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3 days ago | 
therugbypaper.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
By Charlie ElliottThe British and Irish Lions squad was announced on Thursday, with head coach Andy Farrell announcing the 38 players who are going to tour and confirming that two extra spots will be available. Some players will have been surprised by the news that they were selected, and even those who fans saw as certainties would have known full well that it is a privilege and not a guarantee to be picked.
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3 days ago | 
therugbypaper.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
By Charlie ElliottGeoff Parling has officially put an end to Leicester Tigers’ search for a new head coach to replace Michael Cheika next season, with the former British and Irish Lion and Tigers player being announced as Cheika’s successor today. A lock in his playing days, he already knows the club well, given that he made 93 appearances during a six-year spell in the East Midlands. Many will be familiar with Parling as a player, but as a coach, he is much more underrated.
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3 days ago | 
therugbypaper.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
By Charlie ElliottRugby saw plenty happen over the weekend, with leagues across the world coming up with some great moments. Social media managed to keep tabs on everything that happened, offering a perspective and opinion on every moment, big or small. With the Premiership and Top 14 reaching crunch time, fans of those leagues, especially, were on the edge of their seats watching it unfold. Here, Charlie Elliott goes through the best moments of the weekend from rugby social media.
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3 days ago | 
therugbypaper.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
By Charlie ElliottRound 16 of the Premiership saw plenty of changes to both the table and the optimism of some fans, as now the race for the top four is heating up. Leicester Tigers produced a stunning second-half performance to beat Sale Sharks 44-24 at Welford Road and all but secure their spot in the top four, with real hopes of a home semi-final. It leaves Sale on the brink, and with a huge game against Bristol Bears coming up for them, they may drop out of the top four completely.
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3 days ago | 
theleaguepaper.com | Charlie Elliott
The best time of the year is upon us, the EFL play-offs – anything and everything can and will happen as four teams from each of the three English leagues battle it out for a place at Wembley to secure promotion. With two legs being played in the semi-finals, it is a marathon and not a sprint, and over the years we have seen so many unbelievable comebacks happen.
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6 days ago | 
therugbypaper.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
After last weekend’s European fixtures, which saw Northampton Saints overcome all odds to beat Leinster and reach the Champions Cup final and Bath overcome Edinburgh to qualify for the Challenge Cup final, the Premiership is back. Only three league games are left before the top four are decided and the play-off teams are confirmed. Every game is huge for those still fighting for the top four spots, with must-win games across the board.
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6 days ago | 
therugbypaper.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
Andy Farrell has selected his 40-player squad for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer. With so many quality players up for selection, there were always going to be big names missing out as well as a few surprises included. Given that it is a squad, different players will have been called upon to play different roles, which means that difficult decisions need to be made to help the balance of the squad.
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1 week ago | 
therugbypaper.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
Ugo Monye has backed Sam Prendergast and George Ford as two of five fly-halves to be selected in the British and Irish Lions squad tomorrow afternoon. Head coach Andy Farrell is set to name a 37-man touring squad to Australia at the O2 arena, before the tour gets underway against Argentina in Dublin. Monye, who made two appearances for the Lions in the 2009 tour to South Africa, has backed four specialist fly-halves, alongside Marcus Smith as a back-three player, to make the squad.
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1 week ago | 
ruck.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
Insurance broker and Premiership Rugby title sponsors Gallagher, have launched the Gallagher Touchline Academy. This is a free and accessible rugby teaching program, which was created in partnership with Premiership Rugby clubs. The initiative aims to up-skill 2,000 teachers by 2028, equipping them with the tools to bring rugby into more UK state schools and help shape the next generation of rugby players.
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1 week ago | 
ruck.co.uk | Charlie Elliott
Young Harlequins lock Elliot Williams has already established himself as one of the most promising forwards in English rugby. With a natural presence on the pitch and a composed approach off it, Williams’ journey through England’s age-grade sides has been rapid, having earned his first U19s cap in March, aged only 17. He has captained England U18s and recently stepped up to the U19s squad, continuing to grow without the armband but with the same sense of responsibility.
