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Refs have a better ‘feel’ for the game
AS A retired referee of some 15 years standing, I read with interest Chris Hewett’s article on referee suffering being a sign of the times. It was clear to me that the introduction of the TMO would inexorably diminish a referee’s on-pitch authority. The inevitable scope creep of the TMO role and introduction of “bunker” […] The post Refs have a better ‘feel’ for the game appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
DREAM TEAM
JOE MAKYSYMIW, THE FORMER LEICESTER, CONNACHT, DRAGONS AND AGEN LOCK, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST... 1. Ricky Barrington – Two seasons together in France meant seeing Ricky up close every day. Won everything in the game but remains one of the best blokes around. Proper scrummager too. 2. Harry Thacker […] The post DREAM TEAM appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nick Cain: Save our scrums! Refs must do their jobs
There was a snapshot from the second to fourth minutes of the opening match of the Six Nations between France and Ireland when you knew from two scrums that World Rugby had utterly lost the plot as rugby union’s lawmaker. The post Nick Cain: Save our scrums! Refs must do their jobs appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nick Cain: Wallabies are on a National Rugby League recruitment drive
The Wallabies are doing a counter-attack raid on rugby league Down Under ahead of the 2027 World Cup which could see them field almost an entire backline of recent NRL stars in the tournament. The post Nick Cain: Wallabies are on a National Rugby League recruitment drive appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Chris Hewett: Wingers who light up the greatest show
The key ingredients of a successful World Cup are few in number but broad in sweep: a critical mass of genuinely competitive teams, a group stage with a sense of jeopardy, a disciplinary system that works for the weakest sides in the tournament as well as the most powerful and a collective sense of ambition that gives the best wings the best chance to show the best of themselves. The post Chris Hewett: Wingers who light up the greatest show appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Time for the scrum to have its own clock
CHRIS HEWETT ANYONE watch the Super Bowl, which used to be the most ad-intrusive sporting event on the planet until ITV introduced their split-screen, scrum-set stunt in the Six Nations? If you stuck it out to the end, you deserve a medal the size of the Pete Rozelle Trophy, awarded to the Seattle Seahawks running […] The post Time for the scrum to have its own clock appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Unbeatable Ealing push Hartpury out of the way
■By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury ............19pts Tries: Holliday 25, 43, 64 Conversions: Bazalgette 26, 65 Ealing T ............ 46pts Tries: Stronge 2, 27; Dykes 13, 33; Wilson 19, Jones 40, Taylor 70, Sheck 79 Conversions: Jones 3, 28, 34 EALING’S DoR Ben Ward pledged they’re hungrier than ever to keep their successful run going after this […] The post Unbeatable Ealing push Hartpury out of the way appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Coventry take their time to get into gear
■By PAUL Tries: Reeves 7, Ferrie 18, 65; Barton 29, Adderly-Jones 47, Bavadra 61, Opoku 68, Strong 79 Conversions: Mathews 18, 29, 49, 79 Tries: Charles 13, Byrne 35, Monson 40 Conversions: Grieve 13, 35, 40 Richmond .........21pts LED by fine displays from two-try Alan Ferrie and Fijian ace Api Bavadra, Coventry ended their three-match […] The post Coventry take their time to get into gear appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Scottish left at the gate as Worcester go on rampage
■By BLUEBELL NICHOLLS L Scottish ..........7pts Try: Ferdinand 55 Conversion: Sheppard 55 Worcester .......66pts Tries: Wallis 3, 26, 60; Lane 12, Zheng 22, Taylor 29, Bassett 30, Reed 45, Kvesic 48, Lewis 78 Conversions: Reed 3, 12, 22, 26, 29, 45, 49; Taylor 78 WORCESTER produced an impressive 10-try display to dominate London Scottish on […] The post Scottish left at the gate as Worcester go on rampage appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Doncaster Knights 50-12 Bedford Blues: Darren Fearn’s dazzling side put the boot into Blues
Doncaster Knights produced a dazzling display at Castle Park, where they surprisingly smashed one of the form sides in the league, Bedford Blues, by eight tries to two, a victory which keeps alive their hopes of making the end-of-season play-offs. The post Doncaster Knights 50-12 Bedford Blues: Darren Fearn’s dazzling side put the boot into Blues appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Sinclair hits the target to make sure for Pirates
■By JOHN LYON Caldy .................21pts Tries: Gallagher 24, Higginson 53, Akehurst 75 Conversions: Wilkinson 24, 53, 75 C Pirates ..........41pts Tries: Relton 15, French 21, Ratcliff 42, Yates 49, Agbongbon 72, Ward 77 Conversions: Sinclair 15, 22, 42, 49, Penalty: Sinclair 62 WITH the two teams tied on 43 league points and separated only by […] The post Sinclair hits the target to make sure for Pirates appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Goss in at the corner to snatch it for Chinnor
■By BEN WHITE Ampthill ............29pts Tries: Kildunne 3, Mapapalangi 8, Jones 31, 36; Auvaa 49 Conversions: Grimoldby 37, 50 Chinnor ..............30pts Tries: Goss 6, 75; Wharton 39, Owsley 42, 46 Conversion: Bourton 40 Penalty: Bourton 25 WINGER Kieran Goss scored his second try of the match five minutes from time to edge Chinnor home in […] The post Goss in at the corner to snatch it for Chinnor appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nottingham do enough to thwart Cambridge
■By LUKE JARMYN Nottingham ......21pts Tries: Ecclesfield 27, Roper 41, Allen 60 Conversions: Parks 28, 42, 61 Cambridge .......17pts Tries: Eckersley 14, J Green 29, Doorey-Palmer 49 Conversions: Mausia 50 GWYN Parks pinpoint kicking perfection from the tee ensured Nottingham got back to winning ways against a resurgent Cambridge side who bellied their bottom of […] The post Nottingham do enough to thwart Cambridge appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Saracens stick with Sellors
PREVIEW... Saracens v Bristol Bears Today. Kick-off 1.30pm, StoneX FREE-SCORING Saracens return to the StoneX for the first time in nine weeks today as they host Bristol Bears looking to build on last weekend’s statement 13-try win. The 81-0 victory at Leicester Tigers accelerated their momentum, having won eight matches in a row since their […] The post Saracens stick with Sellors appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Table toppers turn on the style
■By BLUEBELL NICHOLLS Gloucester-H .. 45pts Harlequins .......22pts Tries: Williams 9, Tuipulotu 26, 31; Jones 50, Heard 60, Muir 68, Simpson 74 Conversions: George 10, 32, 51, 61, 69 Tries: Cromack 18; Torley 37, Mikaele-Tu’u 53, Wafer 63 Conversion: Cromack 54 TOP of the table Gloucester-Hartpury sealed their 10th win in a row in a […] The post Table toppers turn on the style appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
We need to dig deep – Salvin
PREVIEW... Exeter Chiefs v Loughborough Today. Kick-off 1pm, Sandy Park EXETER will look to go one better than last weekend when they welcome sixth-placed Loughborough Lightning today, whom they drew with 33-all in November. The Chiefs, who came into this weekend in fourth, were forced to settle for a 38-38 draw against Harlequins last time […] The post We need to dig deep – Salvin appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Sharks keep Trailfinders at bay
■ By JOSEPH TERRY Trailfinders .....31pts Sale Sharks .....36pts Tries: Penalty 16, Blanco 30, 40+5; Leatherman 43, Ponsonby 56 Conversions: N Gallagher 40+6, 58 Tries: Hogan-Rochester 23, Childs 36, Hogan 47, Cokayne 62, Fray 70 Conversions: Duffy 25, 37, 49, 63 Penalty: Duffy 80 SALE claimed a first victory in nine, delivering a hammer blow […] The post Sharks keep Trailfinders at bay appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Frenchman in a hurry
PETER JACKSON Starlet: Fabien Brau-Boirie PICTURE: Alamy PAU introduced him to the Top 14 last season at the age of 18 and now France are rushing him straight into their Six Nations midfield within a few weeks of turning 20. Fabien Brau- Boirie, all 6ft 3in of him, has always been in a hurry. Nobody […] The post Frenchman in a hurry appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Peter Jackson: Peter Squires, a true local hero
Peter Squires shall forever stand out among England’s true all-rounders, the first county cricketer to play a Test match for the Lions and, most definitely, the last. The post Peter Jackson: Peter Squires, a true local hero appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Peter Jackson: Iceberg ahead! Wales in mountainous seas
Before Antoine Dupont raised the art to new levels of excellence, a succession of Napoleonic scrum-halves scarcely any taller than the vertically-challenged Emperor had shown Le Martien the way. The post Peter Jackson: Iceberg ahead! Wales in mountainous seas appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Paul Rees: Wales needs to rediscover its old rivalries to help the National side
Paul Rees argues that it's time for the regional game to be shown the same concern as the national team... The post Paul Rees: Wales needs to rediscover its old rivalries to help the National side appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Highlanders too good for Crusaders
By BEN JAYCOCK Triple top: Highlanders trio Caleb Tangitau, Cameron Millar and Tanielu Tele’a celebrate their win PICTURES: Getty Images CAMERON Millar’s ice-cool strike from 48 metres proved the difference as Highlanders edged the champions Crusaders 25-23 in a dramatic Super Rugby Pacific opener. The fly-half’s 78th-minute penalty sparked wild scenes in Dunedin as last […] The post Highlanders too good for Crusaders appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
My Life in Rugby: Augustin Slowik – Promotions are the real deal
Augustin Slowik, the former Bristol Bears, Worcester, Eastern Suburbs, London Scottish, Jersey Reds, Nice and Blackheath full-back, reflects on his life in rugby. The post My Life in Rugby: Augustin Slowik – Promotions are the real deal appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Travelling fans can’t be left at side of the road
THERE aren’t many downsides to being a staunch supporter of Les Bleus but this year’s compressed Six Nations itinerary – with just one fallow weekend – and the bone headed selfishness of seemingly all powerful TV schedulers is trying their patience to the limit. The Six Nations and indeed gala rugby occasions generally rely on […] The post Travelling fans can’t be left at side of the road appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Gulley believes Exeter’s best yet to come
By JOSEPH TERRY EXETER University loose-head Tom Gulley believes his team will show they have the most heart in BUCS Super Rugby in the title-deciding play-offs. Gulley, 22, is the experienced head in the Exeter front row in his final campaign in the Green and White hoops. Exeter picked up their first win in five […] The post Gulley believes Exeter’s best yet to come appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Points machine Hayes at it again
National League 1 By DAVID BEADOWS Rotherham T .........47 Dings C..................... 12 LLOYD HAYES weighed in with 22 points as league leaders Rotherham avenged a rare defeat to Dings Crusaders. The visitors won the first meeting in October but there was to be no repeat, with Hayes, the league’s leading scorer, claiming two of Titans’ […] The post Points machine Hayes at it again appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Cleet is difference in big Park battle
By TOM MARKHAM Sedgley Park ........ 19 Rosslyn Park .........33 RAMPANT Rosslyn Park cruised to victory over Sedgley Park. The game started with great intensity as Rosslyn Park found some joy early on with two quick tries. The first came through a Sam Kennaugh offload leading to a simple try for George Orchard. The second […] The post Cleet is difference in big Park battle appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Thunder helps Sale storm to top triumph over Lions
By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC...............52pts Tries: Robins 1, Dixon 9, Green 20, Thunder 22, 43, 67; Boxall 76, Walsh 79 Conversions: Green 2, 10, 21, 23; Robins 77, 80 Leicester L ...... 24pts Tries: Mannion 17, 52; Bouchier 31, Metcalfe 70 Conversions: Bouchier 32, 53 CORBIN THUNDER grabbed a hat-trick of tries as Sale devoured […] The post Thunder helps Sale storm to top triumph over Lions appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Moseley are beaten by Smeaton in win for Heath
By GRAHAM COX Blackheath ............55 B Moseley .............. 12 BLACKHEATH celebrated a half-century of points in beating Moseley. A position of tenth in the table at the start belied Moseley’s recent good form, and with Freddie Painter squeezing over in the right corner for the opening try, it was no more than the visitors deserved […] The post Moseley are beaten by Smeaton in win for Heath appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
It’s 10 out of 10 in pursuit of glory…
By JOHN BUTCHER Plymouth A ............26 Tonbridge J ...........20 PROMOTION-CHASING Plymouth Albion avenged their October defeat to a high-tempo and exciting Tonbridge Juddians side, stretching their run to ten consecutive victories. Early TJs pressure allowed star man Connor Lloyd to land a penalty. However, straight from the restart, Rob Wiggington pounced on a Tonbridge error […] The post It’s 10 out of 10 in pursuit of glory… appeared first on The Rugby Paper.