Premiership

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

Why Ben Franks joined London Irish

4 December 2015 0 comments

Double World Cup-winning prop Ben Franks has revealed how former New Zealand teammate Brad Thorn persuaded him to ignore the riches of France in favour […]

I’m out to stop the new cheats, vows Donncha O’Callaghan

3 December 2015 0 comments

Worcester lock Donncha O’Callaghan fears football-style cheating is infiltrating rugby and believes it is up to veteran stars like himself to stamp it out. Players […]

New-style Leicester Tigers make Mathew Tait glad he said ‘Non’

2 December 2015 0 comments

Mathew Tait refuses to rule out the possibility of adding to his 38 England caps – if new boss Eddie Jones cares to look his […]

Ross Moriarty: I control myself better now

28 November 2015 0 comments

Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty says he has no intention of toning down the confrontational style that persuaded Wales boss Warren Gatland to hand him a […]

Joe Trayfoot out to beat his diabetes fright

27 November 2015 0 comments

London Irish flanker Joe Trayfoot says he is determined not to allow the onset of diabetes to ruin his chances of making an impact at […]

Chris Robshaw’s ‘great strengths should not be jettisoned’

26 November 2015 0 comments

England‘s new head coach has been warned to think long and hard before ditching Chris Robshaw as either captain or openside flanker. Robshaw, who last […]

Manu Tuilagi will be offered £1.6m by Worcester

24 November 2015 0 comments

Centre will be paid a world record £750,000 next season if he agrees to make the switch to Warriors.

Dave Denton ‘can cure Bath’s hangover’ from Sam Burgess

21 November 2015 0 comments

Bath‘s new back row signing David Denton will make a huge impact at the Rec according to first team coach Toby Booth, who admits he […]

Rhys Priestland: Kyle Eastmond’s style is dangerous

19 November 2015 0 comments

Bath new boy Rhys Priestland believes England can put their inside centre headache behind them by selecting club-mate Kyle Eastmond for the Six Nations. Having […]

Dave Ewers aiming to show he has real six appeal

18 November 2015 0 comments

Dave Ewers insists he feels no bitterness towards England after his World Cup snub – but is hungrier than ever to prove himself ahead of […]

Evans named Premiership Player of the Month

10 November 2015 0 comments

Top points scorer wins monthly accolade after unerring performance with boot for Quins

Jones believes strong start to the season is a sign of things to come for Quins

10 November 2015 0 comments

Adam Jones may be a softly spoken, modest character when sat down in an interview but the forward has much to show off and showcase […]

James Haskell is like an 18-year-old all over again

5 November 2015 0 comments

James Haskell may not be the young buck he once was but his teammates can be forgiven for thinking so watching him train alongside new […]

Jimmy Gopperth backs Alex Lozowski to be best 10 of the lot

30 October 2015 0 comments

Wasps fly-half is destined for stardom according to club colleague.

Marco Mama hoping to make good on his promise

29 October 2015 0 comments

Striking the balance between loyalty and ambition can be a tricky affair for today’s professional players.

Henry Thomas: I’ll state case for England

28 October 2015 0 comments

Overlooked England tighthead has his sights firmly set on a Six Nations recall following the national side’s troubles at the scrum.

Elliot Daly’s looking to put hand up for England

22 October 2015 0 comments

Wasps centre believes another stellar club season can boost his international claims after overcoming the disappointment of England rejection.

Sam Burgess challenge spurs England hopeful Matt Garvey

21 October 2015 0 comments

Flanker Matt Garvey concedes that the presence of ex-Rugby League man Sam Burgess in Bath‘s back-row has stymied his own international ambitions. However, the bullish […]

EXCLUSIVE: Jean de Villiers close to signing for Leicester Tigers

20 October 2015 0 comments

Tigers set to announce arrival of former Springboks captain before the weekend.

Mental battle is last hurdle for ambitious Saint Ben Foden

10 October 2015 0 comments

Northampton full- back is targeting silverware, an England recall and a place on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand as he steps up his recovery from injury.

EXCLUSIVE: Salary cap cheats will be hammered to protect league’s integrity

6 October 2015 0 comments

Two Premiership clubs set to be fined and deducted points for the 2015-16 campaign.

Relegation fight? I don’t care what you media think says Tom Coventry

3 October 2015 0 comments

Kiwi did not fly half-way around the globe to read predictions putting London Irish at the bottom of the Premiership.

Fallen Northampton Saints will be seeking redemption

30 September 2015 0 comments

Lee Dickson has vowed to scrap his way back into England contention after revealing his deep disappointment at being omitted from the World Cup squad. […]

Julian Salvi is happy to be let off leash

24 September 2015 0 comments

Flanker will relish playing with greater freedom at Exeter after his acrimonious departure from Leicester.

Luke Wallace expects hard work to pay dividends for Harlequins

18 September 2015 0 comments

Harlequins are ready to put their worst season in recent years behind them with Luke Wallace vowing they will be fitter than ever when the […]

Jonathan Thomas statement

15 September 2015 0 comments

After announcing his retirement from rugby, Wales international Jonathan Thomas has released the following statement: “It’s with real sadness I have to announce my retirement […]

EXCLUSIVE: Salary Cap battle resumes as Bruce Craig steps down

15 September 2015 0 comments

Cheats could still face action following a stormy board meeting last week.

Saracens forgotten man Will Fraser nearing return says Mark McCall

11 September 2015 0 comments

Champions Saracens have received a boost ahead of the new campaign by Will Fraser’s return from injury. Openside Fraser was on England‘s radar but missed […]

Premiership plans to expand top flight could be ‘dead’ forever

2 September 2015 0 comments

Proposals for a 14-team Premiership and a moratorium on promotion and relegation from season 2016-17 are dead. The Rugby Paper can reveal that opposition from […]

Ashley Johnson is hooking up to a whole new ball game

28 August 2015 1 comment

Barnstorming South African will not settle for the No.16 shirt.

Catherine Spencer blasts RFU for ‘wasting’ World Cup win

26 August 2015 0 comments

Former England captain Catherine Spencer has launched a stinging attack on the RFU for wasting legacy opportunities from the 2014 World Cup win. Spencer says […]

Hair Bear Adam Jones hungry for Harlequins starting jersey

25 August 2015 1 comment

Former Wales star has “nothing to prove” at Harlequins.

New boy Dan Robson relishing battle for Wasps No.9 shirt

21 August 2015 0 comments

Former Gloucester player cannot wait to go head-to-head with England hopeful Joe Simpson.

Premiership Rugby 7s Series squads

19 August 2015 0 comments

Pool A (Thursday 7:15pm at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester) Bath: Alex Humfries, Apolosi Sokia, Scott Watkins, Zach Mercer, Josh Bayliss, Rob Coote, Jack Maplesden, Owen Walters, […]

Care confirmed as new Harlequins captain

19 August 2015 2 comments

Danny Care has been announced as Harlequins new captain for the upcoming Premiership season taking the reins from Joe Marler. The scrum-half has won 50 caps […]

Marcus Watson eyes Newcastle Falcons’ No.13 shirt

13 August 2015 2 comments

While Anthony Watson contemplates helping England on the road to World Cup glory, older brother Marcus has his own challenges to face at Newcastle. Three-and-a-half […]

Fury over ‘ban’ on World Cup heroines

29 July 2015 0 comments

The legacy of England women’s 2014 World Cup win is being wrecked according to England’s top clubs who have reacted furiously to an RFU edict […]

Premiership plans for expansion go on hold

14 July 2015 0 comments

PRL plans to expand and impose a moratorium on promotion and relegation from 2016 are in doubt.

George Lowe backs Jamie Roberts to hit heights at Harlequins

8 July 2015 1 comment

Harlequins centre George Lowe is desperate to hook-up with new signing Jamie Roberts, whose impending arrival he describes as a “massive coup for the club.” […]

Anthony Allen’s dazzling ride on whirlwind ends too soon

1 July 2015 0 comments

Leicester Tigers centre reflects on the ‘whirlwind’ of his rugby career that promised so much yet ultimately ended last week at the age of just 28 with a wrecked knee.

Stephen Myler will be my guru but I want his place, says JJ Hanrahan

25 June 2015 4 comments

JJ Hanrahan has fired the first warning that he will be snapping at the heels of Stephen Myler next season. Hanrahan will join Northampton this […]

Clown prince Joe Marler plays it seriously now

10 June 2015 0 comments

TRP sits down with the one and only Joe Marler.

Dave Ward: Our new guys will put Harlequins back on top

6 June 2015 0 comments

Harlequins hooker has backed star signings Roberts, Jones and Horwill to kick-start a revival at the Stoop.

“I’m lucky to have had supportive clubs,” says Samoa star Kahn Fotuali’i

23 May 2015 0 comments

Kahn Fotuali’i admits Polynesian players are under pressure to quit international rugby in order to secure lucrative overseas contracts. But Northampton‘s Samoan scrum-half insists he […]

Harlequins prop Matt Shields now ready for his crack in big league

21 May 2015 0 comments

Rookie Harlequins tighthead Matt Shields has endured a baptism of fire since joining from Darlington Mowden Park in February and emerged with flying colours. But […]

Glenn Delaney: The salary cap cheats must be hammered

20 May 2015 0 comments

London Irish coach insists there can be no second chances for Premiership salary cap cheats beyond the end of this season.

Manu Tuilagi ‘will be worried about his big brother’

19 May 2015 1 comment

Leicester Tigers are to ask Tuilagi’s elder brother Freddie to keep a closer eye on their young star and ensure he remains trouble free.

England shouldn’t pension off old guard says Ugo Monye

15 May 2015 0 comments

Ugo Monye believes England‘s World Cup wing selections are potentially set in stone but has urged boss Stuart Lancaster not to dismiss the old guard. […]

Tom Varndell: I won’t quit England until I beat Mark Cueto’s record

14 May 2015 0 comments

Tom Varndell wants to end his career abroad but he will not leave English rugby until he is the most prolific try-scorer in Premiership history. […]

Charlie Sharples blasts Euro bosses for play-off grind

13 May 2015 0 comments

Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples has slammed European Cup chiefs for plunging the Cherry & Whites into play-offs at the expense of player welfare. Despite winning […]

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