Rugby news

• Will England grab man of steel?

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  THERE have been better times to be a defence coach with the game taking the ‘entertainment’ route and focusing on quick release, increased ball in play time and zero tolerance to acts of sabotage by defenders. Television match officials are far more likely to intervene for a borderline knock-on, as happened at Franklin’s Gardens last […]
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• The winner takes it all! Exeter Chiefs snatch final Prem semi-final spot

  07-06-2026 05:45 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Exeter Chiefs grabbed the final Prem semi-final place with victory over Saracens yesterday and will take on Bath next weekend.
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• The winner takes it all! Chiefs snatch final spot

  07-06-2026 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  EXETER grabbed the final Prem semi-final place with victory over Saracens yesterday and will take on Bath next weekend. In the other semi-final, Leicester travel to Franklin’s Gardens to face table-toppers Northampton Saints. ■By BEN JAYCOCK In a decisive final weekend for the Prem, Exeter overcame Saracens, the only team who could push them out […]
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• Yorkshire stay on course

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Gill Burns Roundup YORKSHIRE remained on course to retain their Gill Burns County Championship crown after powering into the Division 1 final with a convincing 46-12 victory over Eastern Counties at Laund Hill last Sunday. The defending champions once again showcased the attacking form that has made them the standout side in the competition. Surrey […]
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• Yes, Nick, Fasogbon deserves his chance

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED If you’re good enough: Afolabi Fasogbon has obvious Test potential PICTURES: Getty Images THE bad news? Nick Cain is right. No slight on Nick, of course: he has always known his onions when it comes to the meat-and-gravy portion of the union game, so when he argues, in characteristically trenchant style, […]
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• Working hard to help rugby grow in Poland

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  JUVENIA Kraków captain Michał Jurczynski believes Polish rugby has the raw materials to grow, but stresses more must be done to develop homegrown players and promote the sport’s values. By BEN JAYCOCK The 25-year-old outside centre, who has represented Poland at senior level, says the domestic league has improved thanks to foreign players, but admits […]
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• Worcester Warriors boss Matt Everard says Champ triumph is “as special as it gets”

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Worcester Warriors completed one of rugby’s great resurrection stories with a 27-14 victory over Bedford Blues at Goldington Road last Sunday to lift the Champ title in their first season back from extinction.
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• Why no Cherry?

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  I FIND scandalous that arguably one of the standout players in the Champ and the joint top scorer, James Cherry, wasn’t even mentioned in the Team of the Season. Perhaps next season when he’s playing for Worcester he might magically become visible as it seems Nottingham are currently invisible given that they weren’t even mentioned […]
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• White Roses finish as the queens of Twickenham

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By MO SHER Blooming marvellous: Yorkshire celebrate Yorkshire ..........37pts Tries: Burrows 4, Brocklebank 24, Cockroft-Smith 42, Bolger 61, Battel 66, Akwiwu 69, Manson 80 Conversion: Knott 80 Surrey .................. 5pts Try: Maguire 15 Gill Burns Division 1 Final A DOMINANT Yorkshire side continued to exert nigh on total dominance in this competition, this seven-try win […]
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• What a day! Come On You Warriors…

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Party time: Worcester Warriors celebrate their stunning victory PICTURE: Alamy I MUST admit that Paul Sheehan’s letter last week in The Rugby Paper was a gift to many of us Worcester supporters. My sympathies to Paul in the wake of Worcester Warriors winning the Champ Rugby final. I don’t dispute that Ealing Trailfinders went unbeaten […]
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• Warriors are broken by Bulls fightback

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By BEN JAYCOCK THE Bulls produced a stirring comeback to stun Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield and book their place in a fourth final in five seasons. Embrose Papier, named player of the match, praised the resilience shown by his side who had trailed 21-10 at half time. He said: “We knew Glasgow were a good […]
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• Walder hails a brilliant display

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  EXETER Chiefs back coach Dave Walder hailed a ‘brilliant’ performance from his side as they booked their place in the Premiership play-offs for the first time since 2021. “Nobody lets you forget around this place the history between these two great clubs, these two very successful clubs,” said Walder. “It was important we got our […]
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• Unlike other teams, Sale haven’t evolved

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  WATCHING Sale race to a 35-10 lead at half-time against Newcastle last week there was always a sense, even evidence based justification that the game was far from over. Sale had squandered more winnable leads this season than many if not all other teams, which maybe acute, but could be chronic?! As for Newcastle, they […]
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• Umaga’s words set juices flowing

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  CHILLING statement of the week? No contest. Tana Umaga, one of the more ferocious All Blacks of the modern age, is back on the beat with his national team and has gone public with his intention to restore the faded silver-ferned jersey to something approaching its former glory. Oh well. The deterioration was nice while […]
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• TV coverage is not as good as it should be

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  DOES anybody else share my frustration with the quality of TNT’s television coverage of rugby this season? It seems the TV directors either don’t understand the game or don’t want to learn. We seem to miss quick lineout throws, conversions (although some split screen pictures have appeared recently) all for the sake of replays. Of […]
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• The rise of Bath is down to Spurrell

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE respect and affection for Roger Spurrell that has poured out since it was announced the inspirational former Bath captain and flanker passed away last week at the age of 71 is no surprise to anyone who knew him. Roger was already an almost mythical figure at Bath […]
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• That’s as special as it can get, says Everard

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By BEN JAYCOCK Delight: Captain Matt Kvesic and his Worcester players lift the Elior Champ Rugby trophy PICTURES: Alamy Coach: Matt Everard WORCESTER Warriors completed one of rugby’s great resurrection stories with a 27-14 victory over Bedford Blues at Goldington Road last Sunday to lift the Champ title in their first season back from extinction. […]
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• Tempers flare as Leinster battle to get over the line

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON Tackle: Ronan Kelleher grabs Damian Willemse LEINSTER booked their place in a second successive final after edging out the Stormers in a tense, fiery semi-final at the Aviva Stadium. The match was overshadowed by a scuffle in the tunnel as the teams went in at half time as tempers flared throughout. Amidst […]
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• Springbok star picked as best in the URC

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By SAM JACKSON Springbok ace: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu STORMERS fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been crowned the URC’s players’ player of the season in a poll of the captains and vice captains from the 16 teams. The 24-year-old Springboks sensation was the top points scorer in the URC regular season with 158, while he was also second […]
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• Sorry Leinster aren’t feeling the love

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  IN an age when Test arenas are littered with trophies for anything and everything, it is perhaps a tad surprising that nobody has exploited the commercial potential of Touch Rugby. The Touchy World Club awaits discovery. Why not? Perhaps the money men have already dreamt that one up and thought better of it due to […]
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• Sale looking for some French tips

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By PAUL REES ALEX Sanderson plans for a makeover at Sale over the summer will take him to French champions Toulouse. The Sharks have had a campaign to forget after being tipped at the start of the season to be among the contenders for the title. Instead of making the top four, they have been […]
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• Sale enjoy a taste of what may lie ahead

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By ROSS HEPPENSTALL GOODNESS knows it has been a season to forget for Sale, but this was a final-day victory to savour. Alex Sanderson’s men outscored an understrength Bristol side by six tries to three to confirm their place in the 2026-27 Investec Champions Cup. Sale have underachieved this season, that cannot be denied, especially […]
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• Russell will be ready for Exeter clash, says van Graan

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  BATH expect Finn Russell to be available for Saturday’s play-off against Exeter at the Rec. The Scotland and Lions outside-half has missed Bath’s last two matches because of a calf strain, but was present with his boots yesterday. “His rehab is going well and he is doing it with a smile,” said Bath’s head of […]
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• Roberts makes the running

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By MO SHER Durham ............27 Cornwall ........ 46 Gill Burns Division 2 Final CORNWALL, on their first visit to Twickenham, held off a brilliant Durham fightback to clinch the Division Two title, led by the outstanding Michaella Roberts. The No. 8 scored two first-half tries to open up a 12-point lead for the southerners at […]
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• RFU must move fast to sign up Edwards

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK WHETHER Shaun Edwards is in the process of disentangling himself from a French Federation contract which extends until 2028, or is a free agent already, following reports that he has been axed by France head coach Fabien Galthie, the RFU should have been talking to him about […]
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• Referees need to get it right this summer

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  SOUTH Africa may be quadruple world champions, but their influence does not extend to all corners of the game in the way New Zealand’s did when they were kings of the hill. When it comes to officiating, South Africa appears to have plummeted down the world rankings, with no SARU referee taking charge of any […]
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• Redshaw makes it a Champions finale

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By ROGER PANTING FORMER Falcon, Ben Redshaw, scored a hat-trick of tries as Gloucester comfortably earned a European Champions Cup spot by securing an eighth-placed finish with a bonus-point victory. This didn’t look likely at the end of the first quarter when they looked half asleep to deservedly trail 14-7 but a four-try blitz just […]
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• Pride at stake in final derby showdown

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  ■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Leicester Tigers v Loughborough Lightning Today. Kick-off 3.30pm, Welford Road LOCAL pride is the main prize on offer as Leicester and Loughborough conclude their campaigns in the East Midlands derby. Tigers are guaranteed to finish bottom regardless of the result but will desperately want to sign off with a first victory […]
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• Perry to retire

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  IRELAND prop Ellena Perry will retire from rugby at the end of the PWR season, bringing to a close a career that included international caps for both England and Ireland. The 29-year-old, 11-cap England international won four league titles across spells with Saracens and Gloucester-Hartpury and earned nine Ireland caps after switching allegiance in 2025 […]
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• Ospreys sign new WRU deal

  07-06-2026 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  OSPREYS have become the third Welsh region to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) with the WRU. Scarlets are now the only region not to have yet signed the deal. A statement from Ospreys, who last week announced a £1.8m loss for their last financial year, read: "The agreement, which runs until the end […]
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