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Fisilau can go all the way – Walder
EXETER attack coach Dave Walder is backing No.8 Greg Fisilau for an England call-up for the Six Nations. The 22-year-old impressed again for the Chiefs in their 24- 10 win over Leicester last weekend, scoring one try and setting up another, having scored two in the win against Saracens the week before. Walder said: “I […] The post Fisilau can go all the way – Walder appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Jeremy Guscott: Tommy Freeman adds to England’s options
The good news for England going into the New Year, and the 2026 Six Nations, is that their centre stocks are no longer being questioned, because there appear to be more good options than at any time since the Will Greenwood–Mike Tindall pairing in 2003. The post Jeremy Guscott: Tommy Freeman adds to England’s options appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
DREAM TEAM
RICKY DAVIES, THE FORMER SCARLETS, BORDEAUX BEGLES, BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL AND WALES U19 PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Tony Woodcock – Faced him in the 1999 Junior World Cup final in Wales. A class act and one of the best props I played against. You don’t earn that […] The post DREAM TEAM appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Coaches are to blame
Letters INSTEAD of publicly criticising the players which is bad for morale, Harlequins boss Jason Gilmore should look closer to home at the coaching – they are supposed to create a strong defence for a start. Reading the polls about what Quins members think of the coaching team this season, the players are good enough […] The post Coaches are to blame appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Wales need to take risks
IN light of the mauling by South Africa and last season’s under-powered debacle against England, Wales should go big for the opening game of this season’s Six Nations tournament. I would ask Gareth Davies, right, to come out of retirement. He still has great speed endurance, scores long and short-range tries and is the form […] The post Wales need to take risks appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Synchronise your watches, please
WHY are games played in the Championship not using synchronised time keeping with the referee as in the Premiership. I’ve attended several home and away Championship games which have countdown clocks on screens, none of which appear to have any relevance other than to annoy fans and I’m sure players when referees call time when […] The post Synchronise your watches, please appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Saints, the entertainers
NORTHAMPTON’S constant search for space was a pleasure to watch last week – it ran the legs off the Bath pack and created even more space that they used to score late into the game. It also showed up the boring try scoring attempts from lineouts and the scramble on the try line that most […] The post Saints, the entertainers appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Barbeary: We were fired up after loss
ALFIE Barbeary said Bath’s players were fired up after losing a home match in the Premiership for the first time in 15 months last weekend. Bath lost their place at the top of the table after not even taking a point off Northampton and responded with four tries in the opening quarter against Exeter. “That […] The post Barbeary: We were fired up after loss appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Dowson: We must keep on driving
SAINTS boss Phil Dowson demanded his team kept their “foot on the throttle” after this impressive win. “We’ve won nothing yet and these things (in the table) can change quickly. We need to keep the foot on the throttle and continue to drive forward.” Dowson reported that captain Fraser Dingwall was walking about in the […] The post Dowson: We must keep on driving appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Bristol Bears 19-17 Sale Sharks: Kalatevi Ravouvou leaves it late to sink Alex Sanderson’s side
Sale Sharks narrowly failed in their bid to win at Ashton Gate against Bristol Bears for the fourth consecutive season and end their run of five away defeats in the Prem. The post Bristol Bears 19-17 Sale Sharks: Kalatevi Ravouvou leaves it late to sink Alex Sanderson’s side appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Lam: We’re decimated by injuries but carved out a winner
BRISTOL director of rugby Pat Lam hailed his team’s spirit to overcome their continual injury problems. “We set out to treat this as a final and if we won we’d be top of the table,” he said. “Sale are our bogey team and always seem to be up for this fixture as they always play […] The post Lam: We’re decimated by injuries but carved out a winner appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Newcastle Red Bulls 25-19 Gloucester: At last! Alan Dickens’ side find their wings
Newcastle Red Bulls, the team that had forgotten how to win, remembered just in time as they clung on against Gloucester to record their first Premiership victory in 399 days. The post Newcastle Red Bulls 25-19 Gloucester: At last! Alan Dickens’ side find their wings appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Dickens: We’ve waited a long time
NEWCASTLE head coach Alan Dickens was a relieved man at full-time and urged his Red Bulls to develop their killer instinct. “It has been a long time coming,” Dickens said. “The performance was fantastic tonight but credit to Gloucester, they came back and had the momentum at the end. There are lots and lots of […] The post Dickens: We’ve waited a long time appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Leicester Tigers vs Saracens: Jack van Poortvliet back in starting line-up
Jack van Poortvliet returns to Leicester Tigers’ starting XV to face Saracens today for the first time since the visit to Northampton Saints on October 11, making his comeback from injury from the bench in the last two games. The post Leicester Tigers vs Saracens: Jack van Poortvliet back in starting line-up appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Dan Cole quits Leicester Tigers for ‘personal reasons’
Dan Cole will leave Leicester Tigers after 18 years due to personal reasons. The post Dan Cole quits Leicester Tigers for ‘personal reasons’ appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nick Cain: England can bank on speed merchants
Speed could be England’s greatest asset as the Red Rose squad contemplate a New Year in which a Six Nations Grand Slam, and victory in the first Nations Cup, are the big prizes. The post Nick Cain: England can bank on speed merchants appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Munster left at gate by Ulster
■ By SAM JACKSON Ulster ..............28 Munster ............ 3 ULSTER dominated the second half to run away with a resounding victory. in Belfast. The hosts led just 6-3 at half-time in snowy conditions but Tom Stewart, Jake Flannery and Bryn Ward all crossed for tries in a one sided second half. Nathan Doak, at the […] The post Munster left at gate by Ulster appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Edinburgh hold on to deny Benetton
■ By BILL WRIGHT Benetton ........14 Edinburgh .......15 EDINBURGH held on for a gritty win at Stadio Monigo to ease the pressure on head coach Sean Everitt following back-to-back defeats to Scottish rivals Glasgow Warriors. Ben Vellacott went over off a ruck and Ross Thompson added the conversion. A Thompson penalty soon followed and the […] The post Edinburgh hold on to deny Benetton appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Weir signs off with a win for Warriors
■ By DOMINIC HUNTER Glasgow ........ 47 Zebre ................ 10 GLASGOW Warriors moved second in the United Rugby Championship with a bonus-point win over Zebre in Duncan Weir’s final appearance. The former Scotland fly-half and two-time league title winner with Glasgow came on as a second-half substitute for his last Warriors game and marked the […] The post Weir signs off with a win for Warriors appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Dragons 28-5 Scarlets: There’s no stopping Filo Tiatia’s resurgent side
Having not won a single game in 13 months, resurgent Dragons have now won three games in less than three weeks, their latest against Scarlets. The post Dragons 28-5 Scarlets: There’s no stopping Filo Tiatia’s resurgent side appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Ospreys stung into action as they power up table
■ By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys .............33pts Tries: Giles 14, Hardy 25, 51; Parry 42, Hopkins 69 Conversions: Edwards 15, 43, 52, 70 Cardiff ...............22pts Tries: Adams 22, 74; Faletau 76, Sebastian 80 Conversion: Sheedy 23 THE Ospreys revealed how being embarrassed by Munster stung them into action to record a festive derby double. Having lost […] The post Ospreys stung into action as they power up table appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Leinster 52-17 Connacht: Leo Cullen’s side turn on the style to dispatch Connacht
Leinster ran in seven tries to destroy Connacht and make it a clean sweep in their festive derbies. The post Leinster 52-17 Connacht: Leo Cullen’s side turn on the style to dispatch Connacht appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Mchunu lands killer blow
Stormers .........13 Bulls ................... 8 A LATE try from replacement prop Ntuthuko Mchunu sealed victory for the Stormers – their eighth win from eight matches to consolidate their place at the top of the standings. With the match tied 8-8 with two minutes to go, the Stormers turned down kickable penalties and opted for lineouts, […] The post Mchunu lands killer blow appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Pead snatches it for Lions
Sharks .............22 Lions.................23 HAASHIM Pead pounced from close range to snatch victory for the Lions in Durban. After racing into a big early lead and then surrendering control following a red card, the visitors found one final surge to sink the Sharks. Lock Etienne Oosthuizen crashed over for the Lions first try, converted by Chris […] The post Pead snatches it for Lions appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Paul Rees: Battle of the airways puts coaches in the cross-fire
Paul Rees looks at how one law tweak by the game’s authorities can have unintended consequences. The post Paul Rees: Battle of the airways puts coaches in the cross-fire appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Bordeaux-Begles will be a tough test says Northampton Saints prop Emmanuel Iyogun
Northampton Saints face a repeat of last season’s Champions Cup final when they travel to Bordeaux-Begles next Sunday, with Emmanuel Iyogun confident they will push the holders all the way. The post Bordeaux-Begles will be a tough test says Northampton Saints prop Emmanuel Iyogun appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Kyle Hatherell insists promotion is still Ealing Trailfinders’ goal
Back row Kyle Hatherell insists Ealing Trailfinders feels like a Premiership club day-to-day and are pushing hard to make that a reality under director of rugby Ben Ward. The post Kyle Hatherell insists promotion is still Ealing Trailfinders’ goal appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Townson moves in at Chiefs
EXETER Chiefs have appointed Glen Townson as their assistant forwards coach. The 39-year-old former second row left his role as Bristol’s academy transition coach earlier this week. Townson, who played for Bristol, Doncaster, Newcastle and Ealing, returned to Ashton Gate in 2022, having previously been Ealing’s forwards and defence coach. “He’s a very switched-on guy […] The post Townson moves in at Chiefs appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Lloyd signs new deal at Ospreys
PROMISING hooker Lewis Lloyd has signed a contract extension to remain with Ospreys beyond the season. The 22-year-old has signed on during ongoing uncertainty about the future make-up of Welsh professional rugby, with the WRU proposing to reduce the regions from four to three. Lewis said: “This club means a lot to me so signing […] The post Lloyd signs new deal at Ospreys appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Augustus ruled out by ankle injury
ULSTER’S Springbok back row Juarno Augustus will be sidelined “for a number of weeks” because of the ankle ligament injury he sustained in the URC win over Connacht in Galway. The former Northampton Saints No.8 left the field midway through the second half of his team’s 29-24 success. Head coach Richie Murphy said. “We’re not […] The post Augustus ruled out by ankle injury appeared first on The Rugby Paper.