Paul Rees - News, interviews, analysis and opinion

British and Irish Lions

/ 5 days ago

Paul Rees: No need to panic, but make every day count on the British and Irish Lions tour

Andy Farrell questioned whether the pitch had been watered ahead of the kick-off after a performance that dampened his mood. The...

By The Rugby Paper Team

British and Irish Lions

/ 3 weeks ago

Paul Rees: British and Irish Lions Player Ratings against Argentina

1. ELLIS GENGE Fired up from the start, won scrum penalties and was in rampaging form in the loose - the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

British and Irish Lions

/ 3 weeks ago

Paul Rees: British and Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell sticks to his guns for future gains

The Lions may have lost to Argentina, but as an indicator of what is to come Down Under it does not...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 3 weeks ago

Brendan Gallagher: After this, the British and Irish Lions MUST tour Argentina

As somebody who fretted and occasionally yawned his way through proceedings at the Millennium Stadium 20 years ago when these two...

By Brendan Gallagher

International Rugby

/ 3 weeks ago

England XV 24-26 France XV: 14-man England fall back into bad old ways

England ............................. 24pts Tries: Willis 24, Coles 29, Carpenter 40, Dombrandt 60 Conversions: Ford 24, 40 France................................ 26pts Tries: Barlot 7,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 month ago

Steve Diamond leads the applause for Newcastle Falcons backer Semore Kurdi

As Newcastle finished the season waiting for news on a takeover, Steve Diamond paid tribute to backer Semore Kurdi. Red Bull...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 month ago

Bristol Bears set for a Bath showdown in Premiership Play-Offs

Fierce rivals Bath and Bristol will play off at The Rec on Friday as the Bears look to become the first...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 month ago

George Skivington backing for more one-club players

George Skivington believes the tighter finances in the Premiership will lead to more one-club players having reduced the threat of poaching.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 1 month ago

Bristol Bears 52-26 Harlequins: Gabriel Ibitoye makes sure Bears keep control

Bristol Bears ................... 52pts Tries: Kloska 2, Batley 5, Ravouvou 19, Mata 24, Ibitoye 46, 64; Grondona 57, van Rensburg 68...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 month ago

Best yet to come for Bristol Bears, says captain Fitz Harding

Bristol went into Saturday's match against Harlequins having been in the top four all season, but Fitz Harding believes the best...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

‘I love it here’ – Chunya Munga extends deal with Northampton Saints

Chunya Munga had no hesitation in signing a new contract to remain at Northampton for another two seasons, even though he...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Columnists

/ 2 months ago

Dan Kelly – ‘I want to enjoy my final weeks at Leicester Tigers’

Paul Rees talks to centre Dan Kelly, who joined Leicester back in 2020 and is now heading off to play for...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 2 months ago

Northampton Saints in race to get stars fit for Champions Cup final

Northampton's last-minute victory over Saracens yesterday came at a cost, with four players left on the treatment table ahead of Saturday’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

George Skivington playing it smart at Gloucester

Gloucester are losing 19 players next month, but George Skivington expects to have a bigger squad next season for the same...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 months ago

Bath 43-15 Leicester Tigers: Bath turn on power to secure top spot

Bath .................................... 43pts Tries: Spencer 4, Obano 20, Roux 37, Dunn 47, Stuart 66, Cokanasiga 76, Butt 80 Conversions: Russell 21,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 months ago

Bristol Bears 36-14 Bath: A win but Bears still facing an uphill task

By Paul Rees Bristol Bears ................... 36pts Tries: Ibitoye 26, Lane 30, Oghre 40, Harding 43, Capon 76, Mata 79 Conversions:...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

I will treat the players here like men, says Rob Baxter

By Paul Rees Rob Baxter is not one to normally dead bat questions, but he stuck to the party line when...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 months ago

Baxter wants strong finish with eye on next season

■By PAUL REES EXETER may be out of the running for the play-offs but Rob Baxter is expecting a strong finish...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Tom Cairns confident it will all come good at Exeter Chiefs

By Paul Rees Tom Cairns enjoyed a breakthrough year with Exeter last season but has had to be patient this campaign...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Phil Dowson: We need to be flexible over 30-match limit

By Paul Rees Phil Dowson has called for give-and-take in the management of England players who are near the 30-game limit...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 3 months ago

Micheal Cheika determined to leave Leicester Tigers on a high

By Paul Rees Michael Cheika will be moving on at the end of the season, but he is determined to leave...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 3 months ago

Diamond blames system, not refs

By PAUL REES STEVE Diamond has called for more transparency over decisions made by match officials after being slapped with a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

West Country derby is the best – Jordan

■ By PAUL REES Hard man: Cam Jordan in action for Gloucester PICTURE: Alamy CAM Jordan thought that the East Midlands...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 3 months ago

Champions Cup: Toulon’s power too much for Saracens

By Paul Rees Toulon ............................... 72pts Tries: Wainiqolo 5, Isa 35, 55, 59; Jaminet 39, 70; Alainu’uese 44, Fainga’anuku 62, Serin...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

Bill Sweeney’s survival is good news – Steve Diamond

By Paul Rees Steve Diamond believes calls to oust the RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, who last week survived a no...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

James Williams: Bristol have to work harder on our defence

By Paul Rees On point: James Williams scoring against Exeter Bristol have a licence to thrill but James Williams acknowledges that...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 3 months ago

I’m prepared to rip anything up to improve – Hunter

By PAUL REES NEW Exeter head coach Rob Hunter says he has taken charge at the right time even though the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 4 months ago

Bristol Bears 52-38 Exeter Chiefs: Hat-trick for Jack Bates but little to savour

By Paul Rees Bristol Bears ................... 52pts Tries: Bates 2, 27, 56; Williams 6, 15; van Rensburg 10, Randall 40+2, Luatua...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 5 months ago

George Kloska gets his chance to show Steve Borthwick what he can do

By Paul Rees George Kloska was one of the surprise picks in the England A squad but Steve Borthwick had been...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 5 months ago

Tom James: From the start, Fin Smith was destined to make it to the top

By Paul Rees Tom James realised almost instantly that Fin Smith was destined for the top when the outside-half arrived at...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 5 months ago

Rising star Sean Kerr sets his sights on England

By Paul Rees As a consequence of the financial strife Premiership clubs have found themselves in this decade has been a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 5 months ago

Six Nations: French errors open the door for England

By Paul Rees It was like Messi blazing over in front of an open goal, Virat Kohli holing out in the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 5 months ago

Easterby keeps faith with Prendergast at fly-half

■ By PAUL REES IRELAND have kept faith with outside-half Sam Prendergast who will make his first Test appearance outside Dublin...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 5 months ago

Once again, England blow their chances

By Paul Rees England continue to find ways to lose. As in their previous six Tests against tier-one opposition, they led...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Rob Baxter: Tom Hooper will be the first of a few big-name signings for Exeter Chiefs

By Paul Rees Tom Hooper is the first of a number of big signings Exeter intend to make before the end...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Will Wand enjoying life as a Leicester Tiger

By Paul Rees Will Wand is living his dream with Leicester, the club he supported as a boy, having become a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Lam on the lookout for cover at No.10

PAT Lam is looking to add an outside-half to Bristol’s squad with only one fit 10 on the books. AJ MacGinty...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Letters

/ 6 months ago

Too easy to blame governing body

Congratulations to Paul Rees for his piece last week offering a reasoned and balanced assessment of the risks associated with a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 6 months ago

Tomos Williams in control to finish off Sale Sharks

By Paul Rees Gloucester ....................... 36pts Tries: Carreras 5, Llewellyn 20, 60; Hathaway 25, Williams 76 Conversions: Carreras 21, 26, 61,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 6 months ago

Mark McCall surprised by timing of new law changes in Champions Cup

By Paul Rees Mark McCall is surprised law trials are being introduced to the Champions Cup this week halfway through the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Steve Diamond is happy to stick with Newcastle Falcons

By Paul Rees Steve Diamond has committed himself to Newcastle long-term, as long he is wanted by the new owners when...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 6 months ago

I tried to move too fast and that backfired, says Rob Baxter

By Paul Rees Rob Baxter remains confident Exeter will move up the Premiership table in the coming months after opening with...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 6 months ago

We need a two -tiered solution

PAUL REES CALLS FOR A RESET, NOT A REVOLUTION, WHEN IT COMES TO SORTING OUT THE PROBLEMS FACING THE RFU WATCHING...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 7 months ago

No Zach Mercer decision until end of season

By Paul Rees Gloucester will not decide on Zach Mercer’s future until the end of the season as speculation that he...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 7 months ago

Exeter Chiefs fight hard but Bath go back to top

By Paul Rees Bath...................................... 19pts Tries: Pepper 6, Reid 45, Annett 67 Conversions: Russell 7, 68 Exeter.................................. 15pts Tries: Vermeulen 19,...

By The Rugby Paper Team