Peter Jackson - news, views and opinion - The Rugby Paper https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/ Sun, 10 Aug 2025 15:29:01 +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 Peter Jackson - news, views and opinion - The Rugby Paper https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/ 32 32 Peter Jackson: The British and Irish Lions fail to impress Paul Turner https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/463855/the-lions-fail-to-impress-turner/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/463855/the-lions-fail-to-impress-turner/#respond Sun, 10 Aug 2025 02:59:26 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/463855/the-lions-fail-to-impress-turner/ From the early days in Newbridge through to Sale’s rise as champions of England, Paul Turner has built an admirable track record for innovation, an endless quest to make the game more entertaining. He saw none of that from the Lions in Australia. “Boring rugby from the Lions,’’ Turner wrote on X. “No invention. No […]

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Props who were able to go the distance https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/world/international-rugby-union/463388/props-who-were-able-to-go-the-distance/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/world/international-rugby-union/463388/props-who-were-able-to-go-the-distance/#respond Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:59:22 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/world/international-rugby-union/463388/props-who-were-able-to-go-the-distance/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE Lions used to replace their props during Test matches once every 29 years, long enough for at least ten blue moons to have come and gone. Jason Leonard’s last-minute entry in Cape Town for the magnificent Tom Smith against the Springboks in 1997 ended a sequence […]

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Puzzling games without frontiers https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462816/puzzling-games-without-frontiers/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462816/puzzling-games-without-frontiers/#respond Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:59:25 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=462816 PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW DURING the last fortnight, seven players from distant shores stood to attention for the national anthems of their new countries. When it comes to switching rugby allegiance, no frontier is ever too far away. The masses locked into life with the Lions will probably be oblivious to […]

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Peter Jackson: Wales, a once-proud nation with nothing to offer for the British and Irish Lions https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462235/a-once-proud-nation-with-nothing-to-offer/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/462235/a-once-proud-nation-with-nothing-to-offer/#respond Sun, 20 Jul 2025 02:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=462235 When the Lions last won a series in Australia, they picked a starting team borrowed so heavily from one small country as to justify renaming it: Wales & The Rest. Even without their injured tour captain Sam Warburton, the tourists banked on ten Welshmen to win the decider in Sydney, albeit with a little help […]

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Peter Jackson: Bundee Aki takes the long road to be a British and Irish Lion https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461787/aki-takes-the-long-road-to-be-a-lion/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461787/aki-takes-the-long-road-to-be-a-lion/#respond Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:59:12 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461787/aki-takes-the-long-road-to-be-a-lion/ Back home amid the volcanic craters of South Auckland, a ‘very skinny kid’ would have seen Brian O’Driscoll’s reign as Lions captain come to a brutal end after 45 seconds. Twenty years on from the pulverising spear tackle which smashed the Dubliner’s left shoulder within the first minute of a wretchedly one-sided series, the under-nourished […]

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Peter Jackson: Dark day for Wales in land of rising sun https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461287/dark-day-for-wales-in-land-of-rising-sun/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461287/dark-day-for-wales-in-land-of-rising-sun/#respond Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/461287/dark-day-for-wales-in-land-of-rising-sun/ For more than an hour on Saturday in a land renowned for its courtesy, Japan overdid the welcome bit to such an extent that Wales had nothing to beat. For all that time, the bungling hosts barely missed a trick to ensure that the hapless visitors would avoid the ultimate indignity of surpassing the longest […]

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Peter Jackson: Dazzling French duo, Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrye are creating history https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/460542/dazzling-french-duo-are-creating-history/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/460542/dazzling-french-duo-are-creating-history/#respond Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:32 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/460542/dazzling-french-duo-are-creating-history/ Peter Jackson looks at the figures and reports that Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey are rewriting the record books Now that Damian Penaud and his hyphenated sidekick have called a temporary truce to giving all and sundry both barrels, their exploits cry out to be put in a historical perspective. As double acts go, theirs […]

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Peter Jackson: France’s locks have that international feel https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/460570/frances-locks-have-that-international-feel/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/460570/frances-locks-have-that-international-feel/#respond Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:59:22 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/460570/frances-locks-have-that-international-feel/ France have given the All Blacks due notice of something new heading their way, a pair of locks imported from the Canadian prairies and the high veldt of South Africa. Tyler Duguid, from Edmonton, Alberta, and Jacobus van Tonder from Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, made their joint arrivals on the global stage during […]

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Peter Jackson: Stat watch – Gareth Chilcott still top as French clubs racking up the most cards https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459919/french-clubs-racking-up-the-most-cards/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459919/french-clubs-racking-up-the-most-cards/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:59:39 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=459919 Peter Jackson breaks the news to Gareth Chilcott that his six sendings-off during his career is still a record After more than 30 years in splendid isolation, Gareth Chilcott’s serene reign at the top of rugby’s hit parade still shows no sign of ending any time soon. For sheer longevity, his run leaves some very […]

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Peter Jackson: Jeff Whitefoot’s tale of tragedy and redemption https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459930/jeffs-tale-of-tragedy-and-redemption/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459930/jeffs-tale-of-tragedy-and-redemption/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:59:33 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=459930 Jeff Whitefoot had lost his job after the miners’ strike in 1985 shortly before the Welsh Rugby Union voted against the Lions visiting South Africa the following year. The first of the Four Home Unions to make a belated stand against apartheid, the decision led to the cancellation of the tour. For the second time […]

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Peter Jackson: Ponty’s Bionic Elbow is a one-club champ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459932/pontys-bionic-elbow-is-a-one-club-champ/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459932/pontys-bionic-elbow-is-a-one-club-champ/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:59:32 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=459932   At 35, Ben Youngs performed the rare feat of spending marginally more than half his life navigating a safe way through the jungle of pro rugby albeit as a Leicester Tiger. He achieved the greater distinction of doing so without ever changing clubs, staying put at Welford Road boy and man for 18 years. […]

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Peter Jackson: Grant Fox’s boy does him proud https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459933/grants-boy-does-him-proud/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/459933/grants-boy-does-him-proud/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:59:31 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=459933 At Lord’s in the summer of 1937, his maternal grandfather made half-centuries in both innings for New Zealand against England. At Eden Park in the winter of 1987, his father completed the inaugural Rugby World Cup with the pot of gold in his hands as the leading scorer in the tournament. At Oakmont last weekend, […]

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Peter Jackson: Sir Billy Boston, the man Cardiff ignored https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/459403/sir-billy-the-man-cardiff-ignored/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/459403/sir-billy-the-man-cardiff-ignored/#respond Sun, 15 Jun 2025 02:59:30 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/459403/sir-billy-the-man-cardiff-ignored/ The Welsh Rugby Union has paid due homage to Sir Billy Boston, acclaiming the sailor’s son they somehow managed to lose more than 70 years ago as ‘a trailblazer’. The torrent of tributes from within the Union fold expressed heart-felt ‘delight’ at his arrival as the oldest sporting knight of the realm, two years into […]

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Peter Jackson: Bordeaux winning the race for crowds, too https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459417/bordeaux-winning-the-race-for-crowds-too/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459417/bordeaux-winning-the-race-for-crowds-too/#respond Sun, 15 Jun 2025 02:59:25 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/459417/bordeaux-winning-the-race-for-crowds-too/ Peter Jackson reveals his exclusive club-by-club attendances list for the regulation season in Europe’s major leagues When the sun set on the 20th century only one club could bank on home crowds running into five figures on their way to four consecutive Premiership titles. Leicester Tigers under the dual command of Dean Richards and Martin […]

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Peter Jackson: Barmy to downgrade the Champions Cup https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/457583/barmy-to-downgrade-the-champions-cup/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/457583/barmy-to-downgrade-the-champions-cup/#respond Sun, 01 Jun 2025 02:59:15 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/457583/barmy-to-downgrade-the-champions-cup/ According to its promoters, the ‘wonderful’ Champions Cup stands on a pinnacle above everything else as ‘the greatest club competition in the world.’

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Peter Jackson: For many big names, like Ma’a Nonu, it’s the end of the road https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/455916/for-many-big-names-its-the-end-of-the-road/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/455916/for-many-big-names-its-the-end-of-the-road/#respond Sun, 25 May 2025 02:59:29 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/455916/for-many-big-names-its-the-end-of-the-road/ One by one, the long-distance men who gave Father Time a serious run for his money have come to the end of their epic journeys. From the Andes to the Alps and beyond, their suitably mountainous careers bear witness to levels of endurance far beyond the norm. Every one of the veteran elite has not […]

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The Leicester Lip’s still talk of the town https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/455108/the-leicester-lips-still-talk-of-the-town/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/455108/the-leicester-lips-still-talk-of-the-town/#respond Sun, 18 May 2025 02:58:51 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/455108/the-leicester-lips-still-talk-of-the-town/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Stunner: Austin Healey breaks through to set up the winning try against Stade Francais in 2001 PICTURES: Getty images NOBODY in a European Cup final has engineered a break like the one ‘The Leicester Lip’ made when English rugby’s largest tribe spent a memorable weekend plastered in […]

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Peter Jackson: How British and Irish Lion Bobby Windsor found a nice little earner… https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/454435/how-windsor-found-a-nice-little-earner/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/454435/how-windsor-found-a-nice-little-earner/#respond Sun, 11 May 2025 02:59:27 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/454435/how-windsor-found-a-nice-little-earner/ Win or lose, the Lions, as identified beneath what used to be the Millennium Dome, will be paid circa £100,000-a-man for their five weeks in Australia this summer. Some 50 years earlier, when the game avoided making an exhibition of itself like the plague lest overt commercialism eroded the amateur faith, The Invincibles received word […]

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Trio recalled All Black triumph one final time https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453896/trio-recalled-all-black-triumph-one-final-time/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453896/trio-recalled-all-black-triumph-one-final-time/#respond Sun, 04 May 2025 02:59:28 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453896/trio-recalled-all-black-triumph-one-final-time/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW SHORTLY before Christmas, in the hometown of the Manic Street Preachers, a trio of Welsh veterans met to replay the game of their lives for what would be the last time. When the unholy trinity finished reminiscing as only they knew how, Newport had the All Blacks […]

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Mission Impossible: How Northampton Saints can beat Leinster https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453384/mission-impossible-how-it-can-be-done/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453384/mission-impossible-how-it-can-be-done/#respond Sun, 27 Apr 2025 02:59:20 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453384/mission-impossible-how-it-can-be-done/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Phil Dowson only has to press a button anytime during the coming week to show his communion of Saints exactly what it takes to achieve Mission Impossible. The evidence, in glorious technicolour, is a fingertip away. The mission in question, beating Leinster in Dublin, appears […]

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Rhys Litterick takes high road to Scotland https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453386/litterick-takes-high-road-to-scotland/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453386/litterick-takes-high-road-to-scotland/#respond Sun, 27 Apr 2025 02:59:19 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453386/litterick-takes-high-road-to-scotland/ By Peter Jackson Rhys Litterick, a tight-head graduate from the Adam Jones school of scrummaging, joined Cardiff from Harlequins two years ago with the ultimate goal of playing for Wales. During that time they capped eight other tightheads: Archie Griffin, Henry Thomas, WillGriff John, Kieron Assiratti, Leon Brown, Dillon Lewis, Harri O’Connor and Tomas Francis. […]

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Peter Jackson: Pathetic Nolann Le Garrec stoops to a new low https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453388/pathetic-le-garrec-stoops-to-a-new-low/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453388/pathetic-le-garrec-stoops-to-a-new-low/#respond Sun, 27 Apr 2025 02:59:18 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/453388/pathetic-le-garrec-stoops-to-a-new-low/ By Peter Jackson Not since Andy Haden and Frank Oliver staged their amateurish theatrics against Wales at the Arms Park in 1978 can anyone have been caught stooping to a lower dirty trick than Nolann le Garrec’s against Perpignan. The Racing scrum-half’s pathetic attempt to deceive the referee into believing he had been butted in […]

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Peter Jackson: Where the ghosts of the greats still roam in Welsh Rugby https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452869/where-the-ghosts-of-the-greats-still-roam/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452869/where-the-ghosts-of-the-greats-still-roam/#respond Sun, 20 Apr 2025 02:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452869/where-the-ghosts-of-the-greats-still-roam/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know In the golden days when the sun never set on Welsh rugby and the national team truly belonged to the people, crowds would flock to watch the greats sharpen their Grand Slam act. Thursday afternoons before Five Nations’ weekends offered something far too good to […]

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Quinnell’s quick pint at The Ferry Boat Inn https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452155/quinnells-quick-pint-at-the-ferry-boat-inn/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452155/quinnells-quick-pint-at-the-ferry-boat-inn/#respond Sun, 13 Apr 2025 02:59:21 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/452155/quinnells-quick-pint-at-the-ferry-boat-inn/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW OF ALL the books written about the Lions, no reference can be found in any to The Ferry Boat Inn and the unique celebration that took place there long ago. No matter who makes the final cut for the Tests in Australia this summer, what happened in […]

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Fijian captain Waisea Nayacalevu fails to make appearance for Ospreys https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/united-rugby-championship/451432/fijian-captain-fails-to-make-appearance/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/united-rugby-championship/451432/fijian-captain-fails-to-make-appearance/#respond Sun, 06 Apr 2025 02:59:27 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/451432/fijian-captain-fails-to-make-appearance/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know In the natural world of all things ornithological, the sighting of an Osprey amounts to breaking news. Regrettably, fans of the Swansea-based rugby species have abandoned hope of ever spotting the one flown in from the north of England. Ospreys heralded Waisea Nayacalevu’s signing from […]

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Maro Itoje ready to follow in steps of Sir Gareth Edwards https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/450704/itoje-ready-to-follow-in-steps-of-sir-gareth/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/450704/itoje-ready-to-follow-in-steps-of-sir-gareth/#respond Sun, 30 Mar 2025 02:59:09 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=450704 By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Maro Itoje has climbed so high so swiftly that he will soon reach a place above the clouds where Gareth Edwards planted a Welsh flag almost 50 years ago. England’s captain went the distance in the latest Six Nations just as he had done in […]

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Thorburn calls for a restart ‘at every level’ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/449992/thorburn-calls-for-a-restart-at-every-level/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/449992/thorburn-calls-for-a-restart-at-every-level/#respond Sun, 23 Mar 2025 03:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/449992/thorburn-calls-for-a-restart-at-every-level/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PAUL Thorburn has seen Wales take a few batterings since his touchline goal put them on the World Cup podium for the only time; bronze medallists behind France and the All Black untouchables. They have never been back among the global top three since their fullback’s conversion […]

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British and Irish Lions’ support team keeps on growing https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/449344/lions-support-team-keeps-on-growing/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/449344/lions-support-team-keeps-on-growing/#respond Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:59:19 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/449344/lions-support-team-keeps-on-growing/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know The 1974 Lions took off from Heathrow with a management team of two. No specialist coaches, no analysts, no spin doctors, no physios, not even a bucket-andsponge man. During their safari across South Africa, The Invincibles played twice a week for 11 weeks. They lost […]

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Six Nations: Wales edge closer to unwanted record https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448613/wales-edge-closer-to-unwanted-record/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448613/wales-edge-closer-to-unwanted-record/#respond Sun, 09 Mar 2025 03:59:47 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448613/wales-edge-closer-to-unwanted-record/ By Peter Jackson At Murrayfield 70 years ago, Wales played the role of polite guests to perfection, enabling their supposedly hopeless hosts to end the longest losing run British rugby had ever known. Scotland had won after 17 defeats in a row over four years, a sequence which goaded their most famous forward of the […]

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Eligibility journey of Benhard Janse van Rensburg https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/448679/eligibility-journey-of-janse-van-rensburg/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/448679/eligibility-journey-of-janse-van-rensburg/#respond Sun, 09 Mar 2025 03:59:23 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/448679/eligibility-journey-of-janse-van-rensburg/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know At Eden Park on June 20, 2014, the cream of England’s teenaged crop edged past South Africa’s to win the Junior World Cup. Five of those lining up for their anthems that day have long since moved to the beat of a different drum. Wales […]

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Questions over Garry Ringrose’s ‘lenient’ ban refuse to go away https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/448681/questions-over-ringroses-lenient-ban-refuse-to-go-away/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/448681/questions-over-ringroses-lenient-ban-refuse-to-go-away/#respond Sun, 09 Mar 2025 03:59:22 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/448681/questions-over-ringroses-lenient-ban-refuse-to-go-away/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know The Rugby Paper’s investigation into the Six Nations giving Romain Ntamack and Garry Ringrose different sentences for the same offence provoked a suitably intriguing sub-plot to Ireland and France's showdown. No sooner had we asked why the Toulouse fly-half had been banned from two France […]

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Romain Ntamack vs Garry Ringrose – The same offence but two outcomes, why? https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448039/the-same-offence-but-two-outcomes-why/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448039/the-same-offence-but-two-outcomes-why/#respond Sun, 02 Mar 2025 03:59:16 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448039/the-same-offence-but-two-outcomes-why/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Romain Ntamack and Garry Ringrose broke the same law in separate cases of such striking similarity that their dangerous behaviour flattened the same target, Ben Thomas. The first of the head blows, delivered by Ntamack in Paris during the Six Nations’ opening match, broke the […]

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Player welfare ignored again with Romain Ntamack’s red card https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448041/player-welfare-ignored-again/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448041/player-welfare-ignored-again/#respond Sun, 02 Mar 2025 03:59:15 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/womens-rugby/448041/player-welfare-ignored-again/ By Peter Jackson Referee Paul Williams’ report to the tribunal of Romain Ntamack’s hit on Ben Thomas 10 minutes from the end of the France-Wales mismatch: “Head contact, foul play as player upright, high degree of danger, no mitigation as always illegal, no wrap.’’ Why, then, did the New Zealand official opt to give him […]

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When the crowd just kept on growing https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448043/when-the-crowd-just-kept-on-growing/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/448043/when-the-crowd-just-kept-on-growing/#respond Sun, 02 Mar 2025 03:59:14 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/womens-rugby/448043/when-the-crowd-just-kept-on-growing/ By Peter Jackson The largest crowd ever seen at a rugby match converged on Murrayfield this weekend 50 years ago, a multitude so vast that the Lothian and Borders police stopped counting at 104,000. Welsh fans had been heading north all week long that by the Friday afternoon they had transformed Princes Street into an […]

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Six Nations: Warren Gatland broken by assembly line failure https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446983/gatland-broken-by-assembly-line-failure/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446983/gatland-broken-by-assembly-line-failure/#respond Sun, 16 Feb 2025 03:59:22 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446983/gatland-broken-by-assembly-line-failure/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know February 11, 2025 will go down in Six Nations history as the day the Welsh Rugby Union ran out of sticking plaster for their head coach. Ironically, the chief executive who greeted Warren Gatland’s return two years earlier made a reference to the same adhesive […]

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Six Nations: Heads must roll for Wales, if not today, then very soon… https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/446367/heads-must-roll-if-not-today-then-very-soon/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/446367/heads-must-roll-if-not-today-then-very-soon/#respond Sun, 09 Feb 2025 03:59:48 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/446367/heads-must-roll-if-not-today-then-very-soon/ By Peter Jackson Just when the Red Dragon Brotherhood thought it couldn’t possibly get any worse, their team duly plunged through another fathom of uncharted waters before hitting a deeper rock bottom. Another failure, one infinitely more comprehensive than the scoreline might suggest, leaves Wales with nowhere to go beyond stumbling on towards a second […]

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Dad’s Army boosted by O’Mahony’s return https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446461/dads-army-boosted-by-omahonys-return/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446461/dads-army-boosted-by-omahonys-return/#respond Sun, 09 Feb 2025 03:59:15 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/446461/dads-army-boosted-by-omahonys-return/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Old warrior: Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony PICTURE: Getty Images WHEN it comes to hanging tough through the strife of Sunday afternoons on foreign soil, nobody does it better than Peter O’Mahony. The Munster warrior’s recall to the trenches at Murrayfield today underlines his enduring importance to Ireland’s cause. […]

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Six Nations: Thrilling three-horse race to beat them all https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/445920/thrilling-three-horse-race-to-beat-them-all/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/445920/thrilling-three-horse-race-to-beat-them-all/#respond Sun, 02 Feb 2025 03:59:05 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/445920/thrilling-three-horse-race-to-beat-them-all/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Ten years after the most nerve-wracking climax to any Six Nations, precious few of the gladiators from way back then dared to remain centre-stage for this one. They had been there for the three-horse race to beat them all, on St Patrick’s weekend 2015 when […]

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Damian Penaud in the mood to break his ducks for France https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/445288/penaud-in-the-mood-to-break-his-ducks/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/445288/penaud-in-the-mood-to-break-his-ducks/#respond Sun, 26 Jan 2025 03:59:26 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/445288/penaud-in-the-mood-to-break-his-ducks/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Flying high: Damian Penaud scoring for France against Ireland during last year’s Six Nations PICTURE: Getty Images Of all the sequential figures generated by Damian Penaud’s blitz of the record book, one set of numbers stands out from the rest: 0 1 0 0 0 […]

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What a team London Irish could have been… https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444732/what-a-team-irish-could-have-been/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444732/what-a-team-irish-could-have-been/#respond Sun, 19 Jan 2025 03:59:09 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444732/what-a-team-irish-could-have-been/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Those disciples of London Irish pining for their lost Premiership team will be given more ghostly reminders this weekend of what might have been. None of the disappeared who went before them – the Celtic Warriors, Caledonia Reds, Border Reivers, Wasps or Worcester – did […]

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Let’s hope the best of Regan Grace is yet to come https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444114/lets-hope-the-best-of-grace-is-yet-to-come/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444114/lets-hope-the-best-of-grace-is-yet-to-come/#respond Sun, 12 Jan 2025 03:59:04 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/444114/lets-hope-the-best-of-grace-is-yet-to-come/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Ever since St Helens discovered him in Port Talbot playing for Aberavon Harlequins, Regan Grace has been dealing in the type of hat-tricks most players can only dream of. His magic carpet ride through Super League included a long-distance trio against Leeds en route to […]

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Glorious Gerald Davies, a man of true class https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/443552/glorious-geralda-man-of-true-class/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/443552/glorious-geralda-man-of-true-class/#respond Sun, 05 Jan 2025 03:59:24 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/443552/glorious-geralda-man-of-true-class/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Every now and then, Gerald Davies would take a stroll through the rare old times when Wales grabbed history by both hands and swept it off on a merry medley of Five Nations ragtime. Of all the places and times when Wales ran riot, one […]

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A humble hero who had a big heart … https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/442704/a-humble-hero-who-had-a-big-heart-2/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/442704/a-humble-hero-who-had-a-big-heart-2/#respond Sun, 29 Dec 2024 03:59:10 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/442704/a-humble-hero-who-had-a-big-heart-2/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW One of a kind: Geoff Wheel in his days playing for Wales and, inset, shaking hands with the Princess of Wales at St Thomas’ Church in Swansea PICTURES: Getty Images / St Thomas’ Church A DARK cloud of sorrow has been hovering above St Thomas’ Church at […]

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When a World Cup triumph got you a washing machine https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/441826/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine-3/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/441826/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine-3/#respond Sun, 22 Dec 2024 03:59:19 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/441826/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine-3/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW SO America’s golfers will be paid £400,000-a-man at the Ryder Cup next year for what amounts to, at the very most, five rounds of golf in three days. The surviving few from the most unsung of British World Cup victories will have seen that as further confirmation […]

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When a World Cup triumph got you a washing machine https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436922/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436922/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine/#respond Sun, 22 Dec 2024 03:59:19 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=436922 By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know So America’s golfers will be paid £400,000-a-man at the Ryder Cup next year for what amounts to, at the very most, five rounds of golf in three days. The surviving few from the most unsung of British World Cup victories will have seen that as […]

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When a World Cup triumph got you a washing machine https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/441749/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine-2/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/441749/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine-2/#respond Sun, 22 Dec 2024 03:59:19 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/441749/when-a-world-cup-triumph-got-you-a-washing-machine-2/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW SO America’s golfers will be paid £400,000-a-man at the Ryder Cup next year for what amounts to, at the very most, five rounds of golf in three days. The surviving few from the most unsung of British World Cup victories will have seen that as further confirmation […]

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At least the French are going full-bore in Champions Cup https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436925/at-least-the-french-are-going-full-bore/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436925/at-least-the-french-are-going-full-bore/#respond Sun, 22 Dec 2024 03:59:17 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=436925 By Peter Jackson Neutrals the world over will relish the prospect of Toulouse and La Rochelle invading Cardiff at season’s end for the seventh all-French final of Europe’s blue riband trophy. They will relish it all the more because during a bad weekend for the Champions’ Cup, the super-heavyweights from across The Channel showed how […]

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Georgia just want a fair chance – Richard Cockerill https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436401/we-just-want-a-fair-chance-cockerill/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436401/we-just-want-a-fair-chance-cockerill/#respond Sun, 15 Dec 2024 03:59:13 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/436401/we-just-want-a-fair-chance-cockerill/ By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know One day soon, Josef Tkemaladze will renew his presidential invitation to Wales requesting the pleasure of their company in Tblisi whenever it suits them to put in an appearance. If nothing else, it will serve as a polite reminder of the first communiqué sent at […]

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Get rid of the regions and call for Cotter, says Ring https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/435850/get-rid-of-the-regions-and-call-for-cotter-says-ring/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/435850/get-rid-of-the-regions-and-call-for-cotter-says-ring/#respond Sun, 08 Dec 2024 03:59:12 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/columnists/peter-jackson/435850/get-rid-of-the-regions-and-call-for-cotter-says-ring/ PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW MARK Ring never thought Welsh rugby would come to this; their four regional teams failing en masse to meet the modest qualifying criteria for the non-champion zone of the Champions Cup. And so, in keeping with the national team’s disappearance from the world’s top ten, Europe’s elite […]

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Springboks going to need a bigger trophy cabinet … https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/434585/boks-going-to-need-a-bigger-trophy-cabinet-2/ https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/434585/boks-going-to-need-a-bigger-trophy-cabinet-2/#respond Sun, 01 Dec 2024 03:59:52 +0000 https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/434585/boks-going-to-need-a-bigger-trophy-cabinet-2/ Peter Jackson looks back on a season where, once again, South Africa proved to be the best team on the planet Now that they have won every precious piece of metal the game has to offer, the Springboks may be forced into coughing up a penalty for all that success. The trophy cabinet housed at […]

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