Sports
The Rugby Paper
Nowell: I'm loving life on and off the pitch at La Rochelle
AS Jack Nowell stepped off the plane to start his La Rochelle career, he was stepping into the unknown challenges that would wrap his brain for the initial settling-in period.
3 min |
December 08, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Freeman is happy to have a crack at centre
TOMMY Freeman has started all of England’s internationals this year on the wing but fancies having a crack in the centre.
3 min |
December 08, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Heyes determined to prove himself at the top level
JOE Heyes has used the hurt of missing out on a place in England’s Autumn Nations Series squad to drive him on to bigger and better things.
2 min |
December 08, 2024
The Rugby Paper
England were not too far off - Slade
HENRY Slade believes England deserved more credit for their performances this autumn, insisting it was ‘small margins’ that prevented them from truly making their mark against the southern hemisphere’s elite.
3 min |
December 08, 2024
The Rugby Paper
No Mercer decision until end of season
GLOUCESTER will not decide on Zach Mercer’s future until the end of the season as speculation that he will return to France intensifies.
2 min |
December 08, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Stade are heading in right direction
IS there an early winter equivalent to the idiom about solitary swallows and the impending arrival of summer? Because – whatever it might be, something involving snowflakes, perhaps, or frosts – that’s the situation at Stade Francais right now.
5 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Borthwick needs to sort out defence
WELL surprise, surprise England at last managed to win at home in front of a nearly full Allianz stadium even if it was against a team that they had thrashed just a few months earlier.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Rowland is gearing up for world cup challenge
HELENA Rowland believes England Women have been given advance warning that next year’s Rugby World Cup is to be no formality.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
All my energy is going into Beziers
IT’S a dream to be a part-share owner of AS Beziers Hérault, the 11-time French champions, along with Andrew Mehrtens and Bobby Skinstad.
4 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Fylde left to count cost of the cards
LEEDS TYKES were thankful for their resolute defence as they clung on to claim a narrow win against Fylde.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
O'Grady glad to learn his trade in tough surroundings
EXETER University flyhalf Lewis O’Grady is enjoying the physicality of National 2 West and insists it is the best preparation for his transition to senior rugby after graduation.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
It's Bristol or nothing for me - Cunningham
PROUD Bristolian Hollie Cunningham hopes to inspire the next generation of Bears players and can’t see herself ever playing for anyone else.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Bristol hit heights to take down champions
BRISTOL Bears head coach Dave Ward could not hide his delight following an impressive victory over reigning PWR champions Gloucester Hartpury at Kingsholm.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Good to see the Eagles soaring again
THAT’S a wrap for the autumn Tests and it would be remiss not to scroll through the undercard and round up the best of the action outside of the A list matches. A quick crib sheet for those not paying attention at the back.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Thomas ready for Edinburgh clash
FRESH from his dream Wales debut, Freddie Thomas has set his sights on helping Gloucester conquer Europe.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
My body is telling me to quit, saysEvans
WALES are about to be hit by another loss despite spending the final weekend of the autumn series all washed up with nobody to play.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Vermeulen excited to visit old friends
EXETER start their Champions Cup campaign away in South Africa on Saturday, but Jacques Vermeulen will feel very much at home.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Scotland deserve fair share of Lions
WE MAY be exaggerating here, but not by much: since the wonderful Tom Smith made the last of his half-dozen consecutive international appearances in the red jersey of his dreams, as opposed to the blue one, it has been easier to spot a Twickenham chief executive in a food bank than clap eyes on a Test Lion from Scotland.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
We'll be locked and loaded for Sale trip - Cheika
WITH wins over Exeter, Newcastle and Saracens, playing away from home in the Premiership currently holds no fears for Leicester.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Sanderson: We need to get our bite back
ALEX Sanderson expects Sale to bear their teeth against resurgent Leicester at the AJ Bell Stadium after heavy defeats on the road in the last two rounds.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Newcastle master misfiring Saracens
STEVE Diamond pledged that Newcastle had to focus on home form and turn Kingston Park into a fortress, and those words came to fruition in a season-defining victory against Saracens.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Lam puts Ibitoye in frame for England
PAT Lam believes Steve Borthwick should put Gabriel Ibitoye in his future England plans and give the wing a Six Nations run out.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Carreras class has Saints on the rack
GLOUCESTER'S first-half charge won this classy Premiership contest despite a Northampton fight-back led by fit-again No.9 Alex Mitchell.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Chiefs fight hard but Bath go back to top
THIS was a rare ugly match in the Premiership as Bath returned to the top of the table and Exeter’s losing run stretched to seven league matches.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Pepper praise for Underhill
SAM Underhill was one of Guy Pepper’s idols growing up and he’s now enjoying learning from him in person at Bath.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
We can't compete with the big dogs, admits Diamond
STEVE Diamond will be putting young players on long-term contracts to protect Newcastle from the greater spending power of every other club in the Premiership.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Tough for clubs to get permission for 10,001
I HAVE every sympathy with my old friend Simon Halliday, the outgoing Chairman of the Championship Board, and the Championship clubs having read his comments in Nick Cain's article in TRP last Sunday.
2 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Don't be in awe of 'The System'
AS a long-time England supporter I feel compelled to express my concerns about the performances and results of our team.
3 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Scotland must not waste potential
N assessment of where Scotland and England are after the autumn series, with another Calcutta Cup clash to come at Twickenham in the middle of the Six Nations, is an interesting comparison. It's made even more pointed by competition for places on the 2025 Lions tour.
5 min |
December 01, 2024
The Rugby Paper
Boks going to need a bigger trophy cabinet...
Peter Jackson looks back on a season where, once again, South Africa proved to be the best team on the planet
3 min |