Rugby news

• Tandy puts his faith in Lake

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON In charge: Wales captain Dewi Lake PICTURES: Alamy WALES WALES head coach Steve Tandy has opted for hooker Dewi Lake to lead Wales this summer ahead of fit-again flanker Jac Morgan, who missed the Six Nations following a shoulder injury. Morgan and Lake co-captained at the 2023 World Cup under former boss […]
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• Alex Coles encourages England team to fill Maro Itoje void

  01-07-2026 14:36 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Alex Coles insists England must be ready to fill the leadership and playing voids created by Maro Itoje’s absence when they clash with South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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• July Is Here and the Springboks Have a Point to Prove in the Nations Championship

  30-06-2026 13:10 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  South Africa put a frightening 80 points past the Barbarians on the 20th June, 12 tries, 80-31 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It was the warm-up act before what promises to be the most consequential July international window in years.  The inaugural Nations Championship begins on 4 July with England at Ellis Park, followed by […]
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• Leigh sign Melbourne prop Vaalepu

  30-06-2026 11:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Samoa prop Lazarus Vaalepu moves from NRL side Melbourne Storm to Leigh Leopards for the rest of the 2026 season.
  
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• Hull KR's Pangai Junior handed six-match ban

  29-06-2026 20:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Hull KR's Tevita Pangai Junior has been banned for six games and fined by the RFL for gouging.
  
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• Lindop sidelined but injury not as bad as feared

  29-06-2026 13:38 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Warrington say centre Arron Lindop's knee injury is not as bad as coach Sam Burgess first feared.
  
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• Packer's dream farewell as Saracens win record fourth title

  28-06-2026 20:21 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Marlie Packer scores two tries on her final Saracens appearance as the north London side secure a record fourth league title with a comprehensive 52-14 win over Trailfinders at Twickenham Stoop.
  
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• Huddersfield hold off Barrow fightback

  28-06-2026 19:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Winless Barrow Raiders' late fightback is to no avail as Faye Barraclough's four tries help Huddersfield Giants to a 30-24 victory.
  
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• Wakefield scramble last-gasp win over Huddersfield

  28-06-2026 19:44 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Wakefield eke their way to a narrow win in a topsy-turvy encounter with Super League's bottom side Huddersfield Giants.
  
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• Charnley scores four tries as Leigh beat Toulouse

  28-06-2026 14:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Watch highlights as Josh Charnley scores four tries in Leigh Leopards' 40-16 win over Toulouse.
  
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• St Helens overpower Bradford to seal win

  28-06-2026 14:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Watch highlights as a dominating second-half performance sees St Helens pick up a 40-10 win over Bradford Bulls.
  
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• Wigan come from behind to edge past Hull FC

  28-06-2026 13:37 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Watch highlights as Wigan Warriors come from behind to claim a hard-fought 20-16 victory over Hull FC.
  
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• Jamie George: Henry Pollock’s self-belief is inspiring for England

  28-06-2026 05:45 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Jamie George has told his England to take a leaf out of Henry Pollock’s book when they face South Africa on Saturday in Johannesburg.
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• Wales set to reduce squad for Nations Championship

  28-06-2026 05:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Head coach Steve Tandy says the Wales squad for the Nations Championship will be cut to between 32 and 34 players early next week.
  
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• George North signs off with a try double for Barbarians against Wales

  28-06-2026 05:30 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  George North ended his professional career with two tries at Twickenham yesterday – and a first-ever conversion – as the Barbarians gave Wales a hard test before the Nations Championship kicks off on Saturday.
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• Stephen Varney the vital cog in Exeter Chiefs’ Prem rise

  28-06-2026 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Exeter Chiefs’ rise from bottom but one in the Premiership to the final at Twickenham followed a number of shrewd signings with scrum-half Stephen Varney arguably proving the most consequential.
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• Peter Jackson: Anton Segner – The German loving life as an All Black

  28-06-2026 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Anton Segner’s All Blacks call-up highlights rugby’s global reach as Peter Jackson explores the Nations Championship’s multinational squads.
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• Brendan Gallagher: Henry Pollock showing us all he’s the real deal

  28-06-2026 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Henry Pollock has silenced the doubters – and he's only just getting started. Brendan Gallagher explains why England have a special talent on their hands.
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• Trailfinders and Meg Jones gunning for shock PWR title victory against Saracens

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Trailfinders’ England captain Meg Jones is hoping to finish a remarkable season by lifting the Premiership Women’s Rugby trophy courtesy of an “underdog victory” in today’s final against Saracens.
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• Townsend: It’ll be one of our toughest tours

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Main man: Finn Russell SCOTLAND SCOTLAND face a gruelling summer itinerary against Argentina, South Africa and Fiji, and head coach Gregor Townsend is again leaning heavily on Glasgow with 19 Warriors selected including uncapped hookers Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen. The young duo earned their maiden senior call-ups following standout developmental form, and they will […]
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• Tom Hooper: I’m learning a lot with Exeter Chiefs

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Australia flanker Tom Hooper feels he has grown as a player this season at Exeter Chiefs.
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• Tim Hoyt backs Fiji to spring Nations Championship shocks ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Fiji prop Tim Hoyt believes his side can pull off a few upsets in the new Nations Championship and do the same in next year’s Rugby World Cup.
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• Success at Ellis Park does not come easy

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  CAN it really be more than half a century since Bristol found themselves at the heart of a minor rugby earthquake? It was in early June 1972 that England, led by the West Country team’s hooker supreme John Pullin and “winged” by his clubmates Peter Knight, making his final appearance at international level, and the […]
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• Struggling to raise a crowd

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  APART from the Covid-ravaged Six Nations of 2021, Wales have not played an international in Cardiff in front of 20,000 or fewer for more than a century. They might be hard pushed to avoid just such a demonstration of public apathy next Saturday. Their away fixture against Fiji in the 33,000-seater Car- diff City stadium, […]
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• Smaller teams won’t stand a chance

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  I HEARD somebody on radio the other day arguing that the “success” of some smaller teams at the ongoing 48-team FIFA World Cup makes the case for the enlarged 24 team Rugby World Cup next year. I’m not sure. You are comparing apples and pears. Yes it was great o witness world umber two Spain […]
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• Scrum will be key for Pumas

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ARGENTINA RANKED fifth in the world, Felipe Contepomi’s Argentina aim to build on the progress made in recent seasons while also broadening their squad ahead of the World Cup. Five uncapped players have earned selection for the summer Tests, including second row Lauciano Asevedo, flanker Juan Penoucos and centre Agustín Fraga, as Argentina continue to […]
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• Schmidt preparing the way for Kiss

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA face one of the most significant years in their recent history, with a coaching handover already scheduled midway through the competition as they continue preparations to host the 2027 World Cup. Joe Schmidt will oversee the July international window before handing over to Les Kiss. Schmidt’s preparations have been complicated by a lengthy […]
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• Savea: It’s an honour to lead

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  NEW ZEALAND INSPIRATIONAL back rower Ardie Savea will captain New Zealand into a new era under head coach Dave Rennie, his former boss at Kobe Steelers in Japan. The appointment signals the start of a fresh chapter following the end of Scott Robertson’s tenure. “To serve this team, its people and its fans is one […]
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• Saracens vs Trailfinders: Marlie Packer determined to leave Sarries on a high

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Harlequins-bound Marlie Packer will hope to see out her decade at Saracens by hoisting up the PWR title at her new home.
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• Saracens vs Trailfinders: Abi Burton – There’s not an ounce of fear from us

  28-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Trailfinders head into today’s PWR final insisting they have “no fear” despite facing a Saracens side that has beaten them comfortably twice during the regular season.
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