Premiership

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Premiership news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Louis Picamoles can make Northampton great says Stephen Myler

28 September 2016 0 comments

Long-serving fly-half Stephen Myler reckons the instant impact of French No.8 Louis Picamoles has put Northampton in shape for double-trophy success. Myler, who is fast-approaching […]

Savvy Danny Cipriani showing who’s boss – but he is pernickety!

27 September 2016 0 comments

The second coming of Danny Cipriani is driving Wasps‘ surge for silverware according to Joe Simpson. Prodigal son Cipriani, 28, returned this summer after a […]

I’ve got my chance now Dean Ryan’s gone

23 September 2016 0 comments

Ryan Lamb is relishing his opportunity to lead Worcester‘s attack after being brought in from the cold following Dean Ryan’s departure. Free-spirited Lamb has always […]

World class George Ford tipped to drive era of success

16 September 2016 0 comments

Bath head coach Tabai Matson reckons fly-half George Ford is as good as any player he has worked with – including Kiwi superstar Dan Carter. […]

Power of six can inspire Exeter Chiefs says new boy Ollie Devoto

15 September 2016 0 comments

Exeter are banking on the Power of Six to bring them trophy success after centre Ollie Devoto revealed why being reunited with a bunch of […]

Ben Youngs relishing Aaron Mauger learning curve at Leicester

9 September 2016 0 comments

Ben Youngs hopes trophy success and renewed confidence at Leicester will underpin his claims to the England No.9 jersey while enhancing his chances of a […]

I’ve been beating my demons says Kurtley Beale

9 September 2016 0 comments

Watching Kurtley Beale, ball in hand, whizzing past defences at full speed is one of the most beautiful sights in the game so it is […]

With high risk of a charge-down, the drop-goal is now a dying art

3 September 2016 0 comments

Drop goals feature heavily on the showreel of rugby’s greatest moments: Joel Stransky and Jonny Wilkinson won World Cups with them and Rugby Paper columnist […]

Wasps will feed off last year’s hurt

2 September 2016 0 comments

Now one of the richest clubs in Europe, Wasps have assembled a star-studded squad and go into the new campaign as one of the favourites […]

Luke Wallace’s out to prove he can play the Mr Nasty role

2 September 2016 0 comments

Harlequins flanker Luke Wallace is eager to bring more explosive aggression to his work around the breakdown in a bid to break into Eddie Jones‘s […]

Will king Louis Picamoles reign for Saints?

1 September 2016 0 comments

Time will soon tell but don’t be surprised if France No.8 Louis Picamoles proves the best signing for the forthcoming season. As Saints new skipper […]

Manu Tuilagi aims to roar for Leicester and catch the eye of Eddie Jones

1 September 2016 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi is convinced he is both physically and mentally ready to prove to Eddie Jones he deserves a place in his England side for […]

Joshua Chasinga chasing his dream at Newcastle Falcons

1 September 2016 0 comments

Music producer turned professional rugby player Joshua Chisanga is on track to become the first full Kenyan international to play in the Premiership. Chisanga caught […]

Guy Mercer will keep Bath honest

31 August 2016 0 comments

So here’s a question. You’ve just jetted in from New Zealand tasked with turning around the talented but clearly underperforming rugby beast that is Bath […]

Nick Easter: When you start thinking of retirement, you’re ready to retire

26 August 2016 0 comments

Not many players are fortunate enough to retire on their own terms – and knowing when to do it can be challenging – but Nick […]

Sean Maitland: Saracens made an offer I couldn’t refuse

25 August 2016 0 comments

Sean Maitland has described joining Saracens as “too good an opportunity to pass up” as he targets a repeat of last season’s double-winning success. Scotland […]

Louis Picamoles out to sink Premiership big guns

24 August 2016 0 comments

Louis Picamoles is only a few weeks into his new life in Northampton but already feels at home and can’t wait to sample life in […]

Captain Jack Lam vows to get mean in bid for survival

23 August 2016 0 comments

Rock solid new Bristol captain Jack Lam wants his side to get mean in their defence this season to avoid becoming one-hit wonders in the […]

Q&A with Gloucester DoR David Humphreys

20 August 2016 0 comments

David Humphreys is entering a defining third season as director of rugby at Gloucester. The Ulsterman tells NEALE HARVEY why it’s time for the Cherry […]

I’m not here for a holiday says new Chief Dave Dennis

20 August 2016 0 comments

Exeter marquee signing Dave Dennis reckons a stint in the Premiership will improve him as a player as he sets out on the silverware trail […]

Kyle Sinckler sets new goal to be world’s best tighthead

19 August 2016 0 comments

Kyle Sinckler is determined to leave his promising youngster tag behind and break into Eddie Jones‘ England team en route to becoming the best No.3 […]

Q&A with Pacific Rugby Players Welfare founder Dan Leo

18 August 2016 0 comments

Former Samoa, Wasps, London Irish, London Welsh and lock Dan Leo has founded Pacific Rugby Players Welfare and was recently appointed by the RPA to […]

Dan Leo’s crusade to improve deal for Pacific Islanders

17 August 2016 0 comments

Dan Leo, founder of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, reckons the contingent of England players with Island origins will rocket over the next decade. England’s latest […]

Q&A with Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell

13 August 2016 0 comments

Kevin Sorrell joined Saracens as a player in 1995 and has been their backs coach since 2012. He tells NEALE HARVEY how the club evolved […]

Geordan Murphy: Tigers glad to aid England but the club is first and foremost

12 August 2016 0 comments

Geordan Murphy reckons the selection of seven Leicester players in Eddie Jones’s new 45-man squad nails the myth that his club have no interest in […]

Marco Mama’s eyes fixed on England’s No.7 shirt

11 August 2016 0 comments

Marco Mama is on a mission this season to establish himself as Worcester‘s premier No.7 and push his case for England selection. Mama, 25, views […]

Q&A with Wasps forwards coach Andy Titterrell

7 August 2016 0 comments

Two years ago, you turned to strength and conditioning but now you’re a full-time forwards coach. Why the change of direction? It’s strange how things […]

Cooper Vuna relishing Sixways link with League buddy Ben Te’o

6 August 2016 0 comments

Worcester fans’ favourite Cooper Vuna reckons the arrival of his old Rugby League buddy Ben Te’o will fire the club’s top six ambitions. As 12-year-olds […]

Saracens primed to emulate Tigers’ long period of dominance

5 August 2016 0 comments

George Kruis is confident Saracens can create a long-lasting legacy by repeating last season’s heroics to become the first Premiership side since Leicester in 2002 […]

Jono Kitto: Watch out, Tigers’ new midfield will be tasty!

4 August 2016 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi‘s line-busting power, allied to the subtle skills of new signing Matt Toomua will give Leicester the cutting edge needed to win silverware, says […]

Leicester chief slams new Premiership deal as ‘flawed’

2 August 2016 0 comments

Leicester Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen believes Premiership Rugby‘s policy of linking the salary cap to central funding is wrong and could have wider implications […]

Q&A with Harlequins head coach Mark Mapletoft

31 July 2016 0 comments

Understand you recently went on a globe-trotting expedition? Correct. I went to Sydney and Auckland and spent time with a number of different teams down […]

I’ll have to earn my place, says Matt Symons

30 July 2016 0 comments

Wasps lock Matt Symons is relieved to have been given a second Premiership chance after the nightmare of relegation at London Irish. Combative second rower […]

Tom Youngs in pledge to bring back glory days at Leicester

29 July 2016 0 comments

New Leicester captain Tom Youngs reckons the pain of three successive Premiership semi-final defeats will drive his side towards next season’s title. Tigers have reached […]

Clubs face meltdown in spite of cash boom

26 July 2016 0 comments

Gloucester chief executive Stephen Vaughan fears Premiership clubs face financial meltdown unless steps are taken to curb rampant wage inflation. Vaughan’s stark warning comes as […]

Barritt: Schalk can lead us to treble

13 July 2016 0 comments

Saracens skipper Brad Barritt reckons the arrival of South African back-rower Schalk Burger will take his side to the next level as the Men in […]

Charlie Hodgson: It’s all so fierce now but guys like Owen Farrell can keep us on top

8 July 2016 0 comments

How did it feel to finish your playing career as a Premiership and Champions Cup ‘double’ winner? It’s what dreams are made of. With the […]

Bath boss Bruce Craig NOT selling up at the Rec

5 July 2016 0 comments

Bruce Craig has categorically denied he is selling Bath after rumours emerged he was on the verge of offloading his controlling interest to billionaire business […]

Super heroes who can be marvels with Lions

30 June 2016 0 comments

Saracens coach Alex Sanderson expects his real life ‘Fantastic Five’ of George Kruis, Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell and brothers Mako and Billy Vunipola to defy […]

Players heading for another post-Lions burnout say RPA

29 June 2016 0 comments

Damian Hopley believes England’s top stars are facing inevitable burnout unless steps are taken to limit the number of appearances they make. The Rugby Paper […]

I was a fat-arse at Bath admits Stephen Donald

24 June 2016 0 comments

Stephen Donald outdid Warren Gatland in the home hero stakes in Hamilton, leaving the field to a standing ovation after guiding the Chiefs to an […]

Shane Monahan gets cagey in search for new career

22 June 2016 0 comments

Former Gloucester and Rotherham winger Shane Monahan is to swap the rugby field for the octagon after embarking on a career in Mixed Martial Arts. […]

Donncha O’Callaghan battles to give war-torn kids better life

16 June 2016 0 comments

Warrior Donncha O’Callaghan brought down the curtain on a gruelling first season at Worcester and then set off on a more challenging assignment. He is […]

Will Fraser: We can double up just like Leicester

9 June 2016 0 comments

Will Fraser says Saracens are determined to make their critics eat humble pie by becoming first side since Leicester in 2002 to clinch back-to-back ‘doubles.’ […]

We’re backing England insist Wasps, despite foreign legion

8 June 2016 0 comments

Wasps insist they remain committed to developing England-qualified players despite falling well short of RFU targets for season 2015-16. The Coventry-based outfit reached semi-finals in […]

Playoff pain will work in our favour long term says Dai Young

3 June 2016 0 comments

Dai Young believes Wasps‘ double dose of semi-final heartache will strengthen their bid to recapture the cub’s glory days. Defeat in last week’s Premiership semi-final […]

Signs pointing up for Sale after tough ten years

2 June 2016 0 comments

Sale legend Dean Schofield believes his former club are on course to challenge for domestic silverware again ten years after they became champions of England. […]

Dean Ryan looking to flick the power switch at Worcester

1 June 2016 0 comments

Worcester boss Dean Ryan has called on his home-grown stars to step up physically and match the power game of their Premiership rivals. Warriors finished […]

New boys backed to spark Freddie Burns’ Test bid

31 May 2016 0 comments

Freddie Burns still has an England future according to Leicester head coach Aaron Mauger, who reckons the summer arrivals of Test stars Matt Toomua and […]