Rugby news

• Henry Slade: England have a real chance in the 2027 Rugby World Cup

  02-08-2026 05:45 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Henry Slade believes England have all the ingredients to challenge rugby’s biggest nations at next year’s Rugby World Cup – if they can finally solve the one issue holding them back.
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• Peter Winterbottom says England have made no progress under Steve Borthwick

  02-08-2026 05:30 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Peter Winterbottom questions whether England have genuinely progressed under Steve Borthwick, with the former flanker also highlighting discipline issues and naming the player he believes could solve the midfield problem.
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• Slade: We have real chance in World Cup

  02-08-2026 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  HENRY Slade insists England are just one step away from competing with the top teams at the World Cup next year. ■By ADAM HATHAWAY Steve Borthwick’s squad currently have their feet up on holiday after winning two from three in their Nations Championship summer, another campaign blighted by ill-discipline. That will be top of the […]
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• Yatte Minahare, says Lowe as he heads east

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON On the attack: James Lowe in action for Leinster PICTURE: Alamy TOKYO Suntory Sungoliath have confirmed the signing of former Ireland and Leinster wing James Lowe on a two-year deal. Lowe departed Irish rugby at the end of the 2025-26 season after failing to agree a contract extension with Leinster, for whom […]
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• Winters: I see no signs of progress

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By BEN JAYCOCK FORMER England flanker Peter Winterbottom believes Steve Borthwick’s side have shown no clear signs of progression despite recording two wins from three in the Nations Championship. England beat Argentina and Fiji but lost to South Africa, and Winterbottom remains unconvinced the performances represented a meaningful step forward following a dismal Six Nations […]
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• Winterbottom: I can’t see progress

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  >Continued from Front Africa I don’t think the performance was quite as poor as the scoreline suggested. England created chances, particularly in the first half, and if they had converted them, it could have been a very different game. But, overall, have they really moved forward? “You would have expected England to move on from […]
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• Whitby celebrate their first 75 years

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  WHITBY Rugby Club are celebrating their 75th anniversary in the 2026-27 season which is shaping up to be one of their most exciting seasons in recent memory. The Maroons 1st XV have moved in the recent league restructure, transferring from the Durham & Northumberland leagues to the Yorkshire League structure, kicking off at home to […]
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• When Bill Oddie dreamt of winning a Blue

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER FOR some reason it amuses me that two of the comic geniuses of our times both went to Oxbridge to read English literature with the primary intention of winning a Rugby Blue… but got waylaid by the need to make people laugh. […]
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• Wales need James to make dents at 12

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  THERE are certain things in life that can’t be anything but a 12. Show me the house to the far left of 10 Downing Street (as we usually see it on TV), and it is without doubt number 12 – it traditionally serves as the office for the Government Chief Whip. Show me Leonardo da […]
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• Tudor: People often describe fans as the 16th man but at Caldy it’s really true

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Q&A Caldy winger , below, speaks to Ben Jaycock about the demands of pre-season, the club’s Champ ambitions and the challenge part-time players face due to a growing number of Friday fixtures Q: Pre-season has been under way for around a month. Has it been a shock to the system? It has been tough, especially […]
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• Thrilling series that will grip the rugby world

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PETER JACKSON THE last four-Test series ended at Eden Park on July 16, 1983 when the Lions disappeared without trace, exactly as Shergar had done rather more ominously a few months earlier. The next one kicks off this month; four Tests on successive Saturdays between the perennial superpowers of […]
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• SRU sacks Williamson

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  SCOTTISH Rugby has sacked chief executive Alex Williamson following an independent investigation into his conduct. Williamson was placed on extended leave in May and John McGuigan, chairman of Scottish Rugby Limited, said: “The board of Scottish Rugby has dismissed Alex Williamson from his position as chief executive with immediate effect. “His dismissal follows the conclusion […]
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• Sorry, Steve, but we can’t avoid this…

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  IN their eight matches to date this year, England have collected more cards than France, Scotland, Ireland and Italy combined over the same number of fixtures. They have accumulated an aggregate total of 12 cards, all yellow, compared to the Red Rose tally of 13 yellows and one red (Henry Arundell against Scotland). Among the […]
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• Schmidt signs up for new Ulster role

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By TOM RILEY FORMER Ireland and Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has been appointed to a newly created consultancy role with Ulster Rugby. The 60-year-old New Zealander will step into the position of coach development adviser, focusing on strengthening the province’s grassroots and pathway coaching structures rather than working with the senior squad. The high-profile […]
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• Racing will have to get used to life on the road

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  FRENCH COLUMN JAMES HARRINGTON IT HAS been a relatively quiet summer at Racing 92’s Plessis-Robinson training campus, after their return to the top six last season. Highly regarded ex-Georgia defence coach Julian Salvi has replaced NRL-bound Freddie Michalak among the staff; they’ve built on their squad quietly yet impressively – Australian Seru Uru, returning veteran […]
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• Pulling on a Wasps shirt was a proud moment

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  GEORGE SIMPSON THE FORMER CARDIFF MET, EALING TRAILFINDERS, WASPS, DONCASTER KNIGHTS, MANLY MARLINS AND HARTPURY UNIVERSITY FULL-BACK BEING released by Harlequins at 16 gave me the motivation to become a professional rugby player. At the time, it was difficult to take. I had been part of the academy, rugby was what I wanted to do […]
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• Prem Rugby and RFU must work together

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  IS IT time for the RFU and Prem Rugby to put their heads together to resolve the challenges facing English rugby? Internationally, we are producing very few players of genuine top class who can challenge the leading nations. Recent results have, at best, been underwhelming. The Prem has been reduced to 10 teams, with many […]
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• Player welfare ignored in rugby’s dash for cash

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  THE July launch of rugby union’s Nations Championship proved an interesting playing success with some thrilling Test encounters obscuring a flawed concept. The reality is the new “dash for cash” tournament undermined next year’s real World Cup and ignored player welfare by extending the daunting existing fixtures treadmill. England prop Ellis Genge had offered a […]
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• Once again, France come to the rescue

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  SOMETIMES you just have to step back and take note of what is really happening out there, especially as the new enlarged 24-team World Cup looms large, the reality is there is no conceivable way rugby can stage a global World Cup without the largesse, generosity and scope of professional rugby in France. French rugby […]
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• Nice’s players and staff plead for the chance to carry on

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  IN THE days since Nice’s promotion to the ProD2 was blocked for financial and administrative reasons last Friday, following the resignations of the club’s president and the president of the association, not much seems to have happened. On top of the relegation to a “federal competition for the 2026-2027 season, at a level to be […]
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• Newcastle first up as Saints begin defence

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  NORTHAMPTON Saints will begin the defence of their Prem Rugby title at home to Newcastle Red Bulls when the 2026/27 campaign gets under way on Friday, September 25. nBy BEN JAYCOCK The opening night features a double-header, with Harlequins hosting Bath at The Stoop alongside Saints’ first outing since lifting the trophy with a 26-17 […]
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• My big dream is to play in the Olympics

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Saope Soko talks to Natalia Pamieta who has decided to leave her army career to concentrate on playing for Poland NATALIA Pamięta’s rugby story is one built on sacrifice, resilience and ambition. From balancing military life with international rugby to helping drive the rise of women’s rugby in Poland, the 26-year-old has become one of […]
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• McArthur agrees deal with Exeter

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Prop: Archie McArthur EXETER Chiefs have signed loosehead prop Archie McArthur from Gloucester for the 2026-27 season. McArthur made 20 appearances for the Cherry and Whites during three campaigns while being dual-registered with Champ side Hartpury, who he also played 25 games for. The 23-year-old began his career in Wasps’ academy and has also represented […]
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• Machenaud is on Nonu’s tail

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  AS Ma’a Nonu prepares for his 25th season by breaking new ground with the Sharks in Durban at the age of 44, one French veteran is warming up for a return to familiar territory. Maxine Machenaud, a mere upstart at 37, has rejoined Racing on a contract which will take the old Test scrum-half into […]
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• Ludlow sets sights on pushing for title

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By GARY FITZGERALD Taking charge: Lewis Ludlow and, inset, head coach George Skivington PICTURES: Getty Images LEWIS Ludlow will always retain the stinging desire to one day add to the pair of England caps he won five years ago. However, right now, the flanker’s sights are fixed more so on putting the seal on an […]
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• Kyran Bracken: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso blew me away, he’s genuinely world class

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  World Cup winner Kyran Bracken believes England are heading in the right direction after their Nations Championship campaign, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso emerging as a potential world-class talent.
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• Kyran Bracken column: Manny Feyi-Waboso blew me away, he’s genuinely world class

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Flying high: England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso PICTURE: Getty Images Pages 6-7 ... Continue reading... Access all our premium content from as little as 14p per day! SUBSCRIBE Already a subscriber to our website? Login
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• Kruis helps raise funds for charity

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  FORMER England lock George Kruis was among the players who helped set a provisional Guinness World Record after completing a gruelling 28-hour sevens match in aid of mental health charity LooseHeadz. The 24/7s challenge, held at Sandbach RUFC in Cheshire, brought together men’s and women’s teams in a fundraising effort that has already generated more […]
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• Kiss looks like going back to the future

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  MANY moons ago, just as the union game was stumbling into professionalism, the late Kevin Bowring said that his most pressing task as the new head coach of Wales was to “Welshify” the team. He felt something essential had gone missing from the Red Dragons – something difficult to define, but broadly understood to fall […]
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• Jac’s the lad to get the Shedsinging

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  RUGBY’S place in world sport’s big picture is relatively secure – it is unlikely to be airbrushed out by field hockey, lawn bowls or clay pigeon shooting any time soon – but it will never share a rung on the economic ladder with baseball, where the Dominican outfielder Juan Soto is currently playing his way […]
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• ITV agrees World Cup deal

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ITV will show next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, extending the broadcaster’s coverage of the tournament to a 10th successive edition. All 52 matches from the expanded event, which features 24 teams and a last-16 knockout round, will be shown live. It kicks off with the Wallabies taking on Hong Kong on October 1, […]
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• It’s time to look to future and not live in the past

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  EVERY rugby nation has a key skill for which they are renowned. The South Africans have their scrum. The French have their handling. And the Fijians have their offloads. In Wales our key skill is hindsight. Our 20/20 hindsight in recognising administrative mistakes from the past can’t be matched by any team in the world. […]
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• It’s family first for Whitelocks

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  BEFORE the Barretts came along in triplicate, there were the Whitelocks: four brothers who all played for Canterbury, three of whom became All Blacks, the first fraternal trio to do so. George played once for New Zealand, against Italy in 2009 and Sam wasn’t halfway through his 153-Test career when Luke, at 35 the youngest […]
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• It’s either Ospreys or Scarlets, says WRU

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON SCARLETS intend to remain “at the heart of west Wales” after the WRU announced on Wednesday that either they or Ospreys will be cut as part of a radical downsizing to a three-region model. Welsh rugby’s governing body confirmed on Wednesday that Cardiff and Dragons will be given licences ahead of the […]
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• Ilione will miss rest of the year

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  LEICESTER back row Emeka Ilione has been ruled out until “at least” the end of the year. The 24-year-old has not played since January because of a shoulder injury. Head coach Geoff Parling told the club’s website: “Unfortunately, Emeka’s shoulder injury is complex and hasn’t recovered as we hoped. He will see the specialist again […]
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• How the miss pass can spark an attack

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Dan Cottrell brings a wealth of experience to The Rugby Paper as he launches a new coaching series packed with practical advice for coaches of every level. A former Bath and Bristol player, Dan has spent more than 16 seasons as head coach and editor of Rugby Coach Weekly, helping thousands of coaches worldwide develop […]
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• France must be northern starsnorthern stars

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  IT IS tight at the top of the northern group in the Nations Championship with two points separating the leading four sides and everything to play for in the second leg. Wales and Italy are in the not unfamiliar position of jockeying to avoid the wooden spoon. France lead Ireland by one after an impressive […]
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• Feyi-Waboso is truly world class

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  KYRAN BRACKEN ENGLAND are heading in the right direction. Three matches, two wins and one defeat is not a perfect return, but I think the overall picture is encouraging. The loss against South Africa was disappointing but the performances in the other two Nations Championship games showed genuine progress. The victory over Argentina was particularly […]
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• Fans should see more of All Blacks

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  NOVEMBER will see a whole raft of Test matches in Europe as the southern hemisphere ‘Big 3’, plus Japan, Fiji and Argentina, visit. Yet England’s rugby fans will see none of it, apart from internationals at Twickenham. It is ironic that in the days before professionalism, incoming tours by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa […]
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• Every Test match will count for something

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  NEIL DE KOCK I LOVE the concept of the freshly-minted Nations Championship, which has been launched this season, because every Test match you are going to be involved in is going to count for something. In some ways, it alleviates the four-year wait for a Rugby World Cup tournament. It’s almost a stress test of […]
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• England contracts given to 32 players

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ENGLAND Women will contract 32 players for the 2026/27 season, with a further six players awarded transition contracts. The 32 contracted players include 30 Rugby World Cup winners and have accumulated a combined 1,475 international caps. Among the transition contracts, three players made their Red Roses debuts during the 2026 Women’s Six Nations. Lock Lilli […]
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• Clock is ticking on England, says Dun

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By GARY FITZGERALD JAMES Dun concedes the “clock is ticking” on his England dream but he is convinced his move to the capital can help him step up to the senior Test stage And the lock insists he must first “scrap” to earn the right to stand in the Quins second row having taken up […]
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• Cardiff leading the Welsh challenge

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  URC Ins and Outs Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the URC season with Jarrod Evans returning to the Blue and Blacks as van Zyl puts final touches to his squad FOR the first time in several seasons, Cardiff head into a new URC campaign as genuine standard-bearers for Welsh rugby. After reaching last season’s play-offs […]
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• Brave warriors with a will to win

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  WHAT would be the greatest all-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody playing in their pomp? Brendan Gallagher continues his occasional series doing precisely that. Having knocked off the 10 Premiership teams last summer he now spreads his wings. Selection is weighted heavily in favour of […]
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• Bedford are quick to tempt Kershaw

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON SPEEDSTER Marcus Kershaw has joined Bedford Blues for the new Champ Rugby season, following a successful stint as part of GB 7s. The 25-year-old returns to the 15-a-side game following a number of years on the 7s circuit, starting off with England before the merger alongside Wales and Scotland into the Great […]
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• Anscombe takes up Scarlets challenge

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON SCARLETS have pulled off a major coup by tempting Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe back to Wales for the 2026-27 season. The 35-year-old former Cardiff, Ospreys and Gloucester playmaker has joined the Llanelli side after an injury-hit campaign in France with Bayonne. The 42-cap Anscombe, who can also play fullback, will provide competition […]
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• After 15 years as the boss, McCall leaves Saracens in impressive shape

  02-08-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Prem season, with the focus this week on Saracens SARACENS came close to giving Mark McCall a fitting send-off after a rousing end to the season, but missed out on the play-offs after losing at old foes Exeter on the final day of the regular season. McCall […]
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• Venner and Robinson among 32 Red Roses contracts

  31-07-2026 13:17 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Gloucester-Hartpury wing Mia Venner and Exeter scrum-half Flo Robinson receive full-time England contracts for the first time.
  
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• Rugby v cricket - England's George swaps sports to help tackle MND

  31-07-2026 12:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  England and Saracens' Jamie George on why he and Somerset's Lewis Gregory are playing a charity cricket match to raise money for motor neurone disease charities.
  
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• Hooker Jibulu signs new Sale deal

  31-07-2026 10:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Nathan Jibulu signs a new long-term contract with Sale Sharks, aiming to keep him at the side until 2030.
  
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