Rugby World Cup - Page 3 of 24 - News, reports, analysis and opinion

Red Roses announce first Twickenham match against Black Ferns for 12 years

England women will play their third standalone fixture at Twickenham in less than 18 months later this year, taking on New...

By Nick Powell

Richards set for debut as Cunningham rolls the dice

By SAM JACKSON SIX NA PREVIEW... Wales v France Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Cardiff Arms Park CATHERINE Richards will win her first...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Minnows in line for a World Cup boost

By JON NEWCOMBE World Rugby aims to streamline the Rugby World Cup qualification process to give non-high performance nations even more...

By The Rugby Paper Team

500-day countdown to World Cup kick-off

By MARK STEVENS Excitement is building by the day as the countdown to Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 hit its...

By The Rugby Paper Team

England challenge

England will host world champions New Zealand, and France in September as they build up to hosting the Women’s Rugby World...

By The Rugby Paper Team

MacDonald: Mitchell’s approach ‘really cool’

By MARK STEVENS Claudia MacDonald has praised the ‘new perspective’ John Mitchell has brought to the England Women’s team since taking...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Man prosecuted for abusing World Cup official

A man in Australia has been prosecuted for abusing TMO Brian MacNiece on social media during Enlgand’s match against Samoa in...

By Nick Powell

Strawbridge appointed to England on permanent basis

Andrew Strawbridge will join Steve Borthwick‘s England coaching staff on a permanent basis as an assistant coach and coaching advisor. Strawbridge,...

By Nick Powell

Malins on his marks for sprint to the line

By MARK STEVENS Max Malins says he’s gearing up for what promises to be a ‘sprint finish’ in the race for...

By The Rugby Paper Team

TV deal to break €500m barrier

FRENCH COLUMN - JAMES HARRINGTON France's Ligue Nationale de Rugby hopes to pocket more than half-a-billion euros, after launching a call...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Examining the Growing Interest in Rugby Worldwide

Rugby has always had to live in the shadow of football, especially in the UK. However, while it may still be...

By Nick Powell

Red Roses: Gloucester-Hartpury lock Zoe Aldcroft

By BEN JAYCOCK Birthplace: Scarborough Date of birth: 19/11/96 Community club: Scarborough RFC Red Roses Debut: vs France July 2016 Caps:...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Tuilagi to leave Sale for Bayonne

England‘s Manu Tuilagi will leave Sale Sharks, and likely bring an end to his more than a dozen-year international career, to...

By Nick Powell

Beating Ealing proves anything is possible

Matthew Luddington talks to London Scottish flanker Jack Ingall about combining work and play in the Championship ANECDOTES from rugby’s amateur...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Fisher is back in with the Wallabies

NEWS EXTRA FORMER Gloucester boss Laurie Fisher has returned to the Wallabies staff as an asssistant under new head coach Joe...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Unchanged Ireland host Scotland in Dublin decider

Preview: Ireland vs Scotland (Saturday, 4:45pm) Ireland have named an unchanged team as they host Scotland looking to secure back-to-back titles for only the second...

By Nick Powell

Series 3, Episode 29: Maxime Mermoz previews final round and shares bold views on France

It is time to look ahead to Six Nations super Saturday! The best Saturday of the year is upon us, and...

By Nick Powell

Joseph third player confirmed by Barbarian F.C. for Killik Cup encounter

Jonathan Joseph will pull on the famous black and white hooped jersey of Barbarian F.C. for the first time in his...

By Nick Powell

Matavesi: We need to hit the ground running

By JON NEWCOMBE Northampton hooker Sam Matavesi wants normal service to be resumed after what has been “a weird year” in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Military’s finest ready for battle

Inter Service Champs – A look ahead to this season’s big matches involving the Army, Navy and RAF “The win we...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Sorry Cockers, but it’s Portugal for me

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER I wish the doughty warriors of Georgia no...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Martin relishing playing with pals

George Martin is a familiar name to English rugby fans, but the man behind the player is still very much a...

By Nick Powell

Dream Team with Michael Le Bourgeois

The Bedford Blues player-coach and former Wasps and Jersey Reds centre chooses the best XV he has played with or against...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Appleton confident Portugal can meet Spanish challenge

By NICK POWELL PREVIEW... Portugal vSpain Today. Kick-off 3pm, Estadio do Restelo in Lisbon PORTUGAL host Spain in today’s second semi-final...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Majestic Georgia march on into final

By BEN JAYCOCK Georgia.............................. 43pts Tries: Tabutsadze 4, 37, 75, 80, Modebadze 50, Gorgadze 56, Ivanishvili 64 Conversions: Lobzhanidze 52, Niniashvili...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Appleton expected to beat Wales at Rugby World Cup

Portugal captain Tomás Appleton set his side the goal of beating Wales at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and feels that “crazy” ambition...

By Nick Powell

McGeechan named Doncaster director of rugby

Coaching legend Sir Ian McGeechan has taken up the position of consultant director of rugby at Doncaster Knights. The Yorkshire-born ex-Scotland...

By Nick Powell

Collazo may risk all to beat the drop

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN It is a truth universally accepted in French domestic rugby that the side propping up the Top...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Super Rugby Americas preview

With the Six Nations on ice until next weekend, fans’ attention can return to the grind of domestic action, with many...

By Nick Powell

Tuilagi, Martin and Cowan-Dickie return to England squad

Manu Tuilagi, George Martin and Luke Cowan-Dickie have all returned to the England squad in preparation for their round three match...

By Nick Powell

Leicester, Sale hit by points cut

FIVE-POINT league deductions have been placed on Premiership Women’s Rugby clubs, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks for failing to achieve a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

England stick, Wales twist for Twickenham test

Preview: England vs Wales (Saturday, 4:45pm) Wales have made seven alterations with England unchanged for Satuday’s crucial contest at Twickenham. The...

By Nick Powell

Erasmus to take Springboks through to 2027

Rassie Erasmus will return as head coach of South Africa through to the next Rugby World Cup after the departure of...

By Nick Powell

Ludlam confirms Saints departure

Lewis Ludlam has confirmed he has made the “extremely tough decision” to leave Northampton Saints at the end of the season....

By Nick Powell

Barnes backing World Rugby legal action

Legal action is being taken after match officials and players suffered online abuse during the Rugby World Cup. World Cup final...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Hunter wants World Cup to build legacy

By EDDIE McATEER Former England captain Sarah Hunter believes the side can build a legacy beyond its success on the pitch....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Double agents out to prove their worth

Ben Nurse talks to two of Portugal’s World Cup stars looking forward to taking on England A Everyone who has ever...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Five uncapped players in Borthwick’s England squad for Italy

Preview: Italy vs England (Saturday, 2:15pm) Ethan Roots makes his debut up front with Fraser Dingwall getting his first cap in...

By Nick Powell

2024 Six Nations preview

Our favourtie time of year is upon us. The Six Nations is back and it promises to be another stellar championship...

By Nick Powell

Series 3, Episode 22: Six Nations 2024 preview with Jerry Guscott

International rugby is back for the first time since Rugby World Cup 2023, and it’s Six Nations season! It is the...

By Nick Powell

France vs Ireland will be game of the tournament – Ashton

Former England winger Chris Ashton says Friday’s clash between France and Ireland is the match he is most looking forward to...

By Nick Powell

Reid: We are out to finish on a high

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Toulouse v Bath Today. Kick-off 3.15pm Stade Ernest-Wallon EVEN for five-time champions Toulouse, achieving a perfect 15...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Dance was champion of rugby

By NICK POWELL Former Bracknell RFC and RFU president and “stalwart of Berkshire rugby” Jonathan Dance died on Thursday aged 77....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Cockerill handed Georgia job

Former Leicester Tigers boss and England assistant Richard Cockerill has been named head coach of the Georgian national team and their...

By Nick Powell

O’Mahony succeeds Sexton as captain in Ireland squad

Peter O’Mahony has taken over from Jonny Sexton as Ireland captain in Andy Farrell’s squad for the 2024 Six Nations. Flanker...

By Nick Powell

George to captain England as Feyi-Waboso named in squad

Jamie George has been named England captain as Steve Borthwick handed opportunities to seven uncapped players, including Exeter’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, in...

By Nick Powell

Lions announce historic women’s tour for 2027

The British and Irish Lions will send their first ever women’s team to New Zealand for a tour in September 2027....

By Nick Powell

Slade keeps his cool to snatch it for Exeter

By MARK STEVENS Exeter .................................19pts Tries: Vermeulen 40, Frost 63, Wimbush 77 Conversions: Slade 40, 78 Glasgow.............................17pts Tries: Rowe 28, Tuipulotu...

By The Rugby Paper Team