My Life in Rugby - news, interviews, opinion and more - The Rugby Paper https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/ Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:19 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RP-flavicon-150x150.jpg My Life in Rugby - news, interviews, opinion and more - The Rugby Paper https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/ 32 32 I now realise how lucky I was to travel the world https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/463396/i-now-realise-how-lucky-i-was-to-travel-the-world/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/463396/i-now-realise-how-lucky-i-was-to-travel-the-world/#respond Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:19 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/463396/i-now-realise-how-lucky-i-was-to-travel-the-world/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY ARCHIE WHITE THE FORMER HARLEQUINS & ENGLAND U20 FLANKER RUGBY actually came to me quite late in my upbringing, I was around 15/16. I did go-karting before that, which is quite niche, I know. My dad used to race cars, which is what sparked my interest in motorsport. George Russell was racing […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/463396/i-now-realise-how-lucky-i-was-to-travel-the-world/feed/ 0 Ian Prior – Zimbabwe World Cup qualification puts the cherry on top https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/462821/world-cup-qualification-puts-the-cherry-on-top/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/462821/world-cup-qualification-puts-the-cherry-on-top/#respond Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:22 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=462821 My life in rugby with Ian Prior, the former Reds, Brumbies, Western Force and now Zimbabwe half-back I have been fortunate throughout my career to play with some excellent teams in the top competitions and alongside some outstanding players, but helping my heritage nation Zimbabwe qualify for the World Cup is right up there as […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/462821/world-cup-qualification-puts-the-cherry-on-top/feed/ 0 My proudest moment was to lead England out https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461782/my-proudest-moment-was-to-lead-england-out/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461782/my-proudest-moment-was-to-lead-england-out/#respond Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:14 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461782/my-proudest-moment-was-to-lead-england-out/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY JOSH BEAUMONT THE FORMER ENGLAND XV, SALE SHARKS & FYLDE LOCK IPLAYED 196 games for Sale, and it would have been nice to get to 200. At the start of the season I thought I would but with the state of my knees, it just wasn’t possible. I made the decision to […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461782/my-proudest-moment-was-to-lead-england-out/feed/ 0 I was very proud to be given a testimonial https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461296/i-was-very-proud-to-be-given-a-testimonial/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461296/i-was-very-proud-to-be-given-a-testimonial/#respond Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:59:09 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461296/i-was-very-proud-to-be-given-a-testimonial/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE NOW-RETIRED CAMBRIDGE & BEDFORD BLUES WINGER PAT TAPLEY Speedster: Pat Tapley leading the way for Bedford PICTURE: Getty Images ONE of the biggest things that I will take from my rugby career, over and above any personal milestones or accolades, is the connection that it gave me and my Dad, who […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/461296/i-was-very-proud-to-be-given-a-testimonial/feed/ 0 Leinster’s league win in ’14 was right up there https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459449/leinsters-league-win-in-14-was-right-up-there/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459449/leinsters-league-win-in-14-was-right-up-there/#respond Sun, 15 Jun 2025 02:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459449/leinsters-league-win-in-14-was-right-up-there/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY IAN MADIGAN THE FORMER IRELAND, LEINSTER, BORDEAUX, BRISTOL AND ULSTER FLY-HALF AND NOW PREMIER SPORTS ANALYST AS A kid, I remember going into Donny-brook, as it was then, and watching Leinster playing and thinking these guys are superstars. Me and my brother would go home afterwards and pretend to be those players, […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459449/leinsters-league-win-in-14-was-right-up-there/feed/ 0 Leon Brown’s Life in Rugby: Named in the Pro 12 Dream Team? Happy days… https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/458737/named-in-the-dream-team-happy-days/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/458737/named-in-the-dream-team-happy-days/#respond Sun, 08 Jun 2025 02:59:20 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=458737 It was only when my mate Norm introduced me to rugby that I first became properly aware of the sport as none of my family had played. I started boxing for a bit, but my great grandad didn’t want me to do it, so my Mum pulled the plug on that; I played football but […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/458737/named-in-the-dream-team-happy-days/feed/ 0 My Life in Rugby: Tommy Taylor – I’ve achieved way more than I thought I would https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455972/ive-achieved-way-more-than-i-thought-i-would/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455972/ive-achieved-way-more-than-i-thought-i-would/#respond Sun, 25 May 2025 02:59:10 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455972/ive-achieved-way-more-than-i-thought-i-would/ I know most people probably thought I had already retired, but now it’s official. After years of my body trying to finish me off, the time has finally come. I have been advised to retire due to the injury I sustained in October, which is something I never wanted to say, but something that I […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455972/ive-achieved-way-more-than-i-thought-i-would/feed/ 0 Ollie Hoskins: London Irish faith helped me to fulfil my Wallaby dream https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455067/irish-faith-helped-me-to-fulfil-my-wallaby-dream/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455067/irish-faith-helped-me-to-fulfil-my-wallaby-dream/#respond Sun, 18 May 2025 02:59:06 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455067/irish-faith-helped-me-to-fulfil-my-wallaby-dream/ Ollie Hoskins, the former Wallabies, Western Force, London Irish and Saracens prop, discusses his life in rugby after announcing his retirement I was a rugby fan first and foremost before I joined the Western Force, aged 14. My happiness on a weekend would be based on whether they had won or not, so I was […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/455067/irish-faith-helped-me-to-fulfil-my-wallaby-dream/feed/ 0 Taking on Boks with my brothers was so special https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/454509/taking-on-boks-with-my-brothers-was-so-special/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/454509/taking-on-boks-with-my-brothers-was-so-special/#respond Sun, 11 May 2025 02:59:00 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/454509/taking-on-boks-with-my-brothers-was-so-special/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY TUSI PISI THE MANU SAMOA HEAD COACH AND TOYOTA INDUSTRY SHUTTLES ASSISTANT COACH, WHO PLAYED FLY-HALF FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, SAMOA, NORTH HARBOUR, CALVISANO, CRUSADERS, TOULON, SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH, HURRICANES, SUNWOLVES, BRISTOL AND TOYOTA INDUSTRY SHUTTLES Globe-trotter: Tusi Pisi was born in Samoa and played his rugby around the world PICTURES: Getty Images […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/454509/taking-on-boks-with-my-brothers-was-so-special/feed/ 0 I’ve made great friends for life here at Saracens https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/453948/ive-made-great-friends-for-life-here-at-saracens/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/453948/ive-made-great-friends-for-life-here-at-saracens/#respond Sun, 04 May 2025 02:59:10 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/453948/ive-made-great-friends-for-life-here-at-saracens/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER ENGLAND AND SARACENS CENTRE JOHN BUCKTON I WAS born on the east side of Hull, so I am a Hull KR fan. All the junior schools in Hull played league up until 13, and then it was union when you went up to senior school. I played in my school […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/453948/ive-made-great-friends-for-life-here-at-saracens/feed/ 0 Alex said he was happy for me to sign for Saints https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/453479/alex-said-he-was-happy-for-me-to-sign-for-saints/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/453479/alex-said-he-was-happy-for-me-to-sign-for-saints/#respond Sun, 27 Apr 2025 02:58:39 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/453479/alex-said-he-was-happy-for-me-to-sign-for-saints/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY JAMES MITCHELL THE FORMER SALE, CONNACHT, NORTHAMPTON, DONCASTER AND JERSEY SCRUM-HALF Red hot: James Mitchell playing for Jersey against Bath PICTURE: Getty Images GROWING up, there wouldn’t be a time when me, Alex (the England scrum-half) and our older brother Jordan didn’t have a ball of some description in our hands. We […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/453479/alex-said-he-was-happy-for-me-to-sign-for-saints/feed/ 0 Shaun was never slow to tell me if I was wrong https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/452271/shaun-was-never-slow-to-tell-me-if-i-was-wrong/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/452271/shaun-was-never-slow-to-tell-me-if-i-was-wrong/#respond Sun, 13 Apr 2025 02:58:34 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/452271/shaun-was-never-slow-to-tell-me-if-i-was-wrong/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY STUART ABBOTT THE FORMER ENGLAND, WASPS & HARLEQUINS CENTRE I ONLY arrived in England, where my mother was born, in the April of 2001, so to make the England squad just two years later was a real source of personal pride. I didn’t know the implications at the time but I would […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/452271/shaun-was-never-slow-to-tell-me-if-i-was-wrong/feed/ 0 Jack Andrew – I’m proud I’ve played over 200 times for Cornish Pirates https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/450719/im-proud-ive-been-a-pirate-over-200-times/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/450719/im-proud-ive-been-a-pirate-over-200-times/#respond Sun, 30 Mar 2025 02:59:01 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=450719 My Life in Rugby - Jack Andrew THE FORMER EXETER CHIEFS, CORNISH PIRATES AND PLYMOUTH ALBION PROP NOW PLAYING FOR CAMBORNE IN NATIONAL TWO WEST I was really proud to be able to make over 200 appearances for Cornish Pirates. The only player who has played more for the club is current coach Alan Paver, […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/450719/im-proud-ive-been-a-pirate-over-200-times/feed/ 0 Steven Shingler – I’ve really loved my 15 years as a professional https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/450142/ive-really-loved-my-15-years-as-a-professional/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/450142/ive-really-loved-my-15-years-as-a-professional/#respond Sun, 23 Mar 2025 03:58:15 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/450142/ive-really-loved-my-15-years-as-a-professional/ My Life in Rugby Steven Shingler - The former Scarlets, London Irish, Cardiff, Mont-de-Marsan & Ealing fly-half/centre who is now playing in level five with London Welsh When I was sat in the stands at Murrayfield watching the players belt out the national anthems before Scotland took on Wales in the Six Nations, I couldn’t […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/450142/ive-really-loved-my-15-years-as-a-professional/feed/ 0 I joined in with La Marseillaise, but quietly – Florent Rossigneux https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/449354/i-joined-in-with-la-marseillaise-but-quietly/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/449354/i-joined-in-with-la-marseillaise-but-quietly/#respond Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:59:15 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/449354/i-joined-in-with-la-marseillaise-but-quietly/ MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE FORMER RACING 92, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY, STADE FRANCAIS, RICHMOND, WASPS, BEDFORD & LONDON WELSH BACK-ROWER FLORENT ROSSIGNEUX As a player, you always wanted to play at the highest level possible, and I was no different. I wouldn’t necessarily say I dreamt of playing Test rugby, that was beyond me anyway, but […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/449354/i-joined-in-with-la-marseillaise-but-quietly/feed/ 0 Josh Matavesi: I just loved sport, it was my get-out, my freedom https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/448676/i-just-loved-sport-it-was-my-get-out-my-freedom/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/448676/i-just-loved-sport-it-was-my-get-out-my-freedom/#respond Sun, 09 Mar 2025 03:59:24 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/448676/i-just-loved-sport-it-was-my-get-out-my-freedom/ The former Fiji, Exeter, Racing 92, Worcester, Ospreys, Newcastle, Bath & Toyota Shokki Shuttles centre/fly-half Josh Matavesi For the last season and a half I’ve been back in Camborne, as player-coach of my hometown club, looking after the defence and still trying to run around as well, while also working as the club’s community officer […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/448676/i-just-loved-sport-it-was-my-get-out-my-freedom/feed/ 0 My Life in Rugby – Mike Hamlin https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447575/we-did-what-we-had-to-do-to-get-the-win/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447575/we-did-what-we-had-to-do-to-get-the-win/#comments Sun, 23 Feb 2025 03:59:03 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447575/we-did-what-we-had-to-do-to-get-the-win/ MIKE HAMLIN THE FORMER GLOUCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, SOUTH WEST AND ENGLAND B FLY-HALF I was born in Gloucester and grew up in Coney Hill, only a couple of miles away from Kingsholm. As a kid everybody wanted Gloucester to do well and playing for them was always something that you wanted to achieve and I was […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447575/we-did-what-we-had-to-do-to-get-the-win/feed/ 1 I don’t think I could have asked for a better finale https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447081/i-dont-think-i-could-have-asked-for-a-better-finale/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447081/i-dont-think-i-could-have-asked-for-a-better-finale/#respond Sun, 16 Feb 2025 03:58:41 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447081/i-dont-think-i-could-have-asked-for-a-better-finale/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY CHARLIE HODGSON THE FORMER BRITISH & IRISH LIONS, ENGLAND, SALE SHARKS & SARACENS FLY-HALF MY playing career wasn’t always rosy – I missed three World Cups for instance through a combination of injury and selection – but I count myself fortunate to be able to call professional rugby my job for 16 […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/447081/i-dont-think-i-could-have-asked-for-a-better-finale/feed/ 0 the wonderful people What stands out are https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/445421/the-wonderful-people-what-stands-out-are/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/445421/the-wonderful-people-what-stands-out-are/#respond Sun, 26 Jan 2025 03:58:33 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/445421/the-wonderful-people-what-stands-out-are/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICA ASSISTANT COACH WHO WAS IN CHARGE AT STORMERS, WESTERN PROVINCE, ULSTER, NORTHAMPTON, EASTERN PROVINCE KINGS, EDINBURGH AND WORCESTER WARRIORS ALAN SOLOMONS RUGBY is ingrained in South African society so, understandably, it became an integral part of my life early on. After leaving school, I entered the University of […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/445421/the-wonderful-people-what-stands-out-are/feed/ 0 I was astonished when Leicester got in touch https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444849/i-was-astonished-when-leicester-got-in-touch/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444849/i-was-astonished-when-leicester-got-in-touch/#respond Sun, 19 Jan 2025 03:58:21 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444849/i-was-astonished-when-leicester-got-in-touch/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY MICHAEL VAN VUUREN THE FORMER JUNIOR SPRINGBOK, CHEETAHS, STADE FRANCAIS, KINGS, LEICESTER, BATH, LONDON SCOTTISH, LONDON IRISH, NORTHAMPTON, BEDFORD, AMPTHILL, EALING, WASPS, LIONS & NEWCASTLE HOOKER Travelling man: Michael van Vuuren on the attack for Bath against Bristol PICTURE: Getty Images WHERE do I begin when reflecting on the trajectory of my […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444849/i-was-astonished-when-leicester-got-in-touch/feed/ 0 Tom Shanklin – 2005 Grand Slam was pinnacle of my career https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444172/2005-grand-slam-was-pinnacle-of-my-career/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444172/2005-grand-slam-was-pinnacle-of-my-career/#respond Sun, 12 Jan 2025 03:58:41 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444172/2005-grand-slam-was-pinnacle-of-my-career/ My Life In Rugby The former British & Irish Lions, Wales, Cardiff & Saracens centre, who now commentates for Premier Sports on URC, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Whilst I played at centre for the majority of my 12-13 years as a professional, I actually made my Test debut for Wales on the wing, against […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/444172/2005-grand-slam-was-pinnacle-of-my-career/feed/ 0 My office at home is like a shrine to rugby https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/443591/my-office-at-home-is-like-a-shrine-to-rugby/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/443591/my-office-at-home-is-like-a-shrine-to-rugby/#respond Sun, 05 Jan 2025 03:59:10 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/443591/my-office-at-home-is-like-a-shrine-to-rugby/ MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER MET POLICE, WASPS AND SARACENS NO.8, WHO REPRESENTED MIDDLESEX, LONDON, BRITISH POLICE & THE BARBARIANS LEE ADAMSON Decent: Lee Adamson in his playing days PICTURE: Pete Jenkins/FromtheBackofaMotorbike.co.uk DIVISIONAL rugby was the next step to international honours so as you can probably guess how devastated I was that I wasn’t able […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/443591/my-office-at-home-is-like-a-shrine-to-rugby/feed/ 0 Playing rugby was a free passport to travel – Maurie Fa’asavalu https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/442794/playing-rugby-was-a-free-passport-to-travel-3/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/442794/playing-rugby-was-a-free-passport-to-travel-3/#respond Sun, 29 Dec 2024 03:59:07 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/442794/playing-rugby-was-a-free-passport-to-travel-3/ My Life in Rugby - Maurie Fa'asavalu THE FORMER SAMOA RU, GREAT BRITAIN RL, HARLEQUINS, OYONNAX AND ST HELENS PLAYER, WHO IS NOW COACHING WEST PARK ST HELEN’S My first interaction with rugby was not exactly what you would call conventional. My dad was a prison warden at Tafa’igata Prison on the Samoan island of […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/442794/playing-rugby-was-a-free-passport-to-travel-3/feed/ 0 Sailing around the Med for a year is next for me – Tyler Ardron https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/435963/sailing-around-the-med-for-a-year-is-next-for-me/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/435963/sailing-around-the-med-for-a-year-is-next-for-me/#respond Sun, 08 Dec 2024 03:58:26 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/435963/sailing-around-the-med-for-a-year-is-next-for-me/ My Life in Rugby TYLER ARDRON THE CANADA FORWARD, CURRENTLY AT CASTRES, WHO PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR OSPREYS AND THE CHIEFS In 18 months’ time, when my final contract with Castres expires, I will literally be sailing off into the ocean with my partner, leaving my rugby career behind. We’re in the process of buying a […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/435963/sailing-around-the-med-for-a-year-is-next-for-me/feed/ 0 ‘I decided to work hard and Eddie Jones backed me’ – George Kruis https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/433661/i-decided-to-work-hard-and-eddie-backed-me/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/433661/i-decided-to-work-hard-and-eddie-backed-me/#respond Sun, 17 Nov 2024 03:59:20 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=433661 My Life in Rugby - George Kruis the former England, Saracens and Panasonic Wild Knights second row Man-mountain: George Kruis on the charge for England Career Journey I turned up at Saracens as a skinny late developer, all 92kgs (14st 7lbs) of me, when most second rows are at least 115 to 125kgs (18-19st 7lbs). […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/433661/i-decided-to-work-hard-and-eddie-backed-me/feed/ 0 I came on against Italy and made a difference – Lee Dickson https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/430645/i-came-on-against-italy-and-made-a-difference/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/430645/i-came-on-against-italy-and-made-a-difference/#respond Sun, 29 Sep 2024 02:59:07 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=430645 My Life in Rugby - Lee Dickson Enjoying life: Lee Dickson playing for Northampton Saints PICTURES: Getty Images Lee Dickson the former England, Newcastle, Northampton and Bedford scrum-half I’m currently five years into being master in charge of rugby at Barnard Castle School, which is where it all began for me on my journey to […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/430645/i-came-on-against-italy-and-made-a-difference/feed/ 0 Three hat-tricks for the Baa-Baas was a peak https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/426838/three-hat-tricks-for-the-baa-baas-was-a-peak/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/426838/three-hat-tricks-for-the-baa-baas-was-a-peak/#respond Sun, 07 Jul 2024 02:59:17 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=426838 MY LIFEIN RUGBY DEREK STARK THE FORMER SCOTLAND, BARBARIANS & GLASGOW WING Scoring for Scotland with my first touch of the ball after getting the better of Simon Geoghegan and then setting up Tony Stanger for a try was a real Roy of the Rovers start to my Test career. We beat Ireland 15-3, and […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/426838/three-hat-tricks-for-the-baa-baas-was-a-peak/feed/ 0 I’m thrilled to see Bath enjoying its success https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/426574/im-thrilled-to-see-bath-enjoying-its-success/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/426574/im-thrilled-to-see-bath-enjoying-its-success/#respond Sun, 30 Jun 2024 02:59:21 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=426574 MY LIFE IN RUGBY GJ VAN VELZE THE FORMER BULLS, NORTHAMPTON, WORCESTER AND BATH BACK ROW/LOCK My journey with rugby began at the age of seven during the ’95 World Cup. The Springboks’ victory had a profound impact in a country where sport significantly influences emotional well-being. Initially, cricket was my first love, and Hansie […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/426574/im-thrilled-to-see-bath-enjoying-its-success/feed/ 0 Pirates were one hell of a club to be at for so long https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426101/pirates-were-one-hell-of-a-club-to-be-at-for-so-long/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426101/pirates-were-one-hell-of-a-club-to-be-at-for-so-long/#respond Sun, 16 Jun 2024 02:58:58 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=426101 Feature MARLEN WALKER THE NOW-RETIRED CORNISH PIRATES PROP MY LIFE IN RUGBY Beating Saracens when we hadn’t played for almost a year was probably the most memorable moment of my Pirates career, which has now come to an end after nearly 200 appearances for the club. It’s such a shame that we had to play […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/426101/pirates-were-one-hell-of-a-club-to-be-at-for-so-long/feed/ 0 I’ll miss the shared joy after a big win https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/425790/ill-miss-the-shared-joy-after-a-big-win/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/425790/ill-miss-the-shared-joy-after-a-big-win/#respond Sun, 09 Jun 2024 02:59:17 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/425790/ill-miss-the-shared-joy-after-a-big-win/ MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE NOW FORMER NORTHAMPTON SAINTS, WASPS, LONDON IRISH, ROTHERHAM, MACCLESFIELD AND STOCKPORT HOOKER TOM CRUSE Now that my playing career is officially over (as of yesterday), I can look back and reflect on what rugby has given to me – mainly lifelong friendships and memories that will stay with me for […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/425790/ill-miss-the-shared-joy-after-a-big-win/feed/ 0 Playing rugby ‘Bristol fashion’ suited me well https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/425404/fashion-suited-me-well-playing-rugby-bristol/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/425404/fashion-suited-me-well-playing-rugby-bristol/#respond Sun, 02 Jun 2024 02:59:12 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=425404 MY LIFE IN RUGBY - RALPH KNIBBS THE FORMER ENGLAND, BRISTOL & CLIFTON CENTRE I spent some of my youth in Knowle West, 30-plus years before Ellis Genge turned up! Back then, we were one of around four or five black families on a white, working class council estate in a community of 12,000, so […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/425404/fashion-suited-me-well-playing-rugby-bristol/feed/ 0 Calcutta Cup win the highlight of my career https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/424951/calcutta-cup-win-the-highlight-of-my-career/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/424951/calcutta-cup-win-the-highlight-of-my-career/#respond Sun, 26 May 2024 02:59:01 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=424951 MY LIFE IN RUGBY Scott Steele - Former Scotland, Leicester, London Irish Harlequins & Edinburgh Scrum-Half I was sat on a mattress on the floor of Alex Lewington’s flat in Twickenham waiting for the rest of my stuff to come out of storage when Gregor Townsend rang me out of the blue to say I […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/424951/calcutta-cup-win-the-highlight-of-my-career/feed/ 0 A thrilling ride but now it’s time to call it a day https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/424308/a-thrilling-ride-but-now-its-time-to-call-it-a-day/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/424308/a-thrilling-ride-but-now-its-time-to-call-it-a-day/#respond Sun, 19 May 2024 02:58:48 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=424308 MY LIFE IN RUGBY CHARLIE BECKETT - THE DONCASTER AND FORMER LEICESTER, LONDON WELSH, GLOUCESTER, JERSEY, AMPTHILL AND EASTWOOD SECOND ROW For one last time next weekend, just before we run out to play Hartpury (if selected, of course!), I will shout “best day of the week”. I do that every game we play because […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/424308/a-thrilling-ride-but-now-its-time-to-call-it-a-day/feed/ 0 Mine was very much the road less travelled https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/423775/mine-was-very-much-the-road-less-travelled/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/423775/mine-was-very-much-the-road-less-travelled/#respond Sun, 12 May 2024 02:59:16 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=423775 My Life in Rugby - Mike Ross, the former Ireland, Harlequins and Leinster prop talks about his life in the game I started playing rugby when I was 11 years old with my local town club, Fermoy, in Cork. I was always a big kid, a stone for every year, so it suited more than […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/423775/mine-was-very-much-the-road-less-travelled/feed/ 0 You lived on the edge with Scotland https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/423317/you-lived-on-the-edge-with-scotland/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/423317/you-lived-on-the-edge-with-scotland/#respond Sun, 05 May 2024 02:59:11 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=423317 My Life in Rugby with Neil Edwards - The former Scotland, Barbarians, Rosslyn Park, Harlequins & Northampton second row talks about his career in the game Whenever I cross paths with Paul Ackford, he always shouts across the room, “he taught me everything I knew!” Both of us were called into the England squad on […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/423317/you-lived-on-the-edge-with-scotland/feed/ 0 To play for Gosforth & Bath was wonderful https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/422751/to-play-for-gosforth-bath-was-wonderful/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/422751/to-play-for-gosforth-bath-was-wonderful/#respond Sun, 28 Apr 2024 02:59:08 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=422751 My Life in Rugby with Rob Cunningham - The former Scotland, Anglo-Scots, Boroughmuir, Bath, Gosforth, Tynedale & Northumberland hooker talks about his life in the game WHEN Jack Rowell approached me to join Bath in 1981, I was assured of decent temporary family accommodation to go along with my new job as director of sport […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/422751/to-play-for-gosforth-bath-was-wonderful/feed/ 0 Scoring in Hell Fire Corner was great https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/422313/scoring-in-hell-fire-corner-was-great/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/422313/scoring-in-hell-fire-corner-was-great/#respond Sun, 21 Apr 2024 02:59:01 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/422313/scoring-in-hell-fire-corner-was-great/ My Life in Rugby with Greg Goodfellow - The former Cornwall, Chinnor, Redruth, Cornish Pirates, Coventry, Mounts Bay & Hawick scrum-half talks about his life in the game SEEING Scottie Scheffler being presented with the Green Jacket for winning golf ’s US Masters last week reminded me of the time I was presented with a […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/422313/scoring-in-hell-fire-corner-was-great/feed/ 0 It was an honour to reach the 400-mark https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/421705/it-was-an-honour-to-reach-the-400-mark/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/421705/it-was-an-honour-to-reach-the-400-mark/#respond Sun, 14 Apr 2024 02:59:00 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/421705/it-was-an-honour-to-reach-the-400-mark/ My Life in Rugby with Chris Dicomidis - The former Pontypridd, Cardiff, Wales U21 & Cyprus international looks back at his career in the game IF I am being honest I never grew up dreaming of playing for Pontypridd, not even once let alone 401 times (one of only seven players to do so in […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/421705/it-was-an-honour-to-reach-the-400-mark/feed/ 0 London Irish was just so full of real, good people https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/421229/london-irish-was-just-so-full-of-real-good-people/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/421229/london-irish-was-just-so-full-of-real-good-people/#respond Sun, 07 Apr 2024 02:58:23 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/421229/london-irish-was-just-so-full-of-real-good-people/ David Paice, the former England and London Irish hooker, looks back on his career in the game IT feels like a lifetime ago now that me and a few mates in the Queensland Schoolboys team were sitting around and having a few beers and in a slightly drunken state of youthful exuberance, we all decided […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/421229/london-irish-was-just-so-full-of-real-good-people/feed/ 0 Putting 50 points on the Aussies was a highlight https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/420691/putting-50-points-on-the-aussies-was-a-highlight/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/420691/putting-50-points-on-the-aussies-was-a-highlight/#respond Sun, 31 Mar 2024 02:59:00 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/420691/putting-50-points-on-the-aussies-was-a-highlight/ My Life in Rugby with Ruaridh Jackson - The former Scotland, Glasgow, Wasps and Harlequins fly-half talks about his career in the game IT was only through an accident of birth that I was born in England (in Northampton) while my dad was travelling around the country working in the oil industry. I was raised […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/420691/putting-50-points-on-the-aussies-was-a-highlight/feed/ 0 I’m ambitious. I want to coach as high as I can https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/420209/im-ambitious-i-want-to-coach-as-high-as-i-can/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/420209/im-ambitious-i-want-to-coach-as-high-as-i-can/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2024 03:59:03 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/420209/im-ambitious-i-want-to-coach-as-high-as-i-can/ My Life in Rugby with Alex Rae - The former Northampton Saints, Saracens, Wasps and Bedford Blues lock, now head coach at Coventry, talks about his life in the game SOMETIMES sport can be a little bit romantic and I really enjoy being head coach of my hometown club, Coventry. It’s a great club with […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/420209/im-ambitious-i-want-to-coach-as-high-as-i-can/feed/ 0 I was thrilled to bits to be picked for England https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/419603/i-was-thrilled-to-bits-to-be-picked-for-england/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/419603/i-was-thrilled-to-bits-to-be-picked-for-england/#respond Sun, 17 Mar 2024 03:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=419603 My Life in Rugby with Magnus Lund - The former England, Sale and Biarritz flanker talks about his life in the game AS most people who know me will attest, I am quite a laidback individual, but I became a different person once I stepped over that white line on a matchday. For me, the […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/419603/i-was-thrilled-to-bits-to-be-picked-for-england/feed/ 0 It’s a huge honour to play for your country https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/419072/its-a-huge-honour-to-play-for-your-country/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/419072/its-a-huge-honour-to-play-for-your-country/#respond Sun, 10 Mar 2024 03:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/419072/its-a-huge-honour-to-play-for-your-country/ My Life in Rugby with Marcus Rose - the former England, Cambridge University, Leicester, Coventry, Harlequins and Barbarians full-back looks back on his career in the game IT’S fair to say I had a slightly chequered England career. I played in 1981 and 1982, winning five caps, but when England went on tour to Argentina, […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/419072/its-a-huge-honour-to-play-for-your-country/feed/ 0 The team culture at Exeter blew me away https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/418682/the-team-culture-at-exeter-blew-me-away/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/418682/the-team-culture-at-exeter-blew-me-away/#respond Sun, 03 Mar 2024 03:59:09 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/418682/the-team-culture-at-exeter-blew-me-away/ My Life in Rugby with Bryan Rennie - The former Scotland A, Border Reivers, London Irish, Exeter & Bristol centre, now general manager of the Hong Kong sevens, talks about his career in the game IT’S going to be great to catch up with Scott Hastings again in a month’s time at the Hong Kong […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/418682/the-team-culture-at-exeter-blew-me-away/feed/ 0 I just love playing and had an amazing career https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/418044/i-just-love-playing-and-had-an-amazing-career/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/418044/i-just-love-playing-and-had-an-amazing-career/#respond Sun, 25 Feb 2024 03:59:12 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=418044 My Life in Rugby with Mark Best - The former Ulster, Jersey Reds and Doncaster Knights centre discusses his career in the game PLAYING in the Championship isn’t sustainable with the level of funding clubs currently get so while it was a hard decision to quit professional rugby a couple of years ago at the age […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/418044/i-just-love-playing-and-had-an-amazing-career/feed/ 0 To have played 41 times for Wales is a blessing https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/417196/to-have-played-41-times-for-wales-is-a-blessing/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/417196/to-have-played-41-times-for-wales-is-a-blessing/#respond Sun, 18 Feb 2024 03:59:07 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=417196 My Life in Rugby with Emyr Lewis - The former Wales, Llanelli & Cardiff No. 8 looks back on his career in the game FOR me, the England win in 1993 was the biggest game I played in, but I’d have to say my Wales debut – the 21-21 draw against Ireland in 1991 – […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/417196/to-have-played-41-times-for-wales-is-a-blessing/feed/ 0 My first foreign mission was in deepest Siberia https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/416597/my-first-foreign-mission-was-in-deepest-siberia/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/416597/my-first-foreign-mission-was-in-deepest-siberia/#respond Sun, 11 Feb 2024 03:58:37 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=416597 My Life in Rugby with Rob Debney - The former international and Premiership referee talks about his journey in the game RUGBY refereeing took me to some amazing places all around the world but the farthest-flung place I ever travelled to was actually for my first overseas assignment as a full-time referee with the RFU […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/416597/my-first-foreign-mission-was-in-deepest-siberia/feed/ 0 The Grand Slam win in 2005 was a fairytale https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/415418/the-grand-slam-win-in-2005-was-a-fairytale/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/415418/the-grand-slam-win-in-2005-was-a-fairytale/#respond Sun, 28 Jan 2024 03:58:34 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/415418/the-grand-slam-win-in-2005-was-a-fairytale/ My Life in Rugby with Mark Taylor - The former Wales, Ospreys, Sale, Swansea & Pontypool centre and now WRU performance pathway coordinator talks about his life in the game IAM Blaenavon born and bred, about six miles up the Valley from Pontypool. My dad, Ivor, played for the club after he joined from Newport […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/415418/the-grand-slam-win-in-2005-was-a-fairytale/feed/ 0 I tried hard to make the most of what ability I had! https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/414859/i-tried-hard-to-make-the-most-of-what-ability-i-had/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/414859/i-tried-hard-to-make-the-most-of-what-ability-i-had/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2024 03:59:04 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/414859/i-tried-hard-to-make-the-most-of-what-ability-i-had/ My Life in Rugby with Gordon Bulloch - The former British & Irish Lions, Scotland, Glasgow & Leeds hooker talks about his life in the game WANTING to get over the disappointment of missing out on a place in the squad named for 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, I took myself off […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/414859/i-tried-hard-to-make-the-most-of-what-ability-i-had/feed/ 0 I was preparing for battle and needed to be ready https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/414169/i-was-preparing-for-battle-and-needed-to-be-ready/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/414169/i-was-preparing-for-battle-and-needed-to-be-ready/#respond Sun, 14 Jan 2024 03:59:00 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=414169 My Life in Rugby with Steve Ojomoh - The former England, Bath, Gloucester, Parma, Newport & Moseley back rower talks about his life in the game MY debut in 1994, a narrow defeat to Ireland, probably summed up my entire England career – I literally came up a bit short. During one moment in the […]

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]]> https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/my-life-in-rugby/414169/i-was-preparing-for-battle-and-needed-to-be-ready/feed/ 0