The Rugby Paper

16/07/2025

🦁 Three-time tourist Tadhg Furlong revealed his first Lions experience turned him into a proper rugby player and has told squad rookies it will do the same for them.

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Three-time tourist Tadhg Furlong revealed his first Lions experience turned him into a proper rugby player and has told squad rookies it will do the same for them.

16/07/2025

🌎 Over the coming weeks, four South American sides will battle it out in search of a spot at the 2027 World Cup.

✍️ Our South American expert Joe Santamaria takes an in-depth look at each side, and the players to watch (FREE READ ⬇️)

Over the coming weeks, four South American sides will battle it out in search of a spot at the 2027 World Cup.

16/07/2025

✍️ James Harrington reports on the French offseason, as every club, apart from the two finalists, will be back in training by the end of this month.

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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...

16/07/2025

🗣️ "I back Erasmus’ decision to push the boundaries."

✍️ Charlie Elliott weighs in on the Springboks's controversial in-game tactics during their comfortable win over Italy (FREE READ ⤵️)

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South Africa have split opinions this past weekend with a couple of new tactics implemented, that push the limits of what is allowed on a rugby pitch.

16/07/2025

🗣️ "The success of the current players must have made Borthwick reflect on his previous selections and perhaps has challenged him to rethink his playing squad."

✍️ Jeff

🔗 READ: https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/world/international-rugby-union/461800/borthwick-has-to-rethink-his-squad/

15/07/2025

🗣️ "Felipe Contepomi committed one of the biggest howlers by a head coach in recent memory."

✍️ Nick Cain on the Argentina coach's selection calls in their series loss against England.

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England deserved most of the plaudits lavished on them after their comprehensive four try 35-12 dismantling of Argentina last weekend.

15/07/2025

🗣️ “I can wholeheartedly tell you that this is the best thing I’ve ever done by a mile."

🦁 Ben Earl reflects on the tour down under so far.

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Ben Earl now knows you don’t have to live like a monk to be at the top of your game – and the current Lions tour has taught him that.

15/07/2025

🗣️ "Allowing Schmidt to withhold internationals for the four Australian Super Rugby provinces has been counterproductive on almost every front."

✍️ Nick Cain on Joe Schmidt ignoring the release agreement.

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Joe Schmidt will be hailed as a miracle man if the Wallabies succeed in blindsiding the Lions to edge the forthcoming Test series which starts in Brisbane on Saturday.

15/07/2025

7⃣ Jac Morgan
2⃣3⃣ Owen Farrell

🦁 Charlie Elliott selects his Lions squad for the opening test match (FREE READ 👇)

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The British and Irish Lions head into their first Test against Australia in Brisbane with some momentum.

15/07/2025

🧐 Springboks's controversial tactics
👏 Wales snap the streak
🧹 England's Series Sweep

✍️ Charlie Elliott goes through the most talked-about moments on social media from the weekend (FREE READ ⬇️)

The second full weekend of summer rugby took place and, as always, there were plenty of things to talk about after the action had concluded.

15/07/2025

🗣️ "From the moment he came into camp, we were all taken aback at how talented he was."

🌹 Is Seb Atkinson England's long-term option at 12?

England arrived in Argentina with Steve Borthwick looking for young players to make a statement and prove they could cut it at international level.

15/07/2025

🃏 Makeen Alikhan could come face-to-face with his former Harlequins team-mates when the USA host England on Saturday...

And the newly-capped Eagles back row is doing all he can to ensure he’s in the thick of it...

Makeen Alikhan could come face-to-face with some of his former Harlequins team-mates when the USA host England in Washington on Saturday, and the newly-capped Eagles back row is doing all he can to ensure he’s in the thick of it.