Guest columnists - The Rugby Paper

The culture of playing through pain has got to stop – it is so outdated

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 02:59:08 +0000

Barney Davies, a 24-year-old who retired from the game with concussion issues, is urging a new approach The stigma around toughness in rugby, particularly the expectation to play through injuries, is deeply ingrained in the sport’s culture. However, recent events like the retirement of Guy Porter highlight a much-needed shift in perspective. Porter’s decision to […]

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Best team in the world, I screamed

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 02:59:48 +0000

OLAMIDE SODEKE ENGLAND U20 SECOND ROW Friday night was the highlight of my short-lived rugby career so far and was the perfect way to start my first year as a professional player. It was great to beat Ireland in the semi-finals last Sunday. In our camp, we knew there was still more for us to […]

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Our aim is to make everyone proud

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 02:59:36 +0000

OLAMIDE SODEKE ENGLAND U2O SECOND ROW Having landed in South Africa last Sunday, we’ve already had a memorable time on and off the pitch. This is my third tour to South Africa after two previous trips with the U18 Men’s side, and I’m always taken back by the warmth, hospitality and importance rugby takes with […]

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I’d put my faith in Mitchell to spark England

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 02:59:40 +0000

KYRAN BRACKEN NO MATTER what Steve Borthwick does he’s just getting lynched by the public. There’s a certain pool of people who think Marcus Smith should be at 10, you’ve then got other people who are criticising that he’s named the squad early and then there was massive criticism becasue they didn’t celebrate the players […]

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Saracens still the team to beat

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 02:59:39 +0000

KYRAN BRACKEN The Champions Cup is always a great competition but right now there’s too much of a financial divide for any team in England to compete. Saracens have done well in the past but the difference in finances is now about £10 million in budget between English and French sides. Saracens will give it […]

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Libbok deserves a chance at No.10

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 02:59:45 +0000

NEIL DE KOCK FORMER SARACENS AND SPRINGBOKS SCRUM-HALF HAVING beaten the Springboks in Auckland, the All Blacks certainly have one hand on the trophy due to the fact it’s a single round Rugby Championship in a World Cup year. The All Blacks were superb at Mount Smart Stadium, particularly in the first quarter, but aside […]

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Borthwick knows what he wants at 9

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 02:59:46 +0000

NEIL DE KOCK FORMER SARACENS AND SPRINGBOKS SCRUM-HALF STEVE Borthwick, who took over from Eddie Jones as England head coach in late 2022, hasn’t had much time in the saddle but he will definitely want to put his own stamp and authority on this squad. He would already have communicated how he wants to move […]

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We must keep building on World Cup success

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 03:59:13 +0000

ROCKY CLARK ENGLAND WORLD CUP WINNER AS women’s rugby ripped through the world this autumn, and New Zealand were crowned world champions following a thrilling final against England, it’s fair to say that the overall winner was women’s rugby itself. On paper England were the favourites of the tournament but a twist of fate saw […]

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Time for the forgotten men to return

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 03:59:10 +0000

Tom Bradshaw urges the new England coaching team to give these players a chance Decisions, decisions, decisions. Or maybe that should be indecision, indecision, indecision. Under Eddie Jones’s tenure, around 200 players were picked to be part of various England set-ups – although dozens never won a cap. There were water bottle-carrying apprentices, the briefest […]

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Hats off to NZ as they win sixth world crown

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 03:59:39 +0000

ROCKY CLARK ENGLAND WORLD CUP WINNER THE National Grid will surely have got a surge when hundreds of thousands of people put their kettles on early doors, to settle into the culmination of a fantastic tournament. The rapidly growing number of fans of women’s rugby were ready for what promised to be an absolute humdinger […]

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Happy it’s Hunter who will take on my baton

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 02:59:01 +0000

ROCKY CLARK WORLD CUP WINNER Captain marvel: Sarah Hunter Influential: Marlie Packer What an encounter! It promised to be special and it didn’t disappoint. Two of the top teams in the world battling it out on the world stage for bragging rights, and to edge a step closer to winning Pool C in the Women’s […]

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England must step it up for Le Crunch

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 02:59:13 +0000

ROCKY CLARK WORLD CUP WINNER So the wait is over. Five years after England lost the 2017 World Cup final against New Zealand, could this be the year the Red Roses lift the trophy on the Black Ferns’ home turf ? What a fairytale ending that would be. But let’s not get carried away just […]

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Lawes gets my nod but Eddie has a tough call – Dean Richards

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 02:59:45 +0000

FORMER ENGLAND No.8 'Big boys don’t cry’ sang Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons (I know it’s girls really but just go with it), which is why I’m backing Courtney Lawes starting for England in the World Cup next year, although my preference would be as a lock. Not many boys come as big and […]

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England will relish American challenge

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 02:59:07 +0000

ROCKY CLARK England's most capped player and World Cup winner A Summer full of high-profile women’s sport is followed by an autumn of excitement too. With the Women’s World Cup just around the corner, the international friendly scene is hotting up. Scotland faced USA, Ireland played Japan, and England face USA and Wales, and NZ […]

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Right move to rest Marx, he’s crucial for World Cup

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 02:59:04 +0000

NEIL DE KOCK THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICA AND SARACENS SCRUM-HALF Two rounds into the Rugby Championship and each team has won one and lost one. Argentina lead the standings on points difference after crushing Australia in San Juan, while the All Blacks bounced back to win at the spiritual home of Springbok rugby. The Springboks […]

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Having DMP in the league is vital for women’s game

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 02:58:56 +0000

ROCKY CLARK ENGLAND WORLD CUP WINNER On the eve of the Women’s Allianz Premier XVs fixtures announcement, the league postponed the publication due to “unexpected planning issues”. Whilst the rugby community was unaware of the reasons behind this, all became clear when the Durham Sharks Women set up a crowd funder to raise funds to […]

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Jack’s authority shows he’s the lad for England

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 02:59:46 +0000

KYRAN BRACKEN FORMER ENGLAND SCRUM-HALF It's interesting that, in England, scrum-half has traditionally been considered less influential tactically than fly-half, with the focus almost always on the player in the No.10 shirt. However, with nations like France and South Africa, everything goes through the scrum-half, who is considered to be not only the main tactical […]

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Tale of two Tadhgs has sad ending for Eddie | David Flatman

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

THE two Tadhgs, Beirne and Furlong, achieved such dominance that England were rarely on the front foot. England looked meek in front of the overwhelming superiority of the Irish forward pack. When England did seize momentum, a cute and agile Irish defence either held the English ball carriers up or knocked them over and nicked […]

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Tips for quitting smoking with LYFT Nicotine Pouches

The Rugby Paper Team — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 08:02:55 +0000

Smoking has serious negative health effects. These effects are dire especially if you are a professional athlete. This is because the carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke interferes with the flow of oxygen in the muscles. Cigarette smoking also tightens blood vessels. As a result, athletes will feel tired and take longer to build muscles. In […]

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Factors you should consider when getting into sports betting

The Rugby Paper Team — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 10:19:11 +0000

There is an increasing interest in sports betting with everyone trying to boost their bankroll. The betting industry is vast and rapidly expanding, and many companies are trying to offer the ultimate betting experience to customers. You can bet on different sports, including football, rugby, hockey, and cricket. However, placing a winning bet isn’t as […]

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Hopefully I’ll be given a luckier break this time! England 7s captain Tom Mitchell talks Commonwealth Games

The Rugby Paper Team — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 10:02:08 +0000

The last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was a mixed experience for me. It was massively exciting and the build-up was amazing but, personally, it went downhill pretty quickly after I broke my ankle in the group stage against Australia and missed the rest of the tournament. Hopefully, I won’t be doing that this time and, […]

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Catherine Spencer: Litchfield will get new chance to join in 2019

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 10:28:16 +0000

As the dust settles on the World Cup and we see the trophy sail to New Zealand to sit proudly alongside the men’s we have something to look forward to in England. Unlike three years ago the focus does not completely transfer to the Sevens form of the game. The top level of women’s domestic […]

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Gary Gold: Time now for Boks to unleash wonderkid

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 10:31:10 +0000

The wave towards the 2019 World Cup is gathering pace and while the wily old veterans will be in situ for all four of these Rugby Championship sides, here are six of the best young players who have impressed in this season’s Super Rugby and could light up the tournament. Curwin Bosch (South Africa, above) […]

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Catherine Spencer: Stop judging us by the scorelines, men’s game had mismatches, too

The Rugby Paper Team — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:30:33 +0000

In front of a not-so full crowd (arguably due to tournament format) England secured a fairly straightforward ten-try victory over Spain. But, somehow, I found my heart sinking when young Megan Jones crossed the line after just 54 seconds. That was because a magnifying glass has been trained on Women’s rugby and some people are […]

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Catherine Spencer: These professional Red Roses are red hot favourites to defend title

The Rugby Paper Team — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:29:09 +0000

In 2008 we played France away in the Six Nations and recorded England‘s biggest victory over Les Bleus, winning 31-0. We were superb that day in Bergerac. At the end of the game we were on the pitch while the French announcers were addressing the crowd. Their message was that France played well considering they […]

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Dan Leo: Charitable mindset has held back Pacific rugby

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 10:31:39 +0000

Much of the kiwi media-fare leading up to the third test between New Zealand and the Lions focussed on Kieran Read and the fact it was to be his 100th test cap. Only the seventh New Zealander to do so, Read joins a select group of 48 international players in the 100 club. Topped by […]

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Mike Ford: My love of risk-taking has landed me in the USA

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 10:29:33 +0000

The opportunity to try something new appealed to me when Dallas Griffins owner Phil Camm asked me to head up the club’s rugby operations ahead of the launch of the USA‘s Major League Rugby in the spring of 2018. People may be a bit surprised by my next career choice and I admit it is […]

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Andy Goode: You’ve got to be a big noise now, Demetri!

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:30:29 +0000

The fly-half merry-go-round has been in full swing throughout a frenetic last few months with a host of No.10s switching clubs in the Premiership or arriving from overseas. Now that all the wheeling and dealing has been done, it will be fascinating to see which of the clubs get the best return for their investment. For […]

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Dan Leo: Samoa left with mountain to climb after All Blacks error

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:30:02 +0000

After a brutally long season the ever-dwindling holiday period is finally upon us. Four weeks to rest those aches and pains, put the feet up and take a well-deserved breather. For the Pacific Islanders among us, it’s a chance to reconnect with family, forget about frozen pitches in far-flung continents, and consume copious amounts of […]

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Gary Gold: Boks reborn with Venter working for the defence

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 10:28:17 +0000

The fact that the All Blacks drew the three-match series with the British and Irish Lions would have been of concern to them. Hence they would have gone back to the drawing board in a big way with the Rugby Championship kicking off next month. Without a shadow of a doubt, the All Blacks will […]

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Lions watch: back rows

The Rugby Paper Team — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 10:08:55 +0000

New Zealand have been kings of the contest for the ball in the loose for as long as anyone can remember, and even though techniques and terminology may change – ‘breakdown’ being the current buzzword – they still reign supreme. More than ever it is now the job of every player on the field to […]

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Lions Watch: locks

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 10:30:57 +0000

The giants of the second row have always loomed large in the folklore of the Lions as the driving force behind the most successful tours. Whether it was Willie John McBride in 1971 (New Zealand) and 1974 (South Africa), Wade Dooley in 1989 (Australia), Martin Johnson in 1997 (South Africa), and Paul O’Connell and Alun-Wyn […]

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Lions watch: tightheads and hookers

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 10:30:48 +0000

New Zealand have the highest strike rate off set piece possession in the world game. That is why it is imperative that the Lions jolt them out of their rhythm on their set piece ball, and unleash hell on the All Blacks when it is their turn to attack from scrum and line-out. Hooker and […]

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Lions watch: scrum-halves

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 10:30:22 +0000

Given the influence that Conor Murray had on the 2013 Lions series victory in Australia, and on Ireland‘s progress since then, the Munster scrum-half is as close as there is to a certainty for the forthcoming tour to New Zealand. Although Kieran Marmion did a good job as cover for Murray in the Irish victory […]

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Lions watch: fly-halves

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:30:16 +0000

The Six Nations provides Warren Gatland with the most exacting series of trials that any Lions chief selector could wish for. This is especially true for those at fly-half, the tactical fulcrum in any Rugby Union team, and one which will have to function flawlessly if the tourists are to repeat the series win over […]

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Lions watch: centres

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:30:20 +0000

The ebb and flow of Lions selection at centre during this Six Nations turned decisively in England‘s direction when Jonathan Joseph grabbed the lead part in their fourth round dismantling of Scotland at Twickenham. The Bath outside-centre’s scintillating running made him too hard to hold for the Scottish midfield pairing of Alex Dunbar and Huw […]

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Lions watch: wings

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 10:30:28 +0000

Warren Gatland is going to be spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting his 2017 Lions wings. The head coach has such a variety of world-class options that his job of selecting players whose finishing touches often make the difference between winning or losing a Test series is going to be fiendishly difficult. Four […]

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Lions watch: full-backs and loosehead

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 10:30:30 +0000

Stuart Hogg is the name on everybody’s lips as the candidates for full-back in the 2017 Lions tour party showcase their talents in the Six Nations. The Scottish No.15’s rocket-fuelled acceleration and sumptuous array of handling and kicking skills – encapsulated by the two spectacular tries he scored in Scotland‘s victory over Ireland – have […]

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Tom Mitchell: The heat is on – we must get it right or go home

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 12:59:38 +0000

The England 7s Captain gives the inside story from the athletes' village.

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Tom Mitchell: Keep the pathway clear for students to reach very top

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 02 May 2014 10:31:15 +0000

We are a few days away from the penultimate tournament of the 2013/14 HSBC World Sevens Series in Glasgow and therefore only a couple of weeks away from the series climax at Twickenham on the 10th and 11th of May. This heralds in an important time of the season for England 7s. We have two […]

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Tom Mitchell: Konichiwa from Japan’s capital

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 12:46:19 +0000

Konichiwa! That is pretty much the extent of our grasp of the lingo out here. Of all our stops on the Sevens world tour, Tokyo offers a culture and a language most different from what we are used to. Touring out here really makes you feel that you are living the travelling life that comes […]

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Tom Mitchell: Semi-final defeat to New Zealand hurts but we can’t wait for Tokyo

The Rugby Paper Team — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 11:49:25 +0000

As we return to England with another fourth-place finish there is a now familiar feeling of so close yet so far. But if anything our self-belief has been bolstered. The overall HSBC World Series standings remain much unchanged as we sit fourth behind Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand who reclaim top spot. The lead […]

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Tom Mitchell: What happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas so now we can concentrate on Wellington

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:30:20 +0000

Ten days of temptation is plenty and we’ve battled Sin City for long enough. After three days of intense competition we’ll be happy to leave Las Vegas behind and look for winning ways in Wellington. A fifth-place finish here in Vegas, secured in a victory over Australia in the Plate final, leaves us fourth in […]

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England Sevens captain Tom Mitchell: Sevens in Sin City

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 12:30:21 +0000

When people think of Las Vegas they think of high rollers, world famous shows, Caesar’s Palace and the MGM Grand. It is fair to say Vegas is not best known for its rugby. I have witnessed a number of quizzical expressions this week when we’ve tried to explain that we are a rugby team. One […]

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Tom Mitchell: Sevens deep in the desert

The Rugby Paper Team — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 11:35:29 +0000

Of all the nine tournaments on the IRB series, the Dubai 7s is perhaps the one that best brings home the bizarre nature of our jobs. The swish hotel rooms and the bright lights of the city skyline give a taste of the life of luxury lived by many out here. The taste of the […]

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Tom Mitchell: Gold Coast behind us, Dubai next

The Rugby Paper Team — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:31:55 +0000

We are back in the gym and working hard. Sessions on the running track and training park are back to their pre-season intensity. Once again our focus is four weeks in the future and the Dubai Sevens. The Gold Coast has been put behind us. Twelve days ago we were striding away with a victory […]

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Behind the England Sevens’ scenes with Tom Mitchell: Countdown to round One…

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:45:20 +0000

Sitting on a sun drenched balcony in Australia looking out over Surfers Paradise the idea six gruelling games of 7s might not be the first thing on your mind. But at 11.36 am on Saturday we will touch gloves with Spain and knuckle down for the first round of the IRB series. It has felt […]

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Tom Mitchell: Welcome behind the scenes of England Sevens

The Rugby Paper Team — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 12:05:55 +0000

For a lucky few of us an endless summer is about to start. The HSBC World Sevens Series commences in three weeks on the Australian Gold Coast and for the next nine months two hundred players will travel to nine different destinations across five different continents. But the intense, fast paced, high-pressure competition remains the […]

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