Rugby news

• When statistics + analysis = oh no!

  11-05-2025 04:59
  
  DID you know that in round 15 of the United Rugby Championship – which, for the avoidance of doubt, was the one before round 16, which has been unfolding over this current weekend – the Newport-based Dragons made 1.1 post-contact metres per carry with a 48.4 gainline success rate? Crikey, who’d have thought it? You […]
  The post When statistics + analysis = oh no! appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
  
  Read more

• Wales coach Steve Tandy left trapped in middle of toxic Ospreys and Cardiff saga

  20-01-2026 20:18
  Doubt over regions is fast escalating into a civil warSix Nations squad announcement overshadowedThe prevailing mood in Welsh rugby has frequently been dark but rarely this bible black. Once upon a time a Six Nations squad announcement would have topped the agenda across the country; on Tuesday it felt like a semicolon in a much bigger narrative. Even Wales have never selected seven players whose club is in imminent danger of being axed by their own union.The bare facts of the situation are incr
  
  Read more

• The Breakdown | England prepare to reveal Six Nations hand with Borthwick aware of ticking clock

  20-01-2026 11:46
  The Six Nations is a key staging post on the road to next year’s World Cup and with injuries biting, Wales offer the only real chance to experimentOn the face of it the Champions Cup has been helpful for the majority of Six Nations head coaches before this year’s championship. Gregor Townsend, for example, would dearly love Scotland to play with the purpose and passion currently oozing from Glasgow and will doubtless wish to ensure his national side exhibit similar characteristics.Di
  
  Read more

• Not like the old days? In truth, there has never been a better time to watch sport | Sean Ingle

  20-01-2026 09:00
  For all the golden moments, rewatching coverage from 40 years ago was a lesson in how much things have improvedForty years ago this month, the Pet Shop Boys track West End Girls topped the charts. Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea were locked in a four-way battle for the title. And Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on Wogan. Terry: “This new film you’ve made, Commando: it’s very violent isn’t it?” Arnie: “Actually, it’s low-key. I only kill
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Champions Cup organisers defend format but consider changes next season

  19-01-2026 17:10
  Pool stages could revert to an October start‘The format is delivering,’ insists European rugby chiefThe organisers of the Champions Cup are looking to shift the start of the tournament back to October to add extra impetus to the pool stages. This year’s competition kicked off in December but there is collective support from coaches and clubs to commence their campaigns prior to the packed November Test window.The current structure and calendar slots are technically in place unt
  
  Read more

• Champions Cup roundup: Saracens face last-16 tie at Bath after defeat against Glasgow

  18-01-2026 22:49
  Saracens to play Prem champions after losing to WarriorsHarlequins defeat La Rochelle to help Leicester progressSaracens will travel to face Bath in the round of 16 after being beaten 28-3 by Glasgow in their final pool match at Scotstoun. Most of the points came in the first half, with the Warriors scoring three converted tries through Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn and George Horne while Saracens replied with an Owen Farrell penalty.Seb Stephen then rumbled over in the closing seconds of the match to
  
  Read more

• Trio through but Welsh clubs rue missed Euro chances

  18-01-2026 21:44 via bbc.com
  Scarlets are regretting missed chances in the Champions Cup while Cardiff, Dragons and Ospreys will have to travel in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.
  
  Read more

• Bath v Saracens and Leicester at Bordeaux - Champions Cup last 16

  18-01-2026 21:30 via bbc.com
  Bath will play Saracens in the last 16 of the Champions Cup, while Leicester travel to holders Bordeaux and Bristol face six-time winners Toulouse away.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Glasgow beat Saracens to set up Bulls last-16 tie

  18-01-2026 20:29 via bbc.com
  Glasgow Warriors continue their fine form in the Champions Cup with victory over Saracens to set up a home last-16 tie against the Bulls.
  
  Read more

• Harlequins knock out La Rochelle with stunning away win

  18-01-2026 18:44 via bbc.com
  Harlequins stun La Rochelle to claim a place and home advantage in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.
  
  Read more

• Todaro hat-trick seals Saints home last-16 tie

  18-01-2026 18:15 via bbc.com
  Impressive teenager Edoardo Todaro scores a first-half hat-trick to help seal Northampton Saints a home last-16 tie in the Investec Champions Cup and eliminate Scarlets.
  
  Read more

• Clovers claim bonus-point win over Glasgow Warriors

  18-01-2026 18:05 via bbc.com
  A strong second-half showing helps Clovers to a 57-31 victory over Glasgow Warriors in an entertaining Celtic Challenge game at the Affidea Stadium.
  
  Read more

• Chiefs rout Cardiff to seal home tie in last 16

  18-01-2026 17:19 via bbc.com
  Bachuki Tchumbadze scores an early double as Exeter Chiefs overcome a reshuffled Cardiff side to book a home tie in the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup.
  
  Read more

• ‘It felt amazing to be on the start line again’: the rugby pro who became paralysed – and is aiming for the Paralympic Games

  18-01-2026 17:00
  Aged 20, Taylor Gough had a car accident. Five years later, he’s hoping to compete in the 2028 Paralympics. How did he do it?From the age of 16, Taylor Gough’s body was a finely tuned machine. A professional rugby player who came up through the youth team at Leicester Tigers, his weeks revolved around training: heavy weights, tactical drills, contact sessions, cardio. “My body served a purpose and I ate to fuel it.”Then, aged 20, he woke up in hospital unable to move or t
  
  Read more

• Bielle-Biarrey hat-trick fires holders Bordeaux to Champions Cup victory at Bristol

  18-01-2026 16:25
  Pool 4: Bristol 15-27 BordeauxBielle-Biarrey lights up match to secure top spotThe odds on Bordeaux-Bègles successfully defending their Champions Cup crown shortened considerably on a damp, grey Sunday lunchtime in Bristol. Good sides can adapt their game to suit awkward conditions and, for the second weekend in a row, French class outflanked English energy and optimism with a hat-trick of tries from the spectacularly prolific French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey.The Bears, seeking to play
  
  Read more

• Bielle-Biarrey hat-trick denies Bristol top spot

  18-01-2026 16:09 via bbc.com
  Bristol Bears miss out on top spot in their Champions Cup pool as Louis Bielle-Biarrey's hat-trick gives defending champions Bordeaux victory at Ashton Gate.
  
  Read more

• Wolfhounds pick up big win over Brython Thunder

  18-01-2026 14:50 via bbc.com
  Wolfhounds produce a rampant display in the Celtic Challenge to ease to a 69-0 victory over Brython Thunder at the Affidea Stadium.
  
  Read more

• Partington returns to Wigan on five-year deal

  18-01-2026 12:51 via bbc.com
  Wigan Warriors re-sign prop forward Oliver Partington from Catalans Dragons, with Kruise Leeming making the opposite move on loan.
  
  Read more

• Gloucester eliminated after home defeat by Toulon

  17-01-2026 23:34 via bbc.com
  Gloucester are out of the Champions Cup after a disappointing 31-14 home defeat to Toulon.
  
  Read more

• Connacht thrash Montauban to advance in Challenge Cup

  17-01-2026 23:21 via bbc.com
  Connacht score 11 tries in a thumping 75-14 bonus-point win against Montauban to secure a spot in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.
  
  Read more

• Away tie for Ospreys after loss to Montpellier

  17-01-2026 23:15 via bbc.com
  Ospreys will face an away tie in the Challenge Cup knockout stages in April after a 31-26 defeat by Montpellier in Bridgend.
  
  Read more

• Toulouse run 11 tries through ragged Sale as Thomas Ramos finds kicking perfection

  17-01-2026 21:04
  Pool 1: Toulouse 77-7 SaleBoth clubs are through to Champions Cup last 16 They are box office, of course. The team anyone would pay good money to watch. A collection of youngsters from Manchester were given the best seats in the house, as their magisterial hosts ran rings round them. This is Sale’s record defeat. This is Toulouse avenging their defeat to Saracens last week. Far older and uglier players than Sale could call on would have suffered similarly.Both teams qualify for the last 16
  
  Read more

• Munster out of Champions Cup after loss to Castres

  17-01-2026 21:00 via bbc.com
  Munster crash out of the Investec Champions Cup after losing an enthralling Pool Two encounter against Castres at Thomond Park.
  
  Read more

• Toulouse inflict Sale's record loss to avoid shock exit

  17-01-2026 20:42 via bbc.com
  Toulouse avoid a shock Investec Champions Cup exit by scoring 11 tries and inflicting Sale Sharks' record defeat.
  
  Read more

• World Sports Photography Awards 2026 winners revealed – in pictures

  17-01-2026 20:00
  More than 4,120 photographers from 123 countries submitted a record-breaking 23,130 images across the 24 categories to this year’s World Sports Photography awards, the only global competition for sporting photography.To see the silver, bronze and special merit images from all of the categories click here Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Leicester hopes in the balance after Stormers loss

  17-01-2026 19:01 via bbc.com
  Leicester face a nervous wait to find out if they will progress to the Champions Cup round of 16 after a 39-26 defeat against the Stormers in Cape Town.
  
  Read more

• Leinster late show clinches home tie in last 16

  17-01-2026 18:30 via bbc.com
  Leinster seal a late 22-13 win over Bayonne to ensure that they win Champions Cup Pool Three and will enjoy home advantage in the knockout stages.
  
  Read more

• Ulster hold off Parisian fightback to win Challenge Cup pool

  17-01-2026 15:58 via bbc.com
  Ulster secure a top-spot finish in their Challenge Cup pool thanks to a nervy 26-19 win over Stade Francais in Belfast.
  
  Read more

• Lightning top table with bonus-point Edinburgh win

  17-01-2026 15:55 via bbc.com
  Gwalia Lightning's impressive Celtic Challenge form continued as they enjoyed a bonus-point victory over Edinburgh.
  
  Read more

• Dragons on brink of last 16 after thrashing Newcastle

  17-01-2026 10:43 via bbc.com
  Dragons beat Newcastle 35-12 in the Challenge Cup at Rodney Parade to move to within touching distance of the last 16.
  
  Read more

Follow @Rugby_News_UK on Twitter!