Premiership

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

Will Skinner: Joe Marler’s the right man to captain Harlequins

19 September 2014 1 comment

Former Stoop skipper hails “an outstanding decision by Conor O’Shea”.

Chrysander Botha’s hoping for home advantage at Exeter

17 September 2014 0 comments

Namibian flyer reveals why he turned down offers from France to try his hand in the Premiership.

Worcester will fight Wasps plan to relocate

16 September 2014 0 comments

Warriors to lead a resistance against Wasps’ plans to relocate to the West Midlands.

It’s great to be a Northampton Saint after summer in solitary – Jon Fisher

12 September 2014 0 comments

Agonising summer training alone finished in joy with a “surreal” move to Premiership champions.

Luke Arscott: I’ll help Anthony Watson but No.15 jersey is up for grabs

11 September 2014 0 comments

Full-back thrilled about leadership role at new club to get the most out of its talented but youthful backline.

Why big bad Brad Thorn will be roaring at 40 for Leicester Tigers

9 September 2014 1 comment

All Black legend has the same hunger for the game.

Rejuvenated Sailosi Tagicakibau is hungry for new start

7 September 2014 0 comments

Revitalised wing has not joined Wasps to make up the numbers.

Chris Cusiter relishing Bryan Redpath link-up

6 September 2014 0 comments

Scotland scrum-half relishing opportunity to work with boyhood hero.

Watch out I’m raring to go says Alex Corbisiero

4 September 2014 0 comments

Northampton prop is fit, hungry and ready to stake a claim for an England place this autumn.

I’m no mercenary insists Piri Weepu

3 September 2014 0 comments

World Cup winner not here to top up his pension fund.

EXCLUSIVE: Clubs in threat to play during World Cup

27 August 2014 0 comments

Simmering tensions between Premiership Rugby and the RFU over World Cup compensation set to explode.

I can be the new Harlequins enforcer, says Charlie Matthews

23 August 2014 1 comment

Youngster looking to make the No.4 jersey his own in 2014-15.

Q&A with Toby Booth

21 August 2014 0 comments

You’ve been at Bath two years now – have you enjoyed it so far? The novelty is still here, which is important from an enthusiasm […]

Tom Varndell dazzled by Alapati Leiua stardust

21 August 2014 1 comment

Winger reckons club is on cusp of new golden era.

Q&A with Tony Rowe

16 August 2014 0 comments

The Exeter chairman on why localism and a global vision works for the Chiefs.

Club comes first for exiled Tom Court

16 August 2014 0 comments

Tom Court has revealed why joining London Irish means his Ireland career is over. But the 32-times capped loose-head prop believes missing next year’s World […]

Tyson Keats EXCLUSIVE – I felt like a black sheep but it wasn’t my fault

15 August 2014 2 comments

Scrum-half breaks silence over fake-passport affair that led to London Welsh’s relegation from Premiership.

Sing it out loud, Maro Itoje has a shot at the top

14 August 2014 0 comments

England U20s lock on the fast-track to the top.

So far it’s been so-so but David Sisi is set to soar

9 August 2014 1 comment

Giant back row ready to put two years of injury behind him and kick on at Bath.

Q&A with Richard Cockerill: Our attack is fine, Neil, it’s defence that cost us!

7 August 2014 0 comments

No trophies or finals last season – what’s your assessment of the campaign? I think we did some pretty good things, to be fair. Saints […]

Hamilton hopes to restore reputation by leaving French coast

1 August 2014 0 comments

Big lock lifts the lid on why he left France for Saracens and his remorse over leaving Gloucester for the money.

“We’re up for a fight,” Dorian West tells Richard Cockerill

31 July 2014 0 comments

Saints forwards coach rubbishes suggestions by Leicester boss that his side may lack hunger to defend their Premiership title next season.

Now Moody joins in those criticising Cockerill

30 July 2014 1 comment

Richard Cockerill under pressure as Lewis Moody joins critics of Tigers’ performances last season.

The Big Interview: A Q&A with Conor O’Shea

26 July 2014 0 comments

Neale Harvey sits down with the Harlequins boss and discusses preparation for the new season.

London Welsh announce 24th summer signing

23 July 2014 0 comments

London Welsh have signed Cardiff Blues second row James Down. Of the 24 signings the exiles have now made, Down will be a familiar face […]

Magnus Lund rejoins Sale

21 July 2014 0 comments

Sale Sharks have re-signed back row Magnus Lund from Biarritz. Lund, 31, returns to the club where he made his professional debut in 2002, displaying […]

London Irish recruit new skills coach

18 July 2014 0 comments

London Irish have added former Ireland assistant coach Mark Tainton to their backroom staff. The former Bristol fly-half joins as a skills and kicking coach having […]

Falcons sign Chiefs lock

17 July 2014 0 comments

Newcastle Falcons have signed second-row Kane Thompson from Super Rugby side The Chiefs. The Samoan international has 28 caps for the Pacific islanders and becomes […]

Mike Tindall retires

15 July 2014 1 comment

Mike Tindall has announced his retirement from rugby, becoming the last member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup winning England squad to hang up his […]

James Hook is expecting David Humphreys to inspire Gloucester

10 July 2014 0 comments

Welsh star excited by appointment of David Humphreys.

Aviva Premiership clubs could lose stars to Sevens call

8 July 2014 2 comments

Premiership Rugby’s battalion of overseas stars have been warned that accepting a call to represent their countries in next season’s IRB Sevens World Series could […]

Kyle Eastmond will show he’s the right fit for England

3 July 2014 3 comments

Bath head coach back rugby league convert and brands critics “uneducated”.

Bath ambition makes up for end to Luke Arscott’s Test dream

27 June 2014 0 comments

Full-back’s England dreams may remain unfulfilled but can replace those ambitions by bringing glory to The Rec

“I can break down coaching’s male only culture,” says Giselle Mather

25 June 2014 0 comments

London Irish academy manager has her sights on becoming the first female Premiership coach.

Sort out your attack, Neil Back tells Leicester Tigers, or win nothing

20 June 2014 0 comments

Tigers must improve “woeful” attacking game – or face more trophyless years.

“I’ll prove a point to Harlequins,” says Tom Guest

19 June 2014 0 comments

London Irish recruit Tom Guest admits he spent too long wasting his prime years stuck on the bench at Harlequins.

Northampton Saints fear exodus of stars unless salary cap is raised

11 June 2014 1 comment

President Keith Barwell fears Northampton may struggle to keep top stars in future unless salary cap restrictions are lifted.

New-look London Wasps give Elliot Daly licence to thrill fans

11 June 2014 1 comment

Elliot Daly looking to emulate his hero Brian O’Driscoll in a resurgent Wasps side next season.

Euro Cup place ‘will keep’ Joe Launchbury at London Wasps

6 June 2014 0 comments

Fears that England lock Joe Launchbury could be the next Wasps star pinched by Saracens have eased now that qualification for the Champions Cup has been achieved.

I’d no idea George North was this good, says Alex King

30 May 2014 1 comment

Northampton backs coach Alex King salutes the impact of George North.

It’ll be a whole new ball game if Bath’s supremo has his way

23 May 2014 0 comments

The battle over Europe has been won but Bath chairman Bruce Craig believes the war over global season structure and how international and club rugby in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are aligned is only just getting started.

Worcester Warriors stuck by me so I’ll stay on, says Chris Pennell

21 May 2014 0 comments

The Premiership player of the year nominee has been a model of consistency in an otherwise disastrous Warriors campaign, the only man to have played every minute of all 22 regular season games.

Charlie Matthews making up ground on old pal Joe Launchbury

16 May 2014 1 comment

Harlequins second row Charlie Matthews believes he is finally coming of age after putting his injury hell behind him to start chasing down pal Joe Launchbury.

Relegation will hurt Worcester Warriors’ egos – Dean Ryan

6 May 2014 0 comments

Dean Ryan says relegated Worcester will continue to make the “drastic change” needed to turn them into a competitive top-flight side.

How Will Fraser has grown into the job at Saracens

1 May 2014 0 comments

Super-sized Will Fraser has revealed how piling on the pounds during his recent injury lay-off can help boost his England chances.

Steve Diamond leads Premiership’s Director of Rugby of the Season shortlist

28 April 2014 1 comment

Steve Diamond has been shortlisted to be named Director of Rugby of the Season on the back of a sensational season with the Sale Sharks.

Mike Brown has his heart on sleeve, just like Roy Keane

24 April 2014 0 comments

It is Tuesday afternoon at the Surrey Sports Park and Harlequins‘ training finished 45 minutes ago. While the majority of players have showered and made […]