Sports
The Rugby Paper
Too many matches had no real meaning to them
NOW, as we reflect and are drawing closer to the end of this varied season, we must all be thinking what a season we’ve had. Filled with the highs and lows, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats, but coupled with the uncertainty of how this season will end.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
On the clock: Who put the minutes in?
I’M indebted to stats guru Stuart Farmer who has faithfully logged the Premiership match minutes for players in the regular season just finished and it makes for very interesting reading once you dig in.
3 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
'Your only job is to pour champagne'
I WENT on the first post-Falklands War, England tour to Argentina in 1990 despite having only played in Division 5 for Northern, who I’d joined whilst at College in Newcastle.
4 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Sorrowful shadow blights the game
FOR month after miserable month, Welsh rugby had been crying out for someone to give their apology of a season the last rites.
4 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Gott in charge to steer Navy home
JORDAN Gott produced the performance of his life to steer the Navy to the Inter-Services title with a first win over the Army since 2010.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Doris looking for revenge against La Rochelle
CAELAN Doris is hellbent on inflicting revenge on Saturday when Leinster meet La Rochelle in a re-run of last season’s Champions Cup final.
1 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Battle at No. 10! Hunting for a final place
GEORGE Ford and Handre Pollard have not confronted each other since the 2019 World Cup final between England and South Africa in Yokohama.
9 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Fish is my kind of player - reliable and committed
I WAS gutted when I read that Dan Fish is going to miss Cardiff's Premiership semi-final clash with Newport today after breaking a bone in his wrist last week.
4 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Now it's Ealing's turn to celebrate
FOR the second year in the row, Ealing Trailfinders were crowned Championship Cup winners after a thrilling victory over Jersey at Trailfinders Sports Club.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Miotti can be the main man for Glasgow - McDowall
DOMINGO Miotti can step up and fill the boots of banned fly-half Tom Jordan as Glasgow aim to become the first Scottish side to win a European trophy, insists centre Stafford McDowall.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
England need to get it right at scrum time
STEVE Borthwick’s decision to raid Leicester for his latest scrum coach – and England’s third in the last year – has raised a few eyebrows.
3 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Crowley has final say in epic contest
A DROPPED goal two minutes from time from Jack Crowley saw Munster take this wonderful, relentless, bar room brawl of a semi-final that was probably the most compelling club game of the season.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Carpenter washes stress away
SALE full-back Joe Carpenter only made his Premiership debut in October, but he starts today’s semi-final and has attracted the notice of England head coach Steve Borthwick.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Roebuck aims to rise high for Sale
IN-FORM Sale winger Tom Roebuck hopes to help fire his boyhood team into their first Premiership final in 17 years.
3 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Battling Saracens seize the moment
SARACENS may have assembled a new wardrobe, but they have not thrown away their old clobber.
3 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Lawrence bounces back from adversity
MOST of the players who get awards are deserving, and I think that is the case with Ollie Lawrence, who this week was voted Premiership Player of the Season.
4 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Steward: Wiggy's the main driver
RICHARD Wiggles- worth, the Leicester interim head coach, is not happy taking the plaudits for Tigers’ resurrection but Freddie Steward is happy to big him up.
3 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Bath battle back to grab elite spot
THE final round of the regular Premiership season boiled down to who would claim England’s final place in next season’s Champions Cup.
3 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Kelly ready to work hard for starting place
NEWCASTLE’S new recruit John Kelly has come a long way from working as a nightclub doorman in Plymouth, but believes it’s given him the work ethic to claim a starting spot in Alex Codling’s squad next season.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Salary cap hurting, not helping - Biggar
DAN Biggar feels the Premiership’s exodus of players to France is a result of the league’s reduced salary cap ‘hurting it more than helping’.
3 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Morgan: Move away from culture of debt
JERSEY Reds chairman Mark Morgan has called for a complete refocus so rugby can move away from a culture of debt and prioritise England’s player pathway development.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Saracens on track for sixth Prem title
MARK McCall hailed “outstanding and controlled” Owen Farrell after the England star pulled the strings at StoneX Stadium and kept Sarries on track for a sixth Premiership crown.
2 min |
May 14, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Valetini's late double stuns the Hurricanes
TWO months after their shock win over the Crusaders, Fijian Drua slayed their second Kiwi powerhouse of the season as two late Kemu Valetini penalties saw them stun the Hurricanes 27-24 in Suva
3 min |
May 07, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Boost for finances as recovery continues
THE Commission des Championnats professionnels de l’Autorité de régulation du rugby – the new name for the financial auditors of the professional game at this end of the Channel Tunnel – reported that revenues for Top 14 and ProD2 clubs rose 43 per cent between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, from just under €360 million to €515m. Some €371m of that revenue was generated by the Top 14 alone
4 min |
May 07, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Twickenham now the home of the women's game
CONGRATULATIONS to the Red Roses on another Grand Slam with a great result against France
1 min |
May 07, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Henderson keeps Lancashire on road
LANCASHIRE got off to a winning start on the road at Upper Park, Birkenhead as they ran in eight tries to Cheshire’s three
1 min |
May 07, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Success at county level will help game grow - Lewis
THE Gill Burns Women’s County Championship returns today and while the men’s tournament seems to reduce in popularity each year, Leicestershire head coach Philippa Lewis believes the county game is vital for the continued growth of the sport
2 min |
May 07, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Players must keep a licence to thrill
IF, God forbid, I ever find myself in the dock I will be hiring Sam Warburton KC to defend me
4 min |
May 07, 2023
The Rugby Paper
Blackett ready to fire up Bath attack
NEW Bath recruit Lee Blackett says his time away from the Premiership has enriched him as an attack coach
4 min |
May 07, 2023
The Rugby Paper
RFU should capitalise on success of Reds - Biljon
HARVEY Biljon fears the RFU’s strict policy on promotion may come back to haunt them as he believes they’ve missed an opportunity to capitalise on a catchment area in which the sport is thriving
2 min |