Rugby News
Bordeaux Begles accused of Henry Pollock vendetta
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 05:00
Fin Smith accused Bordeaux Begles of having a vendetta against Henry Pollock as Northampton Saints' 28-20 Champions Cup final defeat ended in uproar in Cardiff. The post Bordeaux Begles accused of Henry Pollock vendetta ...
GB to cut its sevens project
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
GREAT Britain will cease to run full-time sevens programmes at the end of July. Players will still meet up to train and play on the World SVNS Series but there will be no permanant contracts. The restructuring comes just...
I'm happy to stick at No.7 -Underhill
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
By JON NEWCOMBE Going strong: Sam Underhill scoring for Bath against Saracens PICTURE: Getty Images DESPITE the presence of multiple hybrid back-rowers in the Lions’ squad, England international Sam Underhill is happy ...
Brave Northampton Saints didn't have enough in reserve
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
Injuries have cursed Northampton Saints' season and there was no relief on their biggest day of the decade. The post Brave Northampton Saints didn't have enough in reserve appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Russell: We've worked hard and we are not finished yet
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
BATH remain in the running for a treble this season with them favourites to clinch the Premiership title and the Premiership Cup already in the bag. Fly-half Finn Russell, whose signing in 2023 has been a major factor in...
The flowering of van Graan's plan
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leader of men: Ben Spencer breaks to score the fourth Bath try SURELY the most encouraging – or ominous – aspect of Bath’s commanding win over a lacklustre Lyon on Friday night was that it was ach...
Tuipulotu: I'll be glad to see my old mates
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
By ADAM HATHAWAY SIONE Tuipulotu spent last weekend making friends with his new British & Irish Lions team-mates – then turned his attention to catching up with some old pals down under this summer. The Scotland centre...
Ojomoh: We have the tools for any job
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
By PAUL REES MAX Ojomoh compares Bath, who in three seasons have risen from basement battlers to table toppers, to a Swiss Army knife. Bath used to struggle to beat anyone home or away, but centre Ojomoh, who made his co...
Balmain 'excited' to sign for Worcester
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
SARACENS prop Fraser Balmain will join Worcester at the end of the season. Balmain previously played for Leicester, where he won the Premiership title in 2013, and Gloucester, before joining Sarries last year. “It’s ...
DREAM TEAM
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
SAOPE SOKO, THE FORMER CHESTER, OLD ALBANIANS, RAMS, HENLEY, WORTHING AND ZIMBABWE CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Will Goodrick-Clarke – Played with Will many years ago for Oxford Brook...
Dangers of pushing the profit margins
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
ACCORDING to George Orwell, who knew a thing or two about a thing or two, the “greatest cruelty one can inflict on a child is to send it to a school among children richer than itself ”. By this measure, Twickenham (a...
Lamb support for Champ changes
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
By JON NEWCOMBE PLYMOUTH Albion boss Ryan Lamb has welcomed the revised Champ Rugby format, which gives ambitious National 1 clubs potentially two opportunities to win promotion. The winners of next season’s National 1...
Call for concussion protocols to be revised
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
DOCTOR Ben Jones, a former scrum-half with Northampton, Worcester and England 7s, has called for concussion guidelines to be revised to improve player safety. Dr Jones’ research team have found that players’ brains r...
Northampton Saints 20-28 Bordeaux Begles: Saints' warriors battle to the very end
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
Fraser Dingwall's Northampton Saints saw their European adventure end in acrimony and heroism in equal measure as they went out on their shields in Cardiff. The post Northampton Saints 20-28 Bordeaux Begles: Saints' warr...
Bath pair lead awards shortlist
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
BATH duo Finn Russell and Thomas du Toit are among five nominations for this season’s Premiership player of the season award. Fly-half Russell and prop du Toit are joined on the shortlist by Gloucester scrum-half Tomas...
Nick Cain: Time for Steve Borthwick to ignore the easy options
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
The main challenge facing Steve Borthwick this summer is to maintain England's momentum by winning a two-Test tour of Argentina with 13 of his leading players on Lions duty. The post Nick Cain: Time for Steve Borthwick t...
Spencer steps up to prove his worth
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
IT’S been a long time between drinks for Bath’s faithful fans when it comes to winning worthwhile silverware, so no-one would begrudge them celebrating the end of their 17 year trophy drought in Cardiff after Friday ...
Bath 37-12 Lyon: Ben Spencer sparkles as Bath put Lyon to sword
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
Bath won their first major trophy for 17 years with the biggest margin of victory in a Challenge Cup Final since Colomiers beat Agen 43-5 back in 1998. The post Bath 37-12 Lyon: Ben Spencer sparkles as Bath put Lyon to s...
Wade will give his all for Gloucester one final time
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
By GARY FITZGERALD CHRISTIAN Wade promises Gloucester fans he remains fully focused on ending his short stint in the West Country all guns blazing and helping them into the play-offs. The lighting quick wing aims to cran...
Jeremy Guscott: Bath need to ensure they find fifth gear
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
Since Bath managed to finish in first place early and qualify for the playoffs with a home semi-final, the only nagging doubt in my mind is if it leads to them playing Bristol Bears, if they finish fourth. The post Jerem...
Care still shines in list of the finest 9s
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Cap that: Danny Care after his final appearance for Quins last weekend PICTURE: Getty Images ON THE face of it, the easiest way to get noticed in big-time rugby is to bag a contract with Har...
Anthony Watson: Bath may be favourites but it's too close to call
The Rugby Paper - 25 May 2025 04:59
Bath may be the favourites to win the Premiership after dominating the regular season, but Anthony Watson will never forget what happened when they reached the final 10 years ago. The post Anthony Watson: Bath may be fav...