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MY LIFEIN RUGBY

From Voldemort to NZ, it’s been a blast

THE FORMER HARLEQUINS, LONDON IRISH, WASPS, CANTERBURY & WAIKATO CHIEFS SECOND ROW MATT SYMONS
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This article is from...


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The Rugby Paper
22-Jan-2023
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Other Articles in this Issue


Frontpage
All change! It’s time to work, says Borthwick
STEVE Borthwick has slapped a travel ban on
Wales in danger of losing 15 stars
Crowd pleaser: Alex Dombrandt celebrates scoring the second
News
RFU pledges clarity on new tackle laws
THE RFU says it will soon provide more
Connon flying high with the Falcons
THE unpredictability of the Premiership was highlighted earlier
I don’t expect to hear from Eddie, says Salakaia-Loto
Eagar: Salakaia-Loto in action for Northampton LUKHAN SALAKAIA-LOTO
Pearson is on Borthwick’s radar -Kidney
DECLAN Kidney says London Irish flanker Tom Pearson
Ben plays through pain for his place
Focused: Ben Curry on the attack for Sale
Skivington: Jonny will be back for England
Fighting hard: Jonny May in action for Gloucester
Simmons grabbing his chance on the wing
HARRY Simmons had a long wait to get
Bertranou out for the season
DRAGONS will play the remainder of their 2022-23
Hogg ready for big clash
SCOTLAND full-back Stuart Hogg should be fit for
Irish out to tempt Collins
LONDON Irish are the favourites to lure Tom
Scots eye Mallinder
FORMER Sale and Northampton boss Jim Mallinder has
Sharks fear the cap won’t fit for Tuilagi
Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler On his way:
Chiefs keen to keep Nowell as exodus goes on
EXETER Chiefs are stepping up attempts to keep
Seabrook in talks with Saints
NORTHAMPTON Saints have had talks with Gloucester back
Time for England’s forwards to front up
OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK
RFU has no right to deliver this low blow
READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK
Borthwick putting faith in his old dogs
THE message coming loud and clear from Steve
Morgan shows the way as Ospreys come to life
WALES AND LIONS LEGEND
The Sheriff riding in to rescue Wales
THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW
The real glam rockers back in town
SIR Gareth Edwards and some of his famous old
Thirsty fans prepare for opening time
THE whiff of the Six Nations is blowing
McConnochie heads ‘home’
RUARIDH McConnochie says that it has been a
The golden voice... that glorious try...
WE are fast approaching the 50th anniversary of
...but was it best of the game?
THERE are some contrarian souls who will tell
Hat-trick star Mafi shines for Eagles to soar
AMANAKI Mafi scored a hat-trick of tries for
Massive interest in France showdown
On the run: Zoe Harrison in action for
Robinson: English rugby will miss Jones
FORMER Red Rose assistant coach Ed Robinson feels
Roberts: Knights can turn it around
DESPITE enduring a mixed and inconsistent start to
Beale facing rape charge
WALLABY utility back Kurtley Beale has reportedly been
Three-week ban for Obatoyinbo high tackle
NEWCASTLE Falcons full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo has been given
Johnson aiming to pile on the pounds
AUSTRALIAN winger Kyle Johnson hopes to put on
The French connection that will aid Borthwick
A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME
Ewers’ move to Ulster from Exeter confirmed
DAVE Ewers’ move to Ulster at the end
More former Wasps secure their futures
HARLEQUINS have signed Will Porter for next season.
Botha leaves Ampthill to join Ford’s Belgium
BELGIUM have appointed Mike Ford as head coach,
Worcester women to split from men’s side
WORCESTER Warriors women are set to officially separate
Bristol deducted points for selecting Stooke
BRISTOL have been deducted five points and handed
Scotland full-back McLean suspended
GLASGOW Warriors have suspended Scotland full-back Rufus McLean
Blundell’s power through to semis
BLUNDELL’S have progressed to the semi-finals of the
Chinnor 3rds just can’t stop winning
CHINNOR’S 3rd XV are currently enjoying a sensational
Students get their England chance
THE top flight of English university rugby is
Speedy Asiedu enjoying life at the sharp end
POTENT winger Kwaku Asiedu claims that ‘every game
Larkins: Veteran hooker Priddey still one of the very best in Cornwall
CAMBORNE director of rugby Steve Larkins believes Ben
RGC weather red card storm as Llanelli pain goes on
RGC.............................25 Llanelli..................... 12 FOURTEEN-MAN RGC leapfrogged Newport back
Students beat the freeze to go top six
Welsh round-up
Gibbes given his marching orders after Tigers mauling
FRENCH COLUMN
France must wait for Meafou
REMEMBER last year’s Patrick Schickerling incident? When Exeter’s
Forthcoming fixtures
Week beginning Sunday, January 22, 2023
DREAM TEAM
DREAM TEAM
JONNY RODDAM, THE FORMER HARLEQUINS, SALE, DONCASTER, SEDGLEY PARK & FYLDE HOOKER AND CURRENT HEAD OF BOYS SPORT AT KIRKHAM GRAMMAR AND FORWARDS COACH AT SEDGLEY PARK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST
Champions Cup
Quins back to their best to maul Sharks
Harlequins ....................... 39pts Cell Tries: Care 5, Dombrandt
Matson: Great feeling to win again
QUINS coach Tabai Matson was a relieved man
Chiefs are grateful for home comforts
Exeter Chiefs .................. 40pts Tries: Slade 28 Penalty
Woodburn wants to win it for his mates
MAN of the match Olly Woodburn wants to
Two sent off adds to misery for Saints
Northampton .................... 13pts Tries: James 54 Conversions: Smith
We weren’t ruthless enough out there, complains O’Gara
LA Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara wasn’t happy
Twelvetrees cuts through the noise
Bordeaux-Begles ........... 17pts Tries: Gimbert 14, Boniface 50
‘To come here and win is massive’
GEORGE Skivington hailed Gloucester’s rare victory in France
Drama as Williams steals it at the last
Leicester .......................... 26pts Tries: van Poortvliet 15, Simmons
Booth: Stressful and amazing
OSPREYS head coach Toby Booth praised the superb
Stylish Lyon put Bulls to bed
Lyon ................. 31 Bulls ................... 7 LYON produced
All over for Sale as Ulster prove worth
Ulster ................................. 22pts Tries: Lyttle 19, Herring 64,
Munster closing in on last 16
Preview Toulouse v Munster Today. 3.15pm
Sarries set for a battle of the stars
PREVIEW... Edinburgh v Saracens Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, DAM Health Stadium
Montpellier will be a tough challenge for us, says Basham
PREVIEW... Montpellier v London Irish Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stadium
O’Brien double as Leinster top pool
Leinster............36pts Tries: O’Brien 14, 73; Keenan 52, 69,
Clermont pay dear for Belleau yellow
Stormers..........30pts Tries: Roos 47, Jantjies 53, du Plessis
Genge puts on a show to power Bears home
Bristol ................33pts Tries: Randall 14, Genge 20, 40+1;
European Challenge Cup
Toulon have to beat the cold to secure home tie
Toulon ............ 14 Zebre ................. 5 TOULON secured
Benetton edge it but Stade still in
Benetton ........35 Stade F ...........32 BENETTON couldn’t quite
Falcons on song but it’s too late to matter
Newcastle..........35pts Tries: Young 3, Orlando 10, Carreras 18,
Weir off target as Glasgow fail to overcome Bath
Glasgow............ 19pts Tries: Fagerson 6, Vailanu 22,
Cheetahs ready to go on attack
Preview Cheetahs v Pau Today. Kick-off 3.15pm
Little goes right for slack Cardiff
Brive .................37 Cardiff ............ 24 CARDIFF ended the
Scarlets on cruise control
Bayonne ............ 7 Scarlets .......... 20 SCARLETS maintained
Cross: It’s all about physicality
Preview Dragons v Lions Kick-off 1pm
Championship
Caldy hold off late Nottingham challenge
Nottingham...... 17pts Tries: R Olowofela 16, Williams 54,
Freezing fog can’t stop Ealing taking their chances
Hartpury Uni .... 13pts Tries: Jones 16
Powerful Blues march on as Pirates sink without trace
Bedford Blues ..................55pts Tries: Worley 3, 15; Uru
Knights dig deep to put squeeze on Richmond
Richmond ......... 17pts Tries: Kaye 37, Saysell 40
Scottish push Jersey all the way but fail with final kick
Jersey Reds ... 24pts Tries: Clarke 7, Brown
Six Nations countdown
Eddie’s ghost won’t haunt Borthwick
PAUL REES SAYS THE TIME H AS COME FOR ENGLAND’S NEW COACH WHO NOW CUTS A CONFIDENT FIGURE
Wales
SCARLETS hooker Ken Owens has been named as
McConochie aims to fulfil boyhood dream
Scotland BATH wing Ruaridh McConnochie is eager to
Italy
MICHELE Lamaro captains the Azzurri, with World Rugby’s
France
GRAND Slam champions France go into this year’s
Ireland
ULSTER’S Jacob Stockdale has been recalled to Ireland’s
Women’s Premier 15s
Super Sarries prove too strong for Warriors
Saracens ................64 Worcester .............. 20 SARACENS turned in
Potent Lightning in seventh heaven
Loughborough ...... 41 DMP Sharks ............. 7 LOUGHBOROUGH
Misfiring Sharks desperate to sting Wasps
PREVIEW Sale v Wasps Today. KO 2pm
Chiefs ready for another Bear fight
PREVIEW Exeter v Bristol Today. KO 2.30pm
Red Rose ace Dow makes bow for Quins
PREVIEW Harlequins v Gloucester-Hartpury Today. KO 2.30pm
National Leagues
Sheffield topple misfiring Hoppers
Preston G ......... 18 Sheffield ......... 24 SHEFFIELD
In-form Fylde see off Blaydon threat
Blaydon................... 12 Fylde ........................ 31 FYLDE kept up
Two-try Chester shake off Tigers
Chester....................23 Sheffield T ............. 17 CHESTER edged to
Sale stunned as Asiedu hat-trick ends home run
Sale FC............... 19pts Tries: Ford 9, Dixon 16,
Piper brace keeps Park on top in Bishop’s battle
Bishop’s S............... 10 Rosslyn Park ......... 13 ROSSLYN
Morley’s magic is crucial in Esher win
Esher................. 34 Plymouth A..... 24 SAM Morley’s consistent
Ward treble keeps Clifton on course
Exeter Uni................ 19 Clifton.......................35 SLICK Clifton proved too
On-song Hornets in seventh heaven
Hornets.....................47 Stourbridge............26 A BLISTERING first 40 minutes from
Lions hit back in late Dings drama
Dings C............. 24 Leicester L.......27 LEICESTER Lions staged
Regional Premier
Beesley at the double helps Lymm batter sorry Kendal
Round-Up
National League 2 East
Reynolds’ Raiders learn from setbacks
Impact: Callum Roberts first touch of the ball
Sterling on the money for Foxes
Canterbury..............43 Worthing..................33 FANS at Canterbury were treated to
Feature
JAKEBOND
CARDIFF MET BACK ROW
Results
Results
Letters
In danger of just being touch rugby
SO rugby’s authorities continue their inexorable emasculation of
Slade was clearly ball first, then player
In the clear: Slade’s red card was rescinded
Duckham’s Eden Park win
■ I have no association with Saracens, but
My concerns for grassroots rugby
I WRITE to you as a former player
Regional results
Regional results
Regional results
Welsh Rugby
Welsh Rugby
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