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Loughborough Lightning 21-24 Bristol Bears: Millie David double seals dramatic turnaround

Bristol Bears recorded an impressive comeback victory away to Loughborough Lightning on Sunday afternoon. The post Loughborough Lightning 21-24 Bristol Bears: Millie David double seals dramatic turnaround appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Ellis Genge apologises to England fans after Ireland Six Nations thumping

Ellis Genge apologised to England fans after their Twickenham horror show but vowed to put things right following this 42-21 humbling by Ireland. The post Ellis Genge apologises to England fans after Ireland Six Nations thumping appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Dewi Lake proud despite Wales Six Nations defeat to Scotland in Cardiff

Scotland fought back to inflict a heartbreaking defeat on Wales in Cardiff yesterday. The post Dewi Lake proud despite Wales Six Nations defeat to Scotland in Cardiff appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Six Nations preview: France vs Italy – The French will be looking to take control

France return to Stade Pierre Mauroy today knowing victory over Italy would place them firmly in control of the Six Nations title race. The post Six Nations preview: France vs Italy – The French will be looking to take control appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Paul Rees: France boss Fabien Galthie unbottles a rare vintage

Paul Rees looks at how the French are turning on the style as they prepare to take on Italy this afternoon... The post Paul Rees: France boss Fabien Galthie unbottles a rare vintage appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Exeter Chiefs 31-19 Bath: Zack Wimbush storms in to take Rob Baxter’s side to the top

Exeter Chiefs booked themselves a place in the Prem Cup semi-finals with victory over the holders Bath at Sandy Park. The post Exeter Chiefs 31-19 Bath: Zack Wimbush storms in to take Rob Baxter’s side to the top appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Jeremy Guscott: Bouncebackability is key for England now after Six Nations drubbing

The making of a team is how it bounces back from a setback of the size of England’s defeat at Murrayfield last weekend. The post Jeremy Guscott: Bouncebackability is key for England now after Six Nations drubbing appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Wales 23-26 Scotland: The Scots made to fight all the way by Steve Tandy’s Welshmen

Scotland overturned a 20-5 deficit to win a pulsating match to keep alive their hopes of a Triple Crown and Championship, and in so doing, condemned Wales to their 11th home Six Nations defeat in a row since their 20-17 win over Scotland in 2022. The post Wales 23-26 Scotland: The Scots made to fight all the way by Steve Tandy’s Welshmen appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Brendan Gallagher: Jamison Gibson-Park is back to his best as he pulls the strings for Ireland

A few weeks back, with Ireland’s possible decline ahead of the Six Nations, the subject de jour I ventured the opinion in these pages that they would still be a force to reckon with... if Jamison Gibson-Park could rediscover his best form. Yesterday the New Zealander did precisely that and a frankly pitiful England were, for the second week on the bounce, left for dead. The post Brendan Gallagher: Jamison Gibson-Park is back to his best as he pulls the strings for Ireland appeared first on The R

Paul Rees: England must work out where it all went wrong after embarrassing Six Nations loss

The end of the match was a microcosm of what had gone on before. England were on the attack, on the trail of a bonus point they did not merit, when Alex Coles lost the ball and the game was up. A side that set its sights on the Grand Slam now has it all to do to finish in the top half. The post Paul Rees: England must work out where it all went wrong after embarrassing Six Nations loss appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

England skipper Maro Itoje believes youngsters are so confident nowadays

Maro Itoje was not fazed by making his international debut a decade ago, but reckons the current crop of youngsters led by Henry Pollock have taken it to a different level. The post England skipper Maro Itoje believes youngsters are so confident nowadays appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Kevin Sinfield gives Marcus Smith credit in England No.10 battle

Kevin Sinfield has credited Marcus Smith for taking the yo-yo nature of his current England status on the chin and knuckling down to business. The post Kevin Sinfield gives Marcus Smith credit in England No.10 battle appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Gloucester 43-17 Sale Sharks: Classy Charlie Atkinson runs the show for Cherry & Whites

Gloucester, the 2024 title holders, gave themselves a fighting chance to regain their crown with a convincing victory over error-ridden Sale Sharks. The post Gloucester 43-17 Sale Sharks: Classy Charlie Atkinson runs the show for Cherry & Whites appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Coventry 31-19 Hartpury: Tommy Mathews makes it count for Alex Rae’s men

A fine display from fly-half Tommy Mathews steered Coventry to an important bonus-point win over fellow play-off contenders Hartpury. The post Coventry 31-19 Hartpury: Tommy Mathews makes it count for Alex Rae’s men appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Newcastle Red Bulls 21-49 Northampton Saints: Anthony Belleau takes charge to steer his side home

Northampton Saints fly-half Anthony Belleau put in a masterclass as his side scored seven tries against Newcastle Red Bulls to storm into the Prem Cup semi-finals on Friday night. The post Newcastle Red Bulls 21-49 Northampton Saints: Anthony Belleau takes charge to steer his side home appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Leicester Tigers 33-27 Harlequins: Will Wand hits a double to seal it for Tigers

Leicester Tigers booked a home semi-final in the Prem Cup thanks to a second-half revival against Harlequins, including a late penalty try. The post Leicester Tigers 33-27 Harlequins: Will Wand hits a double to seal it for Tigers appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

England 21-42 Ireland: Red Rose dreams are shattered as the Irish power to record win

Woeful England have fallen so far so fast in eight days that their dreams of being a force in Six Nations rugby, let alone at next year’s World Cup, lay shattered after this record home loss to Ireland, whose five tries to three margin did not do justice to their overwhelming superiority. The post England 21-42 Ireland: Red Rose dreams are shattered as the Irish power to record win appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Alan Dickens: Tom Christie setting the standard at Newcastle Red Bulls

Alan Dickens has hailed the impact made by Tom Christie at Newcastle and expects the New Zealander to spearhead a resurgence at Kingston Park. The post Alan Dickens: Tom Christie setting the standard at Newcastle Red Bulls appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

After 2,700 games, 90-year-old referee says: That’s my lot

Ferdinando di Matteo, one of rugby’s oldest referees at the age of 90, hung up his whistle yesterday after 44 years in the middle – and almost 2,700 games. The post After 2,700 games, 90-year-old referee says: That’s my lot appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Marnus on move

Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe will join Munster at the end of the season on a two-year deal. The 29-year-old made his South Africa debut in July and helped the Springboks win the Rugby Championship title as he appeared in the wins New Zealand and Australia. He previously played for the Pumas and Cheetahs […] The post Marnus on move appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

2026 Six Nations: England prop Joe Heyes admits Italy scrum is a real threat

Prop Joe Heyes revealed England have been keeping one eye on Italy and their improving scrum ahead of their Rome meeting in a fortnight – despite preparing for yesterday’s Ireland clash. The post 2026 Six Nations: England prop Joe Heyes admits Italy scrum is a real threat appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

England U20s 21-31 Ireland U20s: Irish put the squeeze on sorry English

Ireland stunned England to move into second in the U20s Six Nations, following a hard-fought win at The Rec on Friday night. The post England U20s 21-31 Ireland U20s: Irish put the squeeze on sorry English appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Wales U20s 31-21 Scotland U20s: Tom Howe shows the way as the Welsh sink the Scots

Wales recorded their first win of the 2026 U20s Six Nations with a bonus-point display at Cardiff Arms Park against Scotland on Friday night to kickstart their bid following defeats to England and France. The post Wales U20s 31-21 Scotland U20s: Tom Howe shows the way as the Welsh sink the Scots appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Italy’s scrum gave Ireland flying lesson

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK FRANCE, and England, will have to be on their mettle against an Italy scrum which, having wrecked the Scottish front row, did the same to Ireland in Dublin last weekend. This saw two of the most decorated Irish forwards, tighthead Tadhg Furlong and hooker Dan Sheehan given […] The post Italy’s scrum gave Ireland flying lesson appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Nick Cain: England boss Steve Borthwick missed his Henry Pollock chance

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it is a saying coaches tend to lean on when it all goes wrong and the flak flies. However, in pro sport getting it right is why top coaches get paid big bucks. The post Nick Cain: England boss Steve Borthwick missed his Henry Pollock chance appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Nick Cain: Rifts widen as franchise plan set to go ahead

Attempts by Premiership club owners, and the RFU executive, headed by Bill Sweeney, to bounce English club rugby into an American franchise model of a ring-fenced top league will almost certainly be rubber-stamped at Friday’s RFU Council meeting at Twickenham. The post Nick Cain: Rifts widen as franchise plan set to go ahead appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Chris Hewett: ‘Fast, faster, fastest’ is Fabien Galthie’s new look for France

Rugby is a game of assumptions about the future, rooted in the here and now. The post Chris Hewett: ‘Fast, faster, fastest’ is Fabien Galthie’s new look for France appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Chris Hewett: Italians put on a show in the scrum

Just when you thought the scrum was dying on the ample backsides of its specialist practitioners, along come the Italians – yes, the Italians – to show us the error of our ways. The post Chris Hewett: Italians put on a show in the scrum appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Dominant Bedford get back on the right track

■ By CHRIS BALDWIN Bedford ............ 54pts Tries: Adamson 3, Hutler 9, Conway 11, Lennon 21, 39; Evans 49, Herman 60, Pasco 73 Conversions: Maisey 4, 10, 12, 22, 40, 61; Price 74 L Scottish .........26pts Tries: Ferdinand 23, Vukasinovic 36, Wilkinson 56, Penalty 80+2 Conversions: Wilstead 37, 57 BEDFORD Blues returned to winning ways […] The post Dominant Bedford get back on the right track appeared first on The Rugby Paper.