Rugby news

• Rob Baxter urges Exeter Chiefs to continue fighting after takeover finalised

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Exeter Chiefs’ finances were eased thanks to Black Knight riding to the rescue but boss Rob Baxter now wants his stars to play their part in securing a safe, prosperous and successful future.
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• Blow for All Blacks as Savea ruled out

  06-09-2026 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON Injured: Ardie Savea The inspirational No.8 was forced off in the 31st minute, shortly after scoring two magnificent first-half tries to put New Zealand ahead. ALL BLACKS captain Ardie Savea will miss the final Test of the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series in Baltimore after suffering a serious shoulder injury in the 29-24 loss […]
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• Blow for All Blacks as Ardie Savea ruled out of final test with South Africa

  06-09-2026 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  All Blacks captain Ardie Savea will miss the final Test of the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series in Baltimore after suffering a serious shoulder injury in the 29-24 loss to South Africa in Soweto yesterday.
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• Young centres impress coach

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  GLOUCESTER director of rugby George Skiving-ton was disappointed with certain areas of his side’s game. He said: “They scored at least four tries from lineouts in our 22 so we will need to address that. They also did very well in stripping the ball away from us at the contact area, which prevented us from […]
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• Welcome for Welsh clubs in the Prem

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON Stand and deliver: Joe Batley enjoys a Bristol Bears try in their opening Prem Cup victory over Gloucester PICTURES: Alamy WEST Country rugby bosses have welcomed the idea of Welsh clubs joining an expanded Prem. The WRU is planning to reduce the number of professional clubs from four to three, with one […]
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• We need to be a lot sharper, admits coach Parling

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  LEICESTER Tigers head coach Geoff Parling lamented his side’s performance but insisted nothing changes in his side’s defence of the Prem Rugby Cup. Parling said: “I thought we were poor. There was some effort there. We need to be a lot sharper, we can’t take any moments out of the game. In terms of their […]
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• We all know the risks of playing game

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  BRENDAN Gallagher’s article in last week’s TRP regarding the group claim being brought by former players for damages for head injuries raised extremely valid points. He is absolutely correct to point out that claimants’ insistence that they were oblivious to the potential dangers of concussion injuries and the effects thereof is nonsense, is possibly the […]
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• Wade still gunning for Ashton’s try record

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By GARY FITZGERALD CHRISTIAN Wade’s laser vision is once again fixed on starting a new season with a bang and finally turning his top Premiership try scorer dream into reality. A variety of scenarios have left the flying wing still waiting to achieve his huge goal of surpassing Chris Ashton’s present record haul of 101. […]
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• Van Poortvliet confident that Tigers can deliver

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By GARY FITZGERALD JACK van Poortvliet’s feet have hardly touched the ground over the last few months and he admits he is now “sick of flying”. But the scrum-half – who spent the summer travelling around the planet for work and pleasure – is confident he and his Tigers team-mates will be soaring high in […]
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• Ulster hold on to deny gutsy Edinburgh

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Edinburgh................26 Ulster........................28 ULSTER survived a spirited Edinburgh fightback to open their pre-season campaign with a victory at Hive Stadium. Richie Murphy’s side scored four converted tries and led 28-14 early in the second half before Edinburgh fought back to within two points, only to miss a late conversion which would have levelled the scores. James […]
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• The best Springbok ever? That’s a big call

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED WHEN the Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, one of rugby’s “forever names”, sank a thumb into the left eye of Alex Mann, the upstart insurgent of the Wales back row, at the fag end of a sporting massacre in Cardiff last autumn, some of us wondered if he had decided to bow […]
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• Thacker’s injury mars Bristol’s winning start

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By ROGER PANTING BEARS’ star hooker Harry Thacker was stretchered off in the 52nd minute but his impressive performance, including a two-try salvo, had already earned him the man of the match award as Bristol held on to make a winning start to their season. Thacker departed to sympathetic clapping with Bristol’s director of rugby, […]
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• Tagutu’s double pushes Knights to front

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Doncaster.........40 Nottingham.... 24 DONCASTER Knights held firm for an impressive win at Castle Park with strong defence the order of the day. Nottingham enjoyed all the early possession and Knights put in some huge hits to keep them at bay. Telusa Veainu combined with Penaia Tagutu to launch a dangerous counter-attack and when the ball […]
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• Superman Nche puts All Blacks to the sword

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  THE scrum battle in the first two Tests of the series between South Africa and New Zealand has been fascinating, as has the war of words sparked by All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie’s allegations of South Africa walking around to create a deliberate wheel. My read on it is that Springbok loosehead Ox Nche […]
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• South Africa and class of their own? New Zealand in I don’t think so…

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK World beaters: New Zealand’s Will Jordan and, right, South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe PICTURES: Getty Images and Alamy THE widespread suggestion that South Africa and New Zealand are currently in a class of their own at international level following the first two Tests of what they call the ‘Greatest […]
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• Smith: We need to be on the

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  FIN Smith has been mixing with cricketing royalty in Sri Lanka and has told his Northampton side to go on the front foot again as they seek a second straight Prem title. nBy ADAM HATHAWAY Looking ahead: Fin Smith in action for Northampton PICTURES: Getty Images front foot Saints played Asia Pacific Lions in Colombo, […]
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• Sanderson to let his new boys run loose

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By BEN JAYCOCK Old hand: Courtney Lawes starts on the blindside for Sale PICTURES: Sale Sharks PREVIEW... Sale Sharks v Bath Today. Kick-off 3pm, CorpAcq Stadium SALE Sharks will unveil three of their headline summer signings when they open the new season against Bath in the Prem Cup today. Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant and Alex […]
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• Rugby bosses welcome idea for Welsh clubs in the expanded Premiership

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  West Country rugby bosses have welcomed the idea of Welsh clubs joining an expanded Prem.
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• RFU Board needs an immediate overhaul

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK WELCOME to a new season where the Prem ring-fencers’ idea of progress was not only to shut the door on their Champ “partners” participating in the Prem Cup, but also give the aspiring clubs in England’s second tier a slap in the face this week by revealing […]
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• Refs are not there to listen to players

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  LOBBYING was not once mentioned by Paul Rees in his otherwise excellent review of Matt Carley and his refereeing of the South Africa/New Zealand game. I am reminded of what Nigel Owens said in a French Cup final some 20 years ago: “I am not here to listen to you, you are here to listen […]
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• Reds’ forwards are ruthless from the start

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By BEN JAYCOCK National League Two West REDRUTH launched their campaign in emphatic fashion, running in nine tries to beat promoted Bournville 61-10 in a one-sided season opener. Within a minute Redruth had opened the scoring through Noah Clifford, and the hosts quickly established the territorial dominance that would shape the day. The Reds’ forwards […]
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• Read all about it! Harry seals a win

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By JON MEADOWS B Moseley ..............38 Cambridge .............33 BEN Gibson’s last-minute try for Cambridge secured a losing bonus, with Luke Bouchier’s failed conversion bringing the final whistle. But the day really belonged to Birmingham Moseley and star man Harry Read. The hosts started the brighter and were soon ahead, with Read landing two quick penalties. […]
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• Prop Lahiff re-elected to RPA role

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  BRISTOL prop Max Lahiff has been re-elected as chair of the RPA’s Men’s Rugby Board, with Bath captain Ben Spencer appointed vice chair. Lahiff, who was first elected chair ahead of the 2025/26 season, has been a long-standing member of the men’s player board. Since joining Bristol in 2019, he has made more than 100 […]
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• Poole: We want a top four finish

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By BEN JAYCOCK Full speed ahead: Jordon Poole on the charge for Coventry against Cornish Pirates PICTURES: Alamy JORDON Poole has challenged himself to become Coventry’s longest-serving captain of the modern era as he prepares to lead the club into a Champ title push. The hooker is starting his fifth year at Butts Park Arena […]
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• Page puts Scarlets on right road

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By JAMES CROUCH SCARLETS made an impressive start to their pre-season campaign as six tries secured a commanding victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. Exeter Chiefs .................15pts Tries: Gulley 8, 16, Heaven 75 Scarlets .......................... 36pts Tries: Page 28, 66; Roberts 40, 68; McDonald 52, D Davis 71 Conversions: McDonald 29, 41, 72 In […]
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• Ospreys mix it up to give Cov a lesson in finishing

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By MARK WOODS Coventry ...........12pts Tries: Reeves 23, Baker 33 Conversion: Houston 34 Ospreys .............52pts Tries: Houston 10, Rogers 18, Moriarty 29, Wright 42, Lloyd 50, Daniel 63, Giles 67, Morris 75 Conversions: Creighton 11, 19, 30, 42; Wilde 63, 75 OSPREYS made an emphatic start to pre-season as they ran in eight tries during […]
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• One player who could bounce Billy Vunipola

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  DREAMTEAM MAX NORTHCOTE-GREEN, THE FORMER BATH, COVENTRY, ROSSLYN PARK, LONDON IRISH, EXETER CHIEFS AND EALING TRAILFINDERS FLANKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST... 1. Tom Smallbone – Tom was a top-class loose-head and was definitely heading towards 100-plus appearances for London Irish before shoulder injuries forced him to retire when he […]
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• O’Kane penalty seals a real thriller

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By BEN CROPPER Leeds Tykes ..........36 Camborne ...............38 NEWLY-PROMOTED Camborne RFC produced a dramatic second-half display to seal a deserved victory on their travels. Camborne opened the scoring when Ben Priddey touched down at the back of a rolling maul, but Leeds quickly responded through George Worthington. Eddie Crossland missed the conversion. Adam Brown then […]
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• Obano on his way to France

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ENGLAND loose-head Beno Obano will leave Bath at the end of the season to join Top 14 side Pau. His departure will cause more front row upheaval at The Rec following the departure this summer of South African tight-head Thomas du Toit for the Durban-based Sharks. Scotland international Jamie Bhatti arrived this summer. Obano, 31, […]
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• New Taunton role for former England centre

  06-09-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  NEWSEXTRA FORMER England centre Ollie Devoto has returned to Taunton following his retirement from playing to begin a new off-field career. The former Bath and Exeter back will work across the club’s commercial, sponsorship and operational departments. Devoto has also joined the management committee to help strengthen relationships with businesses, supporters and the wider community […]
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