Premiership

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

Gavin Henson – “At last a coach is playing me at No.10”

22 November 2012 0 comments

It’s been a long journey of broken promises, off-field incidents and not a lot of rugby but Gavin Henson says he has now resurrected his […]

Why Jonny May won’t give Brian Redpath the brush off

16 November 2012 1 comment

Bryan Redpath may be viewed as public enemy No.1 by Gloucester fans after joining Sale Sharks over the summer. But you will not hear a […]

Relegation is a must, Garry Schofield tells Ian McGeechan

6 November 2012 1 comment

Rugby League legend Garry Schofield has rubbished suggestions by Sir Ian McGeechan that relegation from the Aviva Premiership should be abolished. McGeechan argues that by scrapping […]

Premiership Round 8 review

5 November 2012 1 comment

Bath (lost 16-9 to London Welsh) The West Country side seemed to have found a new edge recently and on form they should have beaten […]

Hodgson’s classy boot helps Sarries triumph over brave Wasps

4 November 2012 1 comment

Charlie Hodgson kicked 21 points from the tee to help Saracens to their sixth consecutive win and climb joint top of the Premiership table with […]

“Forget Gloucester’s form, we’re top of the table” – Conor O’Shea

2 November 2012 0 comments

Conor O’shea praised his team’s winning mentality to keep their momentum as they prepare to face an in-form Gloucester side at the Stoop tomorrow. Tom […]

“The other guys can also do the job” – Tigers captain Geordan Murphy

2 November 2012 1 comment

As the Autumn Test series start next week, the Premiership has one derby left in store before the international break, the Midlands derby. Leicester host […]

Premiership round 8: preview and predictions

2 November 2012 1 comment

Exeter v Worcester Sireli Naqelevuki will be looking to wreak havoc on the Worcester rearguard as he returns to the Chiefs starting line-up in place […]

Welsh unable to avoid defeat despite efforts of club choir

29 October 2012 0 comments

Yesterday saw the London Welsh Rugby Club Choir round off an eventful year by travelling to support London Welsh at an away game for the […]

Premiership round 7 review

29 October 2012 1 comment

Bath (beat Exeter 23-15) In the last derby against Gloucester, Stephen Donald scored after 32 seconds, this time around, they scored two tries in the […]

Casson’s controversial try spoils Danaher’s big party

28 October 2012 1 comment

London Irish looked to set to celebrate Declan Danaher’s 250th game for the Exiles with a win over the reigning Premiership champions but a controversial […]

“I just want to enjoy my time while I can” – Ben Botica

28 October 2012 0 comments

Today’s clash at the Madjeski will offer a very rare sight to rugby fans as the Harlequins‘ attack will not be led by Nick Evans. […]

“Let’s see if we can break the top 4” – Gloucester Sione Kalamafoni

26 October 2012 0 comments

Sione Kalamafoni is relishing the chance to get stuck-in when Gloucester face the Tigers at Kingsholm this weekend in what this promises to be Gloucester’s […]

“We’ll have to dominate up front if we want to beat Exeter,” – Neal Hatley

26 October 2012 0 comments

Bath return to Premiership duties with a mouth-watering West Country derby against Exeter at The Rec tomorrow. For forwards coach Neal Hatley, the battle up […]

Why slim-line Billy Vunipola is now worth the weight

26 October 2012 1 comment

The Wasps No.8 has been one of the standout performers in the Premiership this season, with his powerful running and soft hands making him a potential candidate to fill the troublesome spot at the back of the England scrum.

Premiership round 7: preview and predictions

26 October 2012 0 comments

Premiership round 7: preview and predictions Bath v Exeter Bath will be looking to push on from their last-gasp win over Agen last week when […]

Jet-setter Francois Louw enjoys a happy landing at Bath

25 October 2012 0 comments

Francois Louw admits he’s feeling the strain of racking up as many air miles as dadedevil skydiver Felix Baumgartner going between club and country – […]

Geordan Murphy is still the role model for Leicester’s Niall Morris

19 October 2012 2 comments

Niall Morris has no doubt about his place in the full-back pecking order at Leicester: ‘Geordan Murphy is still Number One.’ Like last season, when […]

Missile Joe Launchbury is for lift-off, says Wasps head coach Dai Young

18 October 2012 0 comments

Joe Launchbury is not one for the future, according to Wasps chief Dai Young, because the flanker-cum-lock has arrived already! Young, looking back to Launchbury’s […]

Rob Cook makes up for lost time with Mike Tindall help at Gloucester

17 October 2012 1 comment

Gloucester full-back Rob Cook has waited a lifetime to get his chance at the top level of elite sport and now he is enlisting Mike […]

Andy’s new attitude means he’s coming Goode for the Worcester Warriors

12 October 2012 1 comment

In recent times rugby‘s version of the Goode life has all been about Alex, not Andy. While Saracens star Alex is being talked about as […]

“It’s a privilege to play with Owen Farrell,” says Saracens Steve Borthwick

11 October 2012 0 comments

Saracens captain Steve Borthwick has backed Owen Farrell to hit top form ahead of England‘s autumn international campaign. The 21-year-old fly-half endured a tough start […]

Premiership round 6 review

8 October 2012 0 comments

Bath (Lost 10-16 to Gloucester) With Olly Barkley gone, you’d think Bath struggle and, despite his status, Stephen Donald hadn’t made the impact you would […]

George Ford’s boots earn Leicester Tigers a win over sorry Sale Sharks

5 October 2012 0 comments

George Ford kicked 15 points from the tee to help Leicester claim a convincing 20-8 win over Sale in Salford. It is the sixth consecutive […]

“We’re not used to it but we deserve it,” says Worcester Richard Hill

5 October 2012 0 comments

After the first five rounds, a clear transformation can be seen in how the Worcester Warriors play the game and for the first time ever, […]

Premiership round 6: preview and predictions

5 October 2012 1 comment

Exeter v Harlequins Wallaby lock Dean Mumm will make his Chiefs debut tomorrow as Exeter seek to return to winning ways after their 30-8 defeat […]

“Leicester Tigers exit paying off for me,” says Billy Twelvetrees

4 October 2012 0 comments

Leaving Leicester can be considered to be either brave or stupid but, after starting Gloucester‘s first four games this season, Billy Twelvetrees believes his decision […]

Watch out, Saints Courtney Lawes is back and bigger than ever

3 October 2012 1 comment

It was Andy Goode’s misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time last Saturday afternoon. With 60 minutes of Worcester‘s match against […]

George Ford may be forced to quit Leicester Tigers says Austin Healey

2 October 2012 1 comment

Austin Healey says Welford Road is not big enough to accommodate both Toby Flood and George Ford. Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has opted […]

Premiership round 5 review

1 October 2012 1 comment

Bath (beat Sale 31-10) The West Country side were bidding farewell to Olly Barkley who is off to Racing Metro today and they did it […]

Farrell and Saracens give Harlequins first taste of defeat

30 September 2012 2 comments

Champions Harlequins suffered their first defeat of the season to the hands of Saracens in a 18-16 thriller at The Stoop. After two games where […]

Dean Mumm, an Aussie ‘old-timer’ who became a young Chief

29 September 2012 1 comment

Dean Mumm, at 28, should be reaching his peak as a second row, but in Australian terms he has already been thrown onto the international […]

Saints’ scrum put Wasps to the sword

28 September 2012 0 comments

Northampton remains unbeaten and go top of the table with a convincing 24-6 win over London Wasps at Franklin’s Gardens. The Saints’ pack put on […]

“I’ll have to bring my A-game to beat Sarries,” says Harlequins Mike Brown

28 September 2012 1 comment

Harlequins full-back Mike Brown is adamant he will have to be a the top of his game to deal with Saracens areal attack if the […]

Premiership round 5: preview and predictions

28 September 2012 0 comments

Bath v Sale Olly Barkley, who is moving to Racing Metro on Monday, will start his final game for Bath Rugby at fly-half as the […]

Leicester Manu Tuilagi is the best says Saracens Joel Tomkins

28 September 2012 2 comments

Joel Tomkins admits that Manu Tuilagi has set the benchmark for English centres but the Saracens cross-coder maintains it will not be long until he […]

How Jonny Wilkinson helped Joe Gray see the light

26 September 2012 0 comments

Harlequins hooker Joe Gray has revealed how Jonny Wilkinson’s dedication to training inspired him to become one of the finest lineout throwers in the game. […]

Vision of TV cash helps London Welsh chase targets

25 September 2012 0 comments

Lyn Jones has been the green light to make further signings to bolster London Welsh‘s survival bid after details of the proposed £152m windfall from […]

Premiership round 4 review

24 September 2012 0 comments

Bath (Lost 22-29 to London Irish) The West country boys couldn’t get into the game for most of the match against a much improved Exiles’ […]

Naqelevuki helps Exeter to gritty win over Saracens in woeful conditions

23 September 2012 0 comments

A crucial second half from Sireli Naqelevuki helped Exeter claim a spirited 14-12 win over Saracens in horrendous weather conditions at Sandy Park. Naqelevuki’s try […]

We’re on the cuff of doing something special – Worcester Richard Hill

21 September 2012 2 comments

Worcester head-coach confessed it was hard to pick up the players’ spirit on Monday morning but he is adamant the Warriors are on the verge […]

Premiership round 4: preview and predictions

21 September 2012 1 comment

Exeter v Saracens Injuries to Craig Mitchell and Tom Johnson mean Carl Rimmer and James Phillips come into the pack while Haydn Thomas is given […]

“Be ready put your body on the line,” Conor O’Shea tells his players

21 September 2012 0 comments

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea is looking forward to the challenge Leicester will set but pleads his player to be ready put their body […]

Tom Youngs: “My debt to selfless George Chuter”

21 September 2012 1 comment

Leicester‘s Tom Youngs admits he is still a work in progress as a hooker and has no qualms in tapping up Tigers rival George Chuter […]

Why joining Northampton Saints was no-brainer for Luther Burrell

20 September 2012 0 comments

Powerhouse centre Luther Burrell says his desire to learn from Northampton‘s impressive array of England stars drove him to leave Sale Sharks. The ambitious 24-year-old […]

“I just had to cherry-pick Gloucester,” says All Black Jimmy Cowan

19 September 2012 0 comments

All Black scrum-half Jimmy Cowan revealed he has joined Gloucester because of the club’s ‘parochialism’ and argued that he heads to Kingsholm to reignite, rather […]