 […]

Mark McCall surprised by timing of new law changes in Champions Cup

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Mark McCall is surprised law trials are being introduced to the Champions Cup this week halfway through the group stage, but does […]

Steve Diamond is happy to stick with Newcastle Falcons

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Steve Diamond has committed himself to Newcastle long-term, as long he is wanted by the new owners when Semore Kurdi sells his […]

I tried to move too fast and that backfired, says Rob Baxter

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Rob Baxter remains confident Exeter will move up the Premiership table in the coming months after opening with eight defeats and stuck […]

We need a two -tiered solution

29 December 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES CALLS FOR A RESET, NOT A REVOLUTION, WHEN IT COMES TO SORTING OUT THE PROBLEMS FACING THE RFU WATCHING Bristol’s dash and dazzle […]

No Zach Mercer decision until end of season

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Gloucester will not decide on Zach Mercer’s future until the end of the season as speculation that he will return to France […]

Exeter Chiefs fight hard but Bath go back to top

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Bath……………………………….. 19pts Tries: Pepper 6, Reid 45, Annett 67 Conversions: Russell 7, 68 Exeter……………………………. 15pts Tries: Vermeulen 19, Fisilau 80+2 Conversion: Slade […]

Skivington: We will recover from big defeat

24 November 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES GLOUCESTER return on Saturday to Northampton for the first time since suffering their heaviest Premiership defeat six months ago, looking for points […]

Mega-league will struggle to take off -Baxter

24 November 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES ROB Baxter believes reported plans for a world franchise league that would sign up 280 players, with the top 40 on £1m […]

Radford ready to get Saints rolling

24 November 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Close to a return: Alex Mitchell dives over to score for Saints in the Premiership final PICTURE: Getty Images CHAMPIONS Northampton made […]

Benson enjoys some extra expert tuition

24 November 2024 0 comments

TRP By PAUL REES Probyn: England should get the win we have all wanted >> Page 39 JAMIE Benson has returned to Harlequins after three […]

Financial stability is key, says World Rugby chair

17 November 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Brett Robinson, who last week became the first person from the southern hemisphere to be elected World Rugby chairman, believes the game […]

Rob Baxter backing Henry Slade to adapt to changes

10 November 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Exeter are confident that the decision to change their defensive system will not jeopardise Henry Slade’s place in the England side. Slade […]

Fitz Harding wants to join England pals

10 November 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Bristol’s strong start to the season has been rewarded with five players selected in England’s two senior squads – and skipper Fitz […]

Gilmore has tightened up our defence – Anderson

3 November 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer. […]

Rob Baxter: Time for the talking to stop

27 October 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Rob Baxter has told his Exeter players that the time for talking has stopped as they go into today’s clash against Harlequins […]

Newcastle Falcons will take Premiership Cup seriously

27 October 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Newcastle will be going hard in the Premiership Cup, which starts on Friday, as they look to ensure the victory over Exeter […]

Bath thump Sale Sharks to send them top of the Premiership

27 October 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Bath ……………………………… 40pts Tries: Muir 1, Reid 18, du Toit 26, Hill 45, Carr-Smith 64, van Wyk 78 Conversions: Russell 2, 19, […]

Newcastle Falcons end losing run

20 October 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Newcastle Falcons finally brought their 25-match losing run to an end with a victory in their battle of the basement against Exeter […]

Northampton Saints won’t rush Alex Mitchell

20 October 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Northampton will not rush Alex Mitchell back into action despite missing the injured England No.9 in the opening rounds of the Premiership. […]

Saracens go top in last-minute drama

20 October 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Bristol Bears ………………. 35pts Tries: Harding 2, 35, 41; Randall 18, Fricker 43 Conversions: MacGinty 36, 42 Penalties: MacGinty 10, 60 Saracens […]

Ben Spencer’s class puts Bath on right path

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Gloucester …………………… 31pts Tries: Llewellyn 8, Williams 20, C Atkinson 23, Thorley 68 Conversions: Carreras 9, 21, 24; Barton 69 Penalty: Carreras […]

Marx on parade to make it four in a row

8 September 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees South Africa ………………… 18pts Tries: Kolisi 48, Marx 73 Conversions: Pollard 49 Penalties: Pollard 31, Feinberg-Mngomezulu 54 New Zealand……………….. 12pts Penalties: McKenzie […]

Barker determined to hit the heights at Bristol

1 September 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Steele Barker, a young player who was once told he was too small to make it in the second row Rising […]

Why SVNS makes sense for the future

4 August 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Rugby sevens – or SVNS, as a London-based team of funkily-dressed marketing executives have somehow succeeded in rebranding it – used […]

The Bears blueprint: Go and play without fear

28 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES ON HOW BRISTOL HEAD COACH PAT LAM PLANS TO GUIDE THE WEST COUNTRY OUTFIT BACK TO THE TOP Class act: Steven Luatua in […]

New Northampton logo looks like a marketing ploy

21 July 2024 0 comments

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk IAM Northamptonshire born and bred, played rugby for […]

A thunderous match that had no losers

14 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES The first thing that needs to be said is that this was an absorbing Test match between two teams which on their current […]

Entertaining the crowds is not the only thing

14 July 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, while attracting a new audience is important, the game must not ignore its core support Scott Robertson made his name with […]

Expect the Chiefs Mk2 to be real contenders

14 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS AT WHY EXETER’S DOR HAS PUT PLAYER RETENTION AHEAD OF RECRUITMENT AT SANDY PARK The most eye-catching result of the Premiership season […]

England know this was a chance missed

7 July 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES After Marcus Smith missed a penalty two minutes into the second half from 30 metres out and just to the left of the […]

Borthwick is right to keep faith with Smith

30 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees Looks at the challenges facing England in New Zealand… While another Aussie steps in at Leicester Steve Borthwick hopes to name an unchanged […]

Classy May enjoys his day in the sun

23 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Fiji …………………. 32pts Tries: Momo 22, 26, 54, Valetini 61 Conversions: Muntz 23, 27, Valetini 62 Penalties: Muntz 40, Valetini 66 Barbarians […]

By George! Hendy is the saviour of Saints

9 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Courtney Lawes has never been one to turn his face away from reality. His first reaction at the final whistle of his final […]

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