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Red Bull complete ‘landmark’ deal to take over Newcastle Falcons

The Rugby Paper Team — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:28:32 +0000

Energy drinks company Red Bull has completed its takeover of Newcastle Falcons. The Gallagher PREM club, who will continue to play at Kingston Park and retain Steve Diamond as director of rugby, will now be known as Newcastle Red Bulls. Red Bull has aspirations for the team to compete for trophies in England and Europe […]

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Joe Santamaria: New South American faces in PREM Rugby this season

The Rugby Paper Team — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:01:25 +0000

As the new Prem season draws near and teams begin to finalise their squads, The Rugby Paper takes a look at two South Americans preparing to make a splash, and three more who could follow them. Joaquín Moro Argentina back rower Joaquín Moro has already arrived in Leicester, becoming the latest in a long line […]

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The Prem is entering a new era this season, and so is Scotland’s Tom Jordan

The Rugby Paper Team — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:43:48 +0000

A player with a fascinating career is adding a fresh chapter as he makes the move to Ashton Gate this season. Jordan is a quality operator and is sure to make a significant contribution to the strong Bristol Bears side. Over recent years, we have seen players come to England and make a real difference. […]

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Dragons swoop for scrum-half Niall Armstrong

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:54 +0000

Dragons have signed Irish scrum-half Niall Armstrong after his departure from Exeter at the end of last season. The 25-year-old has trained with the Rodney Parade side throughout pre-season and replaces Dane Blacker, who has returned to Scarlets. The Belfast-born scrum-half, who made 20 appearances for Exeter, will contest the No.9 jersey with Wales international […]

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Dan Cole offered new role at Leicester Tigers

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:53 +0000

Former Leicester and England prop Dan Cole has become the recruitment and retention manager at Welford Road under new head coach – and former Tigers teammate – Geoff Parling. Cole, 38, who retired after the Premiership final loss against Bath in June, will sit on a newly created recruitment and retention committee. Cole’s newly created […]

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Poppy Leitch calls for PWR clubs to work with universities

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:39 +0000

Poppy Leitch believes her England Students side can plug a crucial gap in the women’s pathway, having previously been overlooked. The former Exeter and England lock retired aged 27 in May following repeated injuries. She then became the Devonians’ first women’s Under-23s coach, overseeing young players coming into the club. Leitch, whose last England cap […]

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Leicester’s all-time XV: Talented Tigers burning bright

Brendan Gallagher — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:32 +0000

What would be the greatest All-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody playing in their pomp? Brendan Gallagher continues his series doing precisely that for the ten Premiership sides, selecting Dream Teams for all concerned. Preference will generally be given to those who had a reasonably […]

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Prem Rugby Transfers: Five key signings show way for Bath

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:21 +0000

Ben Jaycock assesses the comings and goings in the transfer market as the Premiership prepares for the coming season With the 2025/26 Premiership campaign looming, Bath find themselves in unfamiliar territory as the team to beat, and as a result, Johann van Graan’s side have bolstered their squad even further. Rather than overhaul a winning […]

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Premiership Transfers 2025/26 – Bath

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:20 +0000

In: Dan Frost (Exeter Chiefs), Bernard van der Linde (Bulls), Santiago Carreras (Gloucester), Henry Arundell (Racing 92), Chris Harris (Gloucester) Out: Codi Purnell (Dragons), Mackenzie Graham (Coventry), Ruaridh McConnochie (retired), Rory Crum (released), Josh Dingley (released), Archie Stanley (released), Raff Weston (released), Niall Annett (retired), Arthur Cordwell (retired), Hame Faiva (released), Luke Graham (Rams), Will […]

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Pat Lam’s philosophy: You get punched, you get back up, and you go again

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:08 +0000

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Bristol Bears Bristol started the regular season with a bonus point victory and ended it in the same manner to secure fourth place and a trip to Bath in the play-offs. The Bears were the Premiership’s extrovert entertainers, securing […]

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Charles Rylands: We need a repeat of the 2015 Championship drama

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:04 +0000

Many readers will recall the Championship final second leg between Worcester and Bristol broadcast live on Sky Sports where Chris Pennell’s try set the stage for former England international Ryan Lamb’s last gasp conversion to deny Bristol promotion and send Worcester straight back into the top flight. That is the kind of drama and jeopardy […]

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Time for France

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:58:53 +0000

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN IT’S HOT in France right now. Very hot. Weather alerts were issued for the entire southern half of the country for high temperatures yesterday – with the mercury expected to top out at around 40C in some places. Temperatures stayed high long after sunset. In Mont-de-Marsan, where France faced England in […]

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Pete Ryan: Toby Booth’s coaching philosophy – building cultures and engaging with people

The Rugby Paper Team — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:34:13 +0000

“Helping an athlete be their best — that’s what the job is all about.” This gives you some insight into Toby Booth’s philosophy. A coach with an unorthodox path to the game, but one who has made a massive impact. The role of a coach is vital, helping players navigate the treacherous roads of professional […]

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George McGuigan a Newcastle Falcon again

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:56 +0000

Hooker George McGuigan has rejoined Newcastle Falcons for a third spell on a one-year contract. Newcastle, who finished bottom of the Premiership last season with two wins from 18 games, are on the verge of being taken over by energy drinks giant Red Bull. McGuigan, 32, left the club to join Gloucester in 2022. His […]

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Brendan Gallagher’s All-Time Bath XV: Their beauties – and beasts…

Brendan Gallagher — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:35 +0000

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Prem Rugby Cup Preview: Newcastle & Gloucester host openers

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:31 +0000

The Prem Rugby Cup returns next season under a new format without Championship clubs’ involvement. Fixtures were revealed this week with the 10 top-flight clubs split into two pools of five, with home and away matches against teams in their pool. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals (March 6–8), […]

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Paul Rees: George Skivington sets his sights on building another crop of Kingsholm legends

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:20 +0000

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Gloucester Gloucester did not win a trophy last season, unlike the one before, but they took considerably more out of the campaign. It sounds counter-intuitive, although Bath were the only English club that needed to rearrange its trophy cabinet […]

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Charles Rylands: We need to build interest in Champ Rugby

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:15 +0000

With the announcement this week of the Prem Cup fixtures, I was gutted to learn that teams from the second division of English rugby won’t be competing against the best sides in the country this season. It’s understandable why Champ clubs have chosen to step away. They’ve long been frustrated with receiving no share of […]

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I’m so proud of what we achieved at Northampton Saints – Matt Ferguson

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:13 +0000

After seven years building one of the most respected packs in English rugby, Matt Ferguson parted ways with Northampton Saints this summer. Ben Jaycock caught up with the former England women’s and Saints scrum coach to talk about his surprise exit and his take on England’s scrummaging depth. Can you start by telling us about […]

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Racing 92 banking on youth strategy

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:05 +0000

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Moving in at No.10: Ugo Seunes has joined Racing 92 and could be the signing of the season PICTURE: Getty Images RACING 92 have been scrambling for flyhalf cover ever since it was confirmed Owen Farrell was to return to the Premiership and Saracens after just one season in the Top […]

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Prem Rugby Fixtures: Sale Sharks ready to host Thursday night party

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:32 +0000

Sale Sharks welcome Gloucester for an unprecedented Thursday night opener in this season’s newly rebranded ‘Prem Rugby’ on September 25. Newcastle Falcons are at home to Saracens, while Harlequins host reigning champions Bath on the Friday but there’ll be no Saturday action during the opening round of the campaign in order to avoid clashes with […]

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Chris Hewett: Saturday void suits the ‘Prem’ hyperbole

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:29 +0000

Sport is no stranger to hyperbole and there are times when rugby leads the way. This is one of them. After shedding three syllables and going upper-case with a vengeance by rebranding the Premiership as the “PREM”, the people behind England’s shop-window club offering have somehow reached the conclusion that we are embarking on a […]

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Saints alive! The power and glory: Northampton Saints’ all-time XV

Brendan Gallagher — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:23 +0000

What would be the greatest all-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody playing in their pomp. Brendan Gallagher continues his series doing precisely that for the ten Premiership sides, selecting Dream Teams for all concerned. Preference will generally be given to those who had a reasonably […]

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Paul Rees: Saracens glad to have Owen Farrell back in harness so he can lead hunters

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:19 +0000

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the spotlight this week on Saracens For the first time since Mark McCall joined the coaching staff in 2009, apart from two seasons at the start of this decade when they were relegated for salary cap breaches and spent a season in the Championship, […]

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Charles Rylands: I just can’t wait for this new ‘Champ’

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:17 +0000

With the new Championship season fast approaching, there’s a real sense of excitement and anticipation across the league. This year brings plenty of change — some long overdue — and as a player in the league, it finally feels like the competition is heading in the right direction. First off, we’ve got a newly branded […]

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Barnstaple out to hit ground running in National Leagues

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:14 +0000

Barnstaple director of rugby Phil Gordon-Oke feels his newly promoted side must maintain their intensity for the full 80 minutes after falling away in the final quarter during matches when they were last in National Two West. The North Devonians sealed their return to the National Leagues through winning Regional 1 South West and hope […]

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French Column: Ten players who could hit the spot in ProD2

James Harrington — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:09 +0000

It's high summer in France – not that you’d necessarily know it given the weather over recent days, which has been more mid-April than end of July. Holiday season is in full swing and next weekend is, officially, the worst one of the year to even attempt a long road trip in l’Hexagone. But time […]

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BBC Sport expands Women’s rugby coverage in new Premiership deal

The Rugby Paper Team — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:42:07 +0000

BBC Sport is expanding its women’s rugby coverage with a new deal to broadcast Premiership Women’s Rugby matches across the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons. Fans can look forward to a live match every week of the season – plus one semi-final and the final – all streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and […]

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Gloucester’s all-time XV: Heroes to rock the Kingsholm

Brendan Gallagher — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:15 +0000

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Paul Rees: With the stars they have, Harlequins should be winning many more games

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:09 +0000

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Harlequins It is only four years ago that Harlequins won the Premiership, coming from nowhere in the second half of the campaign after a coaching shake-up to run away with the title in their very own way by backing […]

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Matt Riley is backing Richmond to do well in Champ Rugby

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:07 +0000

Former National League stalwart Matt Riley believes Richmond are well-equipped to test themselves in The Champ next season, but says how they manage recruitment and player development will be key to survival. Richmond returned to the second tier after a standout campaign saw them crowned champions of National One and centre Riley, who faced them […]

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Matt Kvesic excited to be a Worcester Warrior again

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:06 +0000

Matt Kvesic has seen a lot in his career – Test rugby, European and Premiership competition, even clubs in crisis – but nothing, he says, compares to the emotional pull of walking back through the doors at Sixways. The former England back rower, 33, is returning to a place many feared might be lost forever. […]

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Archie McParland: I want to be Northampton Saints’ No 1 scrum-half

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:01 +0000

England U20s graduate Archie McParland is enjoying working under his mentor at Northampton, Alex Mitchell, but is determined to oust the British & Irish Lion in the Saints pecking order. England number one nine Mitchell, below, provides a wealth of wisdom for the 20-year-old to learn from. McParland has had to learn the hard […]

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French Colummn: Bayonne in the fast lane for No.9 Leo Coly

James Harrington — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:00 +0000

It was mid-August last year – the 13th, to be precise – when Racing 92 suddenly confirmed their highly rated and, at the time, still uncapped scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec was to leave at the end of the season still to come to join La Rochelle. Soon after, Ronan O’Gara’s side confirmed his arrival, adding […]

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Joseph Dweba enjoying warm welcome from Exeter Chiefs

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:58:59 +0000

Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba has touched down in Devon and is wasting no time getting stuck into life with Exeter Chiefs. With the African sunshine having followed him from Cape Town to Sandy Park, it’s been a scorching, yet welcoming, introduction to life at his new club. The 29-year-old powerhouse was snapped up this summer […]

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Harlequins can capitalise in Kent, says Mike Friday

Ben Jaycock — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:55 +0000

Former Wasps scrum-half Mike Friday says the continued silence surrounding the club’s return to professional rugby could be telling and says the door is open for Harlequins to capitalise in Kent. Despite talk last year of Wasps relaunching from a new base in Swanley, Friday, who played for Wasps in the late 1990s and early […]

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Newcastle’s Best XV: Falcons set to rule the roost

Brendan Gallagher — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:18 +0000

What would be the greatest all-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody playing in their pomp? Brendan Gallagher continues his series doing precisely that for the ten Premiership sides, selecting Dream Teams for all concerned. Preference will generally be given to those who had a reasonably […]

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Paul Rees: Northampton Saints paid the price for battling on two fronts

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:11 +0000

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Northampton Northampton Saints finished two off the bottom of the Premiership a year after beating Bath to clinch the title, but showed they had not regressed by reaching the Champions Cup final and pushing Bordeaux-Begles all the way in […]

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French Column: Top c14 lubs getting back in the swing

James Harrington — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:03 +0000

The Top 14 final brought the curtain down on the 2024/25 French rugby season just 15 days ago, with Toulouse lifting the Brennus for the 24th time following a thrilling 100-minute final against Bordeaux at Stade de France – exactly a year to the day after the two sides had played out a rather more […]

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Ben Stevenson is the latest to leave Newcastle Falcons

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:01 +0000

Wing Ben Stevenson is the latest player to leave Newcastle Falcons after agreeing a two-year deal at RC Vannes in France, who have just been relegated from the Top 14. Durham-born Stevenson, 26, made 98 appearances for Newcastle after coming through the ranks and making his debut in 2016. Last season, he scored 10 tries […]

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Charlie Hodgson: From Premiership Points King to Leadership Coach

The Rugby Paper Team — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:12:07 +0000

As one of the UK’s most sought-after rugby speakers, Charlie Hodgson’s impact on British rugby is undisputed. As England‘s all-time leading Premiership points scorer, Hodgson enjoyed a decorated career spanning over a decade at Sale Sharks and Saracens, earning 38 caps for England and playing a crucial role in multiple Premiership and European victories. Renowned […]

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Sale Sharks’ Best Premiership XV: Jason Robinson leads a Shark attack

Brendan Gallagher — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:59:17 +0000

What would be the greatest all-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody playing in their pomp? Brendan Gallagher continues his series doing precisely that for the 10 Premiership sides, selecting Dream Teams for all concerned. Preference will generally be given to players who have had a […]

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Toby Saysell bows out after hitting his century at Richmond

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:59:15 +0000

After signing off with 100 appearances at Richmond, Toby Saysell is excited to be one of the fans next season. In his tenth season at the club, openside Say-sell achieved his goal of 100 caps in the 54-0 win against Plymouth and called time on his career at the end of the season. “I’ll be […]

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Exeter Chiefs decide to go Down Under as they begin their rebuilding exercise

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:59:06 +0000

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Exeter Chiefs Exeter quickly became a byword for stability after they were promoted to the Premiership in 2010, progressing each season to the point where, after 10 years, they were celebrating the Premiership and Champions Cup double. Having reached […]

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French Column: Mystery surronds Uzair Cassiem’s future

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:59:04 +0000

One-time Scarlets and Springbok back row Uzair Cassiem is at the centre of a transfer storm in France. The 35-year-old knew fairly early on that his services were no longer required at Bayonne, even though he featured in 20 matches this season. In total, he played 95 games for them in four seasons across the […]

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Harlequins Best XV: A stylish team of the ages…

Brendan Gallagher — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:20 +0000

What would be the greatest all-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody playing in their pomp? Today, Brendan Gallagher begins a series doing precisely that for the ten Premiership sides, selecting Dream Teams for all concerned. Preference will generally be given to those who had a […]

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Alex Sanderson: I’m backing Exeter Chiefs to bounce back

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:10 +0000

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson is tipping a serious resurgence from fallen giants Exeter Chiefs next season, insisting Rob Baxter’s men have already started to turn the tide after what he describes as a rare “blip.” The Chiefs, Premiership champions as recently as 2020, endured a turbulent 2024/25 campaign, finishing a shock ninth. However, Sanderson, […]

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Steve Diamond’s call: Newcastle Falcons need to invest in boots on the ground

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:05 +0000

Paul Rees begins his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, starting with the bottom club Newcastle Falcons Newcastle finished bottom of the Premiership for the third successive season as they hunted for a new owner, but they had far more to take from the campaign than the previous one. They won two matches having been […]

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Leicester Tigers move for James O’Connor

The Rugby Paper Team — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:02 +0000

Leicester have confirmed the signing of former Australia utility back James O’Connor as one of six new faces arriving at Welford Road for next season under new head coach Geoff Parling. The 34-year-old joins the beaten Premiership finalists along with winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb, hooker John Stewart, back-five forward James Thompson and fly-halves Billy Searle and […]

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James Harrington: Fabien Galthie’s squad will need to step up in New Zealand

James Harrington — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:00 +0000

After all the fuss from players and New Zealand Rugby, after the negotiations between union and league bosses, after the hints that – maybe, this time – the rules would be bent to allow more regular France first-choice players to tour, there was in the end, a particular and utterly predictable inevitability about Les Bleus’ […]

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