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• 'The system is flawed' - Diamond on six-match ban

  15-04-2025 15:39 via bbc.com
  
  Newcastle Falcons boss Steve Diamond says the sport's disciplinary process "is flawed" as he begins a six-match ban.
  
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• Champions Cup Team of the Week: Northampton Saints’ Lions hopefuls help deliver historic upset

  05-05-2025 12:31 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By Charlie Elliott The Champions Cup played host to two of the best semi-finals we have seen in the competition, as the two favourites were knocked out by unfancied opposition.  Northampton Saints winning away in Dublin against Leinster was by far the biggest shock, with Phil Dowson’s side putting their poor Premiership form aside to produce a mammoth performance […]
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• 'Advanced talks' over Magic Weekend's Newcastle return

  04-05-2025 21:20 via bbc.com
  
  RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones is "quietly confident" the Magic Weekend will return to Newcastle next season.
  
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• Wakefield end Magic Weekend by beating Cas

  04-05-2025 20:39 via bbc.com
  
  Wakefield Trinity put in a classy performance to beat Castleford Tigers in the final 2025 Magic Weekend fixture at St James' Park.
  
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• Bordeaux set up Champions Cup final with Northampton after beating Toulouse

  04-05-2025 20:05
  
  Louis Bielle-Biarrey stars with two tries in 35-18 winOwen Farrell hurt in Racing 92’s Challenge Cup defeatLouis Bielle-Biarrey’s stunning first try of two highlighted Bordeaux Bègles’ 35-18 win over Top 14 rivals Toulouse as they set up a Champions Cup final meeting with Northampton. Saints stunned Leinster in Saturday’s first semi-final.Bordeaux had raced into a 10-0 lead with a try from Pete Samu and a Matthieu Jalibert penalty, but Toulouse edged 11-10 up with
  
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• Wigan hold on for Magic win against Warrington

  04-05-2025 18:48 via bbc.com
  Wigan Warriors return to second in Super League as they hold on to beat Warrington Wolves in a Magic Weekend thriller at St James' Park.
  
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• Northampton give Andy Farrell much to ponder before Lions unveiling

  04-05-2025 18:01
  
  British & Irish Lions head coach must ask himself if he can afford to leave Henry Pollock out of the squad on ThursdayOne of the all-time great club knockout results could yet have big implications in the coming days. Northampton will now feel they have a genuine chance of lifting the Champions Cup for the first time in quarter of a century while Andy Farrell suddenly has much to ponder before Thursday’s British & Irish Lions squad announcement in London.Just as the Saints fully de
  
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• Wellens 'under pressure' after Saints lose again

  04-05-2025 16:56 via bbc.com
  St Helens boss Paul Wellens admits he is under pressure following Saturday's Magic Weekend loss to Leeds Rhinos which continued his side's poor run of form.
  
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• Leaders Hull KR stun Salford with 54-point haul

  04-05-2025 16:47 via bbc.com
  Watch highlights as Super League leaders Hull KR canter to a bumper Magic Weekend win over beleaguered Salford Red Devils.
  
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• Leigh beat Catalans in Magic Weekend classic

  04-05-2025 16:44 via bbc.com
  Watch highlights as Leigh Leopards beat Catalans Dragons in a Magic Weekend classic to move second in Super League.
  
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• Huddersfield beat 12-man Hull for first win

  04-05-2025 16:11 via bbc.com
  Huddersfield Giants claim their first Super League win of the season as they edge 12-man Hull in a bad-tempered Magic Weekend match.
  
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• Saints stun Leinster and sweep into final

  04-05-2025 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By ADAM HATHAWAY in Dublin NORTHAMPTON captain Fraser Dingwall hailed the spirit of his side as they pulled off one of the biggest European shocks by derailing Leinster 37-24 in Dublin yesterday. Written off by the bookies, Saints produced an astonishing five-try display to knock out the tournament favourites and march towards the Champions Cup […]
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• Northampton Saints stun Leinster in Champions Cup semi and sweep into final

  04-05-2025 05:00 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By Adam Hathaway in Dublin Northampton captain Fraser Dingwall hailed the spirit of his side as they pulled off one of the biggest European shocks by derailing Leinster 37-24 in Dublin yesterday. Written off by the bookies, Saints produced an astonishing five-try display to knock out the tournament favourites and march towards the Champions Cup […]
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• You’re right, Jeff, crowd capacity is not a critical factor

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  JEFF Probyn says promotion to the Premiership should not depend on ground capacity. He is right. If English football adopted the same principle, Bournemouth would never have reached the top league. Yet that modest south coast club, with its tiny crowd capacity compared to Manchester United and others, has been like a breath of fresh […]
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• Why did such a good side break up so quickly?

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  FOR the best part of two decades, Exeter Chiefs have been a textbook success story, poster boys for the professional club game, so frankly it’s been a little disturbing watching them implode this season and the knee-jerk rancour following their humiliating defeat at Gloucester last week. Ali Hepher and Rob Hunter were unceremoniously thrown under […]
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• We can finish in the top two, says Sale’s Joe Carpenter

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By Paul Rees Bath may have stood above the rest of the Premiership for most of the season, but Joe Carpenter has warned the leaders to watch out for Sale. The Sharks have won all four league matches since the resumption after the Six Nations and are primed to go one better than last season […]
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• We can finish in the top two, says Carpenter

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By PAUL REES Ambitious: Joe Carpenter on the attack for Sale PICTURES: Getty Images BATH may have stood above the rest of the Premiership for most of the season, but Joe Carpenter has warned the leaders to watch out for Sale. The Sharks have won all four league matches since the resumption after the Six […]
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• We are delighted to make Challenge Cup final, says Johann van Graan

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Bath boss Johann van Graan was delighted to secure a place in the final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. He said: “We will watch the semi-final but it doesn’t matter who we play as they are both quality sides. “Having lost in the Premiership final last year before winning the Premiership cup, it’s effectively our third […]
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• We are delighted, says Van Graan

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  BATH boss Johann van Graan was delighted to secure a place in the final at Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium. He said: “We will watch the semi-final but it doesn’t matter who we play as they are both quality sides. “Having lost in the Premiership final last year before winning the Premiership cup, it’s effectively our […]
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• Wade will be a hit at Wigan – Powell

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By ROSS HEPPENSTALL ANDY Powell’s time at Wigan Warriors was, by his own admission, no great success but he has backed Gloucester winger Chris Wade to prosper there. In 2013, Powell left Sale to join Wigan on a three-year deal but made just five appearances and returned to union the following year. The ex-Wales back […]
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• Trio recalled All Black triumph one final time

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  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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• Title race down to the wire

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  PAUL REES EXAMINES THE PERMUTATIONS AS T HE PREMIERSHIP AND THE URC BOTH ENTER THE HOME STRAIGHT THE Premiership enters the home straight next weekend with three rounds to go and it may be the last not to be haunted by the spectre of relegation with what the RFU calls an expansion league being planned. […]
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• The Sheriff’s eying a move into politics

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  KEN Owens, aka the Sheriff of Carmarthen, is planning to plunge into the whirlpool of politics as a Labour candidate at elections to the Senedd. If his standing for the Welsh Assembly is confirmed, Wales’ most-capped hooker will hope to succeed where two fellow Lions failed. Carwyn James stood as the Plaid Cymru candidate for […]
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• The best win on the road I’ve seen

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  BRENDAN GALLAGHER Wonder try: Henry Pollock on his way to scoring for Saints I’VE been reporting on this Heineken Cup, European Cup, Investec Champions Cup – call it what you want – since the opening round of the first-ever competition in 1995 and yesterday in Dublin was the most outstanding, not to mention astounding, win […]
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• Surely the buck stops with Baxter

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  AS an Exeter fan I am sorry to see our recent demise and also sorry to see that Rob Hunter has left the club and Ali Hepher has been suspended – both have been great servants over the years. Whilst I accept something needs to happen, I see director of rugby Rob Baxter has temporarily […]
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• Rob Hunter leaves Exeter Chiefs after record defeat

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  Exeter head coach Rob Hunter has left the club by mutual consent. He and attack coach Ali Hepher were suspended following Chiefs’ club-record 79-17 loss at Gloucester. Hunter had only had four games as head coach, having been promoted to the role following Hepher’s demotion in March. It brings to an end a 13-year spell […]
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• Review calls for RFU Council to be axed

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  THE RFU is facing a structural revolution as an independent review has recommended abolishing the RFU Council. The proposed changes could strip the Council of its power and replace it with a more streamlined advisory group. The 63-member body includes representatives from England’s counties, the military and Oxbridge, as well as figures representing referees, players, […]
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• Radwan: I have got to win the fans over

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By GARY FITZGERALD Eye on the title: Adam Radwan on the attack for Leicester Tigers PICTURES: Getty Images ADAM Radwan claims there is an “infectious” title bug in the air at Welford Road which has caught even him by surprise. The wing insists he is “loving” his new rugby life in the East Midlands under […]
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• Pursglove leads the record-breakers

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  By RICHARD ASHTON Army Women ..96pts Navy Women ..... 0pts TWO-TRY Army full-back Courtney Pursglove was delighted after her side demolished the Royal Navy in a record-breaking triumph. It was one-way traffic throughout and last year’s record of 95-0 was broken with the final play as scrum-half replacement Fern Scobie scooted over down the right. […]
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• Pollock’s energy could give Lions that extra boost

  04-05-2025 04:59 via therugbypaper.co.uk
  
  THE likelihood of any uncapped young “bolters”, that were a feature of Lions squad announcements in the amateur era, has diminished in the pro game to the extent that none were expected in the 37-man 2025 Lions tour party to Australia to be revealed on Thursday. That changed with Henry Pollock’s supercharged display in Northampton’s […]
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