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This result means everything to the players, says Lake
AFTER ending their three-year, 15-game losing streak in the Six Nations, Wales captain Dewi Lake said: “The win means everything to the players. It’s what we’ve been building to and working for. The last few weeks our performances have built and we’ve grown as a group from Scotland, to Ireland and now to this week […] The post This result means everything to the players, says Lake appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Wales U20s vs Italy U20s: The Welsh aiming to hit par in Six Nations finale
Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin says his side must beat Italy today to deliver what he believes would represent a “par” Six Nations campaign. The post Wales U20s vs Italy U20s: The Welsh aiming to hit par in Six Nations finale appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Ireland U20s vs Scotland U20s: The Irish eye up a Triple Crown feat in Six Nations
Ireland U20s will look to secure a fourth straight victory and complete a Triple Crown when they host Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork today. The post Ireland U20s vs Scotland U20s: The Irish eye up a Triple Crown feat in Six Nations appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
France U20s v England U20s: Connor Treacey buzzing for French Six Nations finale
England U20s captain Connor Treacey insists his side are relishing the chance to test themselves against Grand Slam-chasing France with a hostile finale to their Six Nations campaign in La Rochelle today. The post France U20s v England U20s: Connor Treacey buzzing for French Six Nations finale appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Fast Eddie & Co love tales of the unexpected
THERE are times you cannot help but conclude that some pro coaches have got so much time on their hands they start to confuse themselves – and make the rest of us wonder whether they have PhDs in Charlatanry. A few months ago we had Steve Borthwick copying the Rassie Erasmus “Bomb Squad” template of […] The post Fast Eddie & Co love tales of the unexpected appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nick Cain: England lead way in self-inflicted wounds
The fog of disinformation surrounding England since their landmark loss to Italy in Rome last weekend reflected a group unwilling to get to grips with reality. The post Nick Cain: England lead way in self-inflicted wounds appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
I still see a clueless rabble
IN November 2024, The Rugby Paper published a letter from me titled “England look like a clueless rabble.” After what is already a disastrous Six Nations campaign I see no reason to change that view simply because England haven’t changed. I take nothing away from an Italian performance which put us to shame. However now […] The post I still see a clueless rabble appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
We need to select a ball-carrying 12
THERE has been a lot of criticism of Borthwick’s selections lately, however I want to comment on the backs. I might be an old fashioned centre but why do England persist on a 12 who just distributes the ball, even if he can tackle, he’s not the 10. Surely out there in the largest pool […] The post We need to select a ball-carrying 12 appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
RFU must tell us what it plans to do
DEFEAT by Italy means that another Six Nations passes by with England grossly under-achieving. The worst aspect is that large parts of the country, and the majority of its clubs, can do nothing to help. With no representative stage between club and country, no player outside the ‘Prem’ will play for England, and ring-fencing means […] The post RFU must tell us what it plans to do appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
This is why I fear for England’s weak underbelly
THE build-up to this Six Nations and how it as unravelled seems reminiscent of the 2015 RWC and, like the group stage of the aforementioned, there is a weakness to the England underbelly. Images of the coaching team during the games of this Six Nations do not appear very inspiring. I strongly recommend that England […] The post This is why I fear for England’s weak underbelly appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Borthwick simply can’t stay in charge
I DON’T enjoy watching England losing any match, but if a first-ever defeat to Italy hastens the end of Steve Borthwick’s tenure as England head coach then it may yet it have a silver lining. The man simply cannot remain in charge after this Six Nations Championship has concluded. He and the likes of RFU […] The post Borthwick simply can’t stay in charge appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
DREAMTEAM
HARRY SIMMONS, FORMER LEICESTER TIGERS, LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS AND JERSEY REDS SCRUM-HALF/WING, WHO NOW COACHES AT TIGERS ACADEMY AND LEICESTER LIONS, CHOOSES THE BEST XV PLAYERS HE HAS PLAYED WITH… 1. Ellis Genge – A few seasons together at Tigers showed exactly what everyone sees now – unbelievably aggressive, a proper leader and someone I got […] The post DREAMTEAM appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Chris Hewett: Another one right in the eye for TMOs
It does not take an unusually sardonic soul, let alone a satirist measuring 9.5 on the Evelyn Waugh Scale of Savagery, to depict the Oscar Jegou incident in all its bitter absurdity. The post Chris Hewett: Another one right in the eye for TMOs appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
The game will truly miss this rugby man
BRISTOL is a rugby town as much as it is a football one: it has a well-financed Premiership team at the top end of the table, two clubs on the third rung of the ladder, another operating at level four and a heavily-populated combination scene blessed with sides of all shapes, sizes and abilities. What […] The post The game will truly miss this rugby man appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter’s plotting to bring down one of his old pals
Exeter Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter will be plotting today against one of his former players in the Prem Cup final, with Leicester Tigers’ head coach Geoff Parling finishing his long and successful playing career at Sandy Park. The post Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter’s plotting to bring down one of his old pals appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs: Billy Searle is shining as Geoff Parling’s side eye cup glory
Geoff Parling has told his Leicester Tigers players to take advantage of the rare chance to win a trophy when they face Exeter Chiefs in the Prem Cup final at Mattioli Woods Welford Road today. The post Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs: Billy Searle is shining as Geoff Parling’s side eye cup glory appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Augustus steers Ulster home
Edinburgh .......19 Ulster ...............40 ■By BEN JAYCOCK ULSTER produced a stunning second-half display to boost their play-off push at Hive Stadium. The bonus-point victory lifts them to third in the table, while Edinburgh’s eighth league defeat of the season leaves them seven points outside the play-off places. “We’re absolutely delighted,” said Ulster boss Richie Murphy. […] The post Augustus steers Ulster home appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Stormers climb up to second
Bulls .................19 Ulster ...............40 Stormers .........32STORMERS reignited their campaign by ending the Bulls four-match winning streak and climbing to second in the table. The visitors recovered superbly after a difficult first half in which Adré Smith and Ben-Jason Dixon were yellow-carded, while the Bulls also earned a penalty try from a lineout maul to lead […] The post Stormers climb up to second appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nathan Earle: Harlequins didn’t plan ahead
Former Harlequins wing Nathan Earle believes his old club are paying the price for failing to put foundations in place after their Premiership title triumph five years ago. The post Nathan Earle: Harlequins didn’t plan ahead appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Jansen leads way to down Scarlets
■By SIMON THOMAS Connacht ..........31pts Scarlets ............14pts Tries: Jansen 16, 38; Aungier 46, Barrett 57, De Buitlear 69 Conversions: Naughton 17, 47, 70 Tries: Roberts 49, Jones 53 Conversions: Leggatt-Jones 50, 54 SEAN Jansen took over as the top try scorer in the URC as Connacht made it three wins in a row to put […] The post Jansen leads way to down Scarlets appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Katie Childs finds her feet as Sale Sharks start to get it right
Sale Sharks centre-turned back row Katie Childs feels growing belief within her squad has been the key ingredient in their rise up the table. The post Katie Childs finds her feet as Sale Sharks start to get it right appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Sale demolish tame Tigers
■By MATT BROWN Leicester T ......... 3pts Penalty: Feury 9 Sale Sharks .....62pts Tries: Wright 19, Riconi 26, Perrin 39, Hogan-Rochester 42, Lloyd 50, 80; Kasolo 55, Duffy 60, Capell 63, 72 Conversions: Duffy 27, 40, 56, 60; Irwin 64, 73 DESPITE an early penalty from Tess Fuery, the wait for a first win of […] The post Sale demolish tame Tigers appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Cliodhna leads Chief rampage
■By BLUEBELL NICHOLLS Exeter Chiefs . 47pts Tries: Cloidna Maloney-MacDonald 4, 19, 39; Rule 45, Claudia Maloney-MacDonald 58, Allen 64, 70 Conversions: McGoverne 5, 20, 40; Cantorna 59, 65, 71 Trailfinders .....14pts Tries: Borland 12, Ponsonby 55 Conversions: N Gallagher 13, 56 EXETER Chiefs smashed in seven tries to see off Trailfinders and maintain third […] The post Cliodhna leads Chief rampage appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Race to the top heating up
PREVIEW... Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury Today. Kick-off 12.30pm, StoneX NEARLY a year on from Gloucester-Hartpury’s PWR final triumph over Saracens, the sides meet again with both firmly in the title race. Saracens, who last tasted defeat in the opening round against the Cherry and Whites, are buoyed by an impressive win at Harlequins last weekend and […] The post Race to the top heating up appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Hat-trick for Westcombe-Evans
■By JOSHUA GREEN Loughborough43pts Tries: Maude 21, Hibbert-Jones 32, Westcombe-Evans 35, 40, 68; Belisle 44, Morrall 77 Conversions: Rowland 33, 37, 45, 78 Harlequins .......33pts Tries: Kildunne 13, Konkel 27, Aucken 49, Parry 59, Cromack 82 Conversions: Cromack 14, 28, 59, 83 WINGER Bo Westcombe-Evans scored a hat-trick as Lightning secured a crucial victory over […] The post Hat-trick for Westcombe-Evans appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Peter Jackson: Blackheath still have a dream of higher things
The oldest football club in Wales and the oldest rugby club in England share a common goal. Wrexham AFC (1864) and Blackheath RFC (1858) aim to finish their domestic seasons in the promotion play-offs. The post Peter Jackson: Blackheath still have a dream of higher things appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
When four tries by the Lions were kicked off the park
NEVEN MacEwan, left, played in the Test match which did more than any other to ridicule rugby as a running game, the one in Dunedin on July 18, 1959 when six New Zealand penalties trumped four Lions tries.Towards the end, the majority of the 41,000 shoe-horned into the old Carisbrook stadium gave vent to their […] The post When four tries by the Lions were kicked off the park appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Paul Rees: It’s time to get back to what we are good at
Paul Rees looks ahead to the resumption of the Premiership next weekend and says it can’t come fast enough. The post Paul Rees: It’s time to get back to what we are good at appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
James is to leave Saints for Saracens
NEWS EXTRA SARACENS have signed Northampton scrum-half Tom James ahead of next season. The 32-year-old has spent his entire career so far with Saints, helping them win the Premiership title in 2023-24. James has made 122 appearances for Northampton but will move to StoneX Stadium for the 2026-27 season. No.8 Alfie Barbeary will also join […] The post James is to leave Saints for Saracens appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
My Life in Rugby: Cai Griffiths – Downing Australia was just incredible
London Welsh director of rugby and former Neath, Ospreys, London Irish and London Welsh tight-head, Cai Griffiths, reflects on his life in rugby. The post My Life in Rugby: Cai Griffiths – Downing Australia was just incredible appeared first on The Rugby Paper.