The Rugby Paper - December 15, 2024

In this issue

December 15, 2024

Start with Roebuck, Curry tells Borthwick

STEVE Borthwick has been urged to make in-form Sale star Tom Roebuck a starting winger in the Six Nations. c

2 mins

Saints, Quins & Tigers lead way

NORTHAMPTON Saints won in South Africa for the first time in their history by beating the Bulls away in Pretoria 30-21 courtesy of England international Tommy Freeman's brace of tries.

1 min

Pirates remove break clauses

CORNISH Pirates have lifted the break clauses in player contracts which had been inserted in the summer amid concern over the ongoing funding of the club.

2 mins

Pollard: My future still up in the air

HANDRE Pollard is out of contract at the end of the season and Leicester hope a strong showing for the rest of the campaign will persuade the South Africa outside-half to stay.

3 mins

O'Gara keeps on driving La Rochelle

Mark Stevens talks to the former Ireland No.10 about his plans in France and what could happen next

3 mins

It's time for Bath to take control

BATH need to make a statement against Benetton at the Stadio Monigo today if they are to progress to the last 16 of the European Cup, and have a realistic hope of a home draw.

4 mins

Powerful Tigers take Sharks apart with ease

LEICESTER made light work of despatching a depleted Sharks team back to South Africa in a predictable one-sided encounter last night.

2 mins

Dombrandt leads the fight for Quins

ALEX Dombrandt proved a real powerful force of nature as the No.8 helped Quins smash their South African rivals into submission with eight tries in front of a watching Steve Borthwick.

2 mins

Slade: We have to be all in this together

THE importance of playing what’s in front of you rather than on reputation alone is not lost on Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs’ most experienced Champions Cup player, as the Premiership’s only winless team prepare to take on sixtime winners and reigning champions Toulouse.

3 mins

Ring fence has made English rugby go soft

THE most positive aspect to come out of the opening round of the European Cup was that, despite six out of the eight English clubs losing, it can get better and relatively quickly.

4 mins

Battling Bath looking to revive cup campaign

JOHANN van Graan is braced to take on the Italian national team in all but name as Bath look to revive their Champions Cup campaign.

3 mins

The global travellers who light up game

THERE is nothing especially funny about short-term memory loss, but it may just have an upside when it comes to rugby.

3 mins

Off-target Gloucester get lesson in finishing

KIWI Michael Ruru scored two early tries and put in a silky display as Vannes created a famous night in their history, securing a first ever Challenge Cup win over a misfiring Gloucester.

2 mins

We're happy to be the hunted, says Beckett

SARAH Beckett admits Gloucester-Hartpury have made an underwhelming start to their title defence but believes that's partly due to competition across the PWR being at an alltime high.

2 mins

Heard takes charge to keep out Sarries

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY secured a pulsating victory over Saracens to leapfrog the Londoners in the PWR table.

2 mins

Hellfire Corner gives a warm welcome to all

RUGBY was undergoing a massive boom 150 years ago so we shouldn’t be surprised so many teams are celebrating their sesquicentennial anniversary as those who glory in long words like to call it.

5 mins

My fierce Tigers are roaring-Howison

A RUTHLESS second-half display saw Sheffield Tigers come from behind to score 29 unanswered points and seal a vital bonus point win against bottom of the table Billingham.

2 mins

Brave Lupus banking on Mo'unga class

THE fourth season of Japan Rugby League One kicks off this week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda Heat and Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on December 21.

3 mins

Oyonnax must live without El-Abd

OYONNAX’S seven-try 53-10 bonus-point win over ProD2 rivals Soyaux-Angouleme on Friday – their first victory since October 25 – was a relief in more ways than one. In fact, relief probably doesn’t cover it.

4 mins

Darge: We're all set for Toulon challenge

SCOTLAND flanker Rory Darge believes Glasgow’s 2023 Challenge Cup final defeat by Toulon proved pivotal in their progression to URC champions last season as they prepare for a tasty Champions Cup reunion in the south of France today.

2 mins

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The Rugby Paper, the UK's number 1 selling rugby title, brings you exclusive stories, reports and features on your device, published in exceptional clarity. It contains renowned journalists such as Nick Cain and Peter Jackson, and famous former players as columnists including Jeremy Guscott and Jeff Probyn. Published every Sunday, The Rugby Paper covers Rugby Union from national teams and Premiership / Rabo Direct down to grass roots.