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‘Final will be a huge day for the club’

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath are in the Premiership final for the first time since 2015 after overcoming a battling Sale yesterday. They will now meet […]

I want my England shirt back says JVP

2 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD The sight of the world’s best scrum-half strutting his stuff at the home of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club last weekend increased the […]

Sanderson warns about selecting Curry too soon

2 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Selecting Tom Curry for this summer’s England tour comes with a warning from Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson – pick him now […]

Boyd got me back on track – Ludlam

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Lewis Ludlam left the Franklin’s Gardens turf in a Northampton jersey for perhaps the last time on Friday night, six years after […]

Jones will give all in chase for Olympic glory

2 June 2024 0 comments

By MILLY McEVOY Meg Jones knows rugby is unfair which is why she is giving it everything to get to the Olympics. The 27-year-old Leicester […]

Chessum ‘gutted’ to miss out on England

2 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Ollie Chessum admits he is “gutted” to be missing out on a busy summer with England in the southern hemisphere. However, the […]

England starting to look like Lions

2 June 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK A year out from the 2025 Lions tour of Australia it’s still hard to imagine that the Irish […]

Finally! Bath hold nerve to see off Sharks

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath ………………………………. 31pts Tries: Hill 11, Obano 21, Annett 72 Conversions: Russell 22, 73 Penalties: Russell 2, 26, 47, 65 Sale Sharks […]

We’ve just been too inconsistent, admits Farrell

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Owen Farrell succinctly summed up Saracens’ season in two words before what turned out to be his final match for the club […]

Gloucester put faith in ‘some old heads’

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES It was typical of Gloucester’s season – make that the last couple – that when they came up against a front five […]

Sorry, but that’s not all right, Jacques

2 June 2024 0 comments

A great European Cup final last weekend had only one blemish, when the limp attempt to tighten the rules around water-carriers made by World Rugby […]

Then and now: It’s tough to compare

2 June 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Whenever the incomparable Antoine Dupont does the kind of things he did in dragging Toulouse over the line in a Champions […]

Sorry, but we don’t need your cup, Wills

2 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Of all the trophies dreamt up for international matches over the last 20 years, only one bears […]

Coventry half-backs the heartbeat with Ealing muscle to add power

2 June 2024 0 comments

CHAMPIONSHIP DREAM TEAM >> THE BEST XV FROM 2023-24 AS VOTED FOR BY OUR REPORTERS Now that the Championship season has run its course, Ben […]

Gopperth misses out on top flight

2 June 2024 0 comments

FRENCH COLUMN By JAMES HARRINGTON Jimmy Gopperth won’t be the oldest-ever player to feature in the Top 14 next season after all, after his Provence […]

Where Does “The Best Try Ever” by Gareth Edwards Rank Among Rugby’s Greatest Moments?

31 May 2024 0 comments

Throughout rugby history, few moments have achieved the legendary status of Gareth Edwards’ try for the Barbarians against New Zealand in 1973. Often hailed as […]

Courtney Lawes ready to run ‘blood to water’ one last time at Franklin’s Gardens

30 May 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes says he will “treasure forever” his 17 years as a Northampton player as he prepares for an emotional Franklin’s Gardens farewell. Lawes’ final […]

Dan Carter: England will want to make ‘statement’ against New Zealand in summer

30 May 2024 0 comments

Former All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter believes England have the talent to move away from “risk-free” tournament rugby and will be out to make a […]

Jack van Poortvliet relishing England return after leaving last camp in tears

30 May 2024 0 comments

Jack van Poortvliet’s last experience of an England camp was being driven out in tears by his mum knowing his World Cup was over before […]

Leinster stalwart Rhys Ruddock to retire at end of season

28 May 2024 0 comments

Leinster back rower Rhys Ruddock has confirmed he will retire from rugby at the end of the season after a decorated 15 seasons at the […]

Scott can’t wait to pull on the Hong Kong jersey

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Calum Scott has put the demise of London Irish behind him and, after a season with National One side Rams, he now […]

McCall confident stunned Saracens will bounce back

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens have endured a tough campaign on and off the pitch as they head into the playoffs but director of rugby Mark […]

We can beat anyone now says stoked up Matavesi

26 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Sam Matavesi knew something had changed when he joined up with Northampton after Fiji’s World Cup quarter-final exit last autumn. “Something seemed […]

Slade delighted to be presented with top award

26 May 2024 0 comments

Exeter and England outside centre Henry Slade has picked up the 2023/24 Premiership Player of the Season award following a standout campaign. Slade bounced back […]

We will have a full deck of cards next season – McKellar

26 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Leicester’s dejection at finishing well short of the play-off positions was compounded by the sight of their fierce rivals Northampton sitting at […]

Gloucester can’t live with Sharks

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Gloucester ………………….. 22pts Tries: Tuisue 58, Socino 76, Clarke 79 Conversions: Hastings 58, 77 Penalties: Englefield 23 Sharks …………………………. 36pts Tries: Buthelezi […]

Good to see the winners party like they meant it

26 May 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Well it was good to see the Sharks celebrate on Friday night like the European Challenge Cup really meant something to them because, […]

Try tsunami sends a mixed message

26 May 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson looks at an increase in points scored but suggests the figures may be hiding a problem for the Premiership. Over the last seven […]

Collier fits the bill for NZ challenge

26 May 2024 0 comments

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK England finished the Six Nations with a resurgence, but their next destination, New Zealand, is usually a Red Rose […]

Talk of jeopardy is wide of the mark

26 May 2024 0 comments

THINKING ALLOWED It happened during the early stages of the 2003 World Cup in Australia, when two of the union game’s leading administrators – Syd […]

Fantastic four face final tests

26 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: NORTHAMPTON v SARACENS AND BATH v SALE NORTHAMPTON The Saints finished at the top of the […]

The £20m circus which led to a World Cup

26 May 2024 0 comments

David Lord would kick off every email to The Rugby Paper during the last years of his life in the down-to-earth manner of a fair […]

Young guns who are shining for the Chiefs

26 May 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Exeter DoR Rob Baxter to find out how his investment in homegrown talent is paying off at 9 and 10 Exeter […]

Zebo calls time

26 May 2024 0 comments

Munster flyer Simon Zebo will retire at the end of the season. The 34-year-old was capped 35 times by Ireland, helping his country win the […]

Penguins put on show with Portugal stars

26 May 2024 0 comments

The serial touring rugby club, the Penguins RFC, were back on the road this month, under the leadership of CEO Craig Brown, taking three squads […]

TV deal hits the €700m jackpot

26 May 2024 0 comments

By JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Jeroboams of champagne all round at Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) headquarters earlier this week, after its TV rights tender […]

Champions Cup Final Preview – Europe’s best set to provide fireworks

24 May 2024 0 comments

European rugby’s two most successful sides battle it out for Champions Cup glory as Leinster face Toulouse in the final on Saturday afternoon at Tottenham […]

Ox Nche: ‘You don’t win a scrum alone, you win it together.’

23 May 2024 0 comments

In the words of Springboks and Sharks prop Ox Nche, “salads don’t win scrums”; but what does win you scrums? During the World Cup, South […]

Challenge Cup Final Preview – More than just a trophy on the line

23 May 2024 0 comments

The final fixture of the EPCR Challenge Cup takes place on Friday night, with Gloucester and the Sharks both desperate to put a shine on […]

Young gun Baxter headlines Premiership Team of the Season

23 May 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Tyro Harlequins prop Fin Baxter is the headline selection in Premiership Rugby’s 2023/24 team of the season which has a strong Northampton […]

Slade awarded Premiership Player of the Season

22 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Exeter Chiefs and England star Henry Slade has picked up the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Player of the Season award following a standout […]

Sinckler the latest England star to link up with BaaBaas

21 May 2024 0 comments

Kyle Sinckler is the latest England star to be included in Barbarian F.C.’s squad for this summer’s Killik Cup clash against Fiji. The 31-year-old tighthead […]

Ludlow’s up for the Sharks challenge

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite suffering a 14-try whitewash last weekend and finishing second bottom in the Premiership for a second straight year, Lewis Ludlow believes […]

Big Ben strikes at right time for Sale

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ben Curry is often referred to as the twin brother of Tom, the 50-cap England flanker who has missed the entire season […]

Steve’s call left Clarke out in the cold

19 May 2024 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Steve Borthwick has been blasted for the way he axed a key member of England’s backroom staff. Jon Clarke was appointed as […]

McCall: Vunipolas at the heart of all we have achieved

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall says departing stalwarts Mako and Billy Vunipola are ‘two of the keenest rugby minds’ he’s ever […]

Ex-Wasps buzzing for European glory

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Thibaud Flament has risen from Loughborough University’s fifth team to become a French international with the intention of next weekend becoming a […]

Sarries’ star exits generate extra fuel

19 May 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Saracens are the defending Premiership champions, and Mark McCall’s side are looking more and more capable as we […]

Ollie helps top Tigers finish with a flourish

19 May 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Leicester …………………….. 40pts Tries: Hassell-Collins 20, van Poortvliet 26, Reffell 43, Brown 54 Conversions: Pollard 21, 26, 44, 55 Penalties: Pollard 16, […]