The Rugby Paper Magazine - February 02, 2025

In this issue

February 02, 2025

Coach Lancaster sacked by Racing 92

FORMER England boss Stuart Lancaster has been sacked from his job as Racing 92 head coach.

1 min

Borthwick: It's tough but we're improving

ENGLAND coach Steve Borthwick was disappointed with his side's second-half collapse yesterday which handed Ireland a 27-22 opening Six Nations win in Dublin but insisted there were plenty of positives.

3 mins

We don't want to finish bottom, says Baxter

ROB Baxter wants Exeter to avoid an end-of-season relegation play-off on merit, not because the Championship winners do not meet the entry criteria for the Premiership.

2 mins

Brotherly advice is a big help for Tom

TOM Willis felt an outsider the first time he pitched up in England camp but now the Saracens No.8 has got his feet under the table.

3 mins

Borthwick's men wilt in Dublin's red hot furnace

WHEN are England going to become 80 minute men? That was the question that loomed large as Steve Borthwick's team once again ran out of gas when this Six Nations opener in Dublin was in the balance in the second half.

5 mins

Once again, England blow their chances

ENGLAND continue to find ways to lose. As in their previous six Tests against tier one opposition, they led at one point in the second half only to fade away. It does not look a question of fitness or even personnel but a collective failure to wrestle back momentum.

4 mins

Fin Smith looks like a starting 10 to me, with Marcus on the bench

THERE is no justice in this world and, despite the magnificent efforts of the other 28 players on the pitch, it is invariably the 10s who dominate the headlines, get all the plaudits and glory, not to mention the big contracts.

4 mins

France have a Grand Slam look about them

The 2025 Six Nations will tell us whether France are fully over their disappointing quarter-final exit in the 2023 World Cup, but the way they outclassed Wales in Paris on Friday night is a strong indication they are moving in the right direction.

3 mins

Battling forwards put England in pole position

DEFENDING champions England secured their first win in Ireland since 2017 built on a gritty display from the pack.

3 mins

Woodman: Afo has huge future

WORLD Cup winner Trevor Woodman is confident Afolabi Fasogbon will fulfil his early promise and become one of the game's leading tight-head props.

3 mins

Opoku-Fordjour will thrive with England - Rodd

BEVAN Rodd believes rising prop star Asher Opoku-Fordjour is ready to thrive for England at the Six Nations as Sale's front rowers push for selection.

2 mins

Stop giving No.9s so much protection

WELCOME to the 2025 Six Nations, and, unfortunately, a new abomination of a law trial aimed at \"Protecting the 9\" which will turn scrum-half - a position which has produced many of the greatest players rugby union has seen - into a sacrosanct, but diminished, species.

4 mins

Tigers get their act together to chase Saints out of town

LEICESTER secured derby-day bragging rights as they brought an end to Northampton's winning start in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

2 mins

Ealing on song to despatch Saracens

DAN Jones pulled the strings and led Sarries a merry dance as Ealing crushed their London rivals by a half century of points at StoneX Stadium.

2 mins

Money or eyeballs ? Once again, that's the big question

IS THIS the last year when the Six Nations is televised entirely free-to-air? As the unions involved prepare themselves for negotiations with bidders, they will be grappling with a simple question: money or eyeballs?

7 mins

When living beyond your means makes it tough to survive

SANTI Carreras stood out for Gloucester in the two seasons before this one when they were stuck at the wrong end of the table. The Argentina international joined the club in 2020 when he was 22 and had the year before made his debut for the Pumas.

2 mins

Campbell hits burners for Saracens

MAY Campbell scored a hat-trick as Saracens produced a super second half to pull away from a spirited Trailfinders and take a bonus-point win.

1 min

Thrilling three-horse race to beat them all

TEN years after the most nerve-wracking climax to any Six Nations, precious few of the gladiators from way back then dared to remain centre-stage for this one. They had been there for the three-horse race to beat them all, on St Patrick's weekend 2015 when England almost picked the title out of Ireland's pocket at Twickenham an hour or two after Paul O'Connell & Co. had picked it out of Wales' pocket at Murrayfield.

3 mins

Poole leads the way for Titans

TENACIOUS back row Zak Poole became Rotherham Titans' joint highest all-time try scorer last weekend landing his 50th try against Dings Crusaders.

2 mins

Soko adds weight to Worthing survival bid

ZIMBABWE international Saope Soko has come out of retirement to help keep Worthing in the National Leagues but since returning he can't help feeling the fourth tier isn't what it used to be.

2 mins

Billingham's amateurs work like the professionals

AS one of the only fully amateur teams in National 2 North, Billingham care about more than just results. Every player pays subs - like grassroots teams up and down the country - with their only remuneration being two free pints at the bar after every home game.

2 mins

Tom's penalty Putts seal on top victory for Albion

IN-FORM Plymouth Albion held on for a sixth consecutive victory in what was a close and physical contest.

2 mins

Chester's late tries break the Ionians

CHESTER came out on top in a thrilling, see-saw match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout, and was only decided by a late burst of tries from the home side against an opponent who tested them for 80 minutes.

2 mins

Rugby was a passport to travel the world

GREW up in Queensland Country, in a small town called Rockhampton, and played a lot of rugby league as a kid.

6 mins

I'm surprised by £30m offer to community game

THE unexpected offer of a £30 million payout to the community game for the next four years to help mend the financial problems, caused when the RFU unexpectedly withdrew grassroots funding a few years back, sounds great.

4 mins

Lam: We'll keep defying critics

PAT Lam expects his Bristol side to continue defying the critics after going into the Premiership break second in the table.

2 mins

Morse to focus on senior game

WHEN the Wales U20s squad for the Six Nations was announced, one notable omission was the name Morgan Morse.

2 mins

I'm enjoying the challenge with Falcons - Dickens

NEWCASTLE may be bottom of the Premiership again, but Alan Dickens has no regrets about joining Steve Diamond's revolution in the north-east.

1 min

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The Rugby Paper, the UK's number 1 selling rugby title, brings you exclusive stories, reports and features on your device, published in exceptional clarity. It contains renowned journalists such as Nick Cain and Peter Jackson, and famous former players as columnists including Jeremy Guscott and Jeff Probyn. Published every Sunday, The Rugby Paper covers Rugby Union from national teams and Premiership / Rabo Direct down to grass roots.