Premiership

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

stdClass Object ( [id] => 1 [league_id] => 1 [season_name] => Premiership Regular Season [season_slug] => premiership-regular-season [season_start] => 2022 [season_end] => 2023 [wp_league_id] => 77 [status] => 1 )

Fiji star Nayacalevu signs for Sale

17 March 2024 0 comments

Sale have signed Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top 14 side Toulon on a one-year contract with an option for a further year. He […]

Gloucester end long wait for silverware

17 March 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………………….. 23pts Tries: Atkinson 47, Jordan 50 Conversions: Barton 47, 50 Penalties: Evans 40, Barton 55, 65 Leicester ……………………… 13pts Tries: […]

Winning feels so special for Zach

17 March 2024 0 comments

After winning the Premiership Cup, star man, Gloucester No.8, Zach Mercer, said: “I came to Gloucester to win things. I did that at Montpellier and […]

We need strong finish – Ludlow

17 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Gloucester have been a cup team this season but skipper Lewis Ludlow is demanding a strong finish to the Premiership campaign which […]

NFL sides look set to take punt on Mallinder

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Harry Mallinder’s dream of winning an NFL contract has moved a step closer after the former England U20 captain made it through […]

Vermeulen open to England offer

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By GRANT SHUB Jacques Vermeulen, who is eligible for England having been in the UK since 2019, has dreamed of playing for […]

Five-star Bath run URC leaders ragged

17 March 2024 0 comments

Bath ………………..35pts Tries: Cokanasiga 9, du Toit 34, Spencer 50, Muir 66, 75 Conversions: Bailey 10, 35, 51, 67; Worboys 76 Leinster…………… 7pts Tries: Connors […]

Butt: Race for the title is so tight that every point will count

17 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Will Butt is confident Bath will emerge from the top flight break on the front foot as they look to secure their […]

All set for a race to the finish

17 March 2024 0 comments

With the Premiership resuming next weekend, Paul Rees looks at how the runners and riders are gearing up The Premiership resumes this week after an […]

Matavesi: We need to hit the ground running

10 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Northampton hooker Sam Matavesi wants normal service to be resumed after what has been “a weird year” in the Premiership and an […]

Redshaw ready to lead from the front

10 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ben Redshaw trained with England during last year’s World Cup before he had made his Newcastle debut, already marked out as a […]

Fit-again Capstick looking for slice of the action

10 March 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Pizza boss Richard Capstick says he desperate for a slice of the action as Exeter ready themselves for the return of the […]

Quins nab Lamositele

10 March 2024 0 comments

Harlequins look to have signed tighthead prop Titi Lamositele, below, to replace the Castres-bound Will Collier. Lamositele, 29, spent five years at Saracens before joining […]

Carre back at Saracens

10 March 2024 0 comments

Saracens have re-signed Wales loosehead Rhys Carre from Cardiff. The 26-year-old previously played for Saracens in 2019-20, moving back to Cardiff after one season. He […]

Baxter turns his attention to top Ealing pair

10 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE – EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE Having already snapped up Coventry’s star centre Will Rigg in a mid-season swoop, Exeter are going back […]

French setting sights on Tuilagi

10 March 2024 0 comments

Perpignan and Montpellier are chasing the signature of England centre Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi would join up with his nephew Posolo Tuilagi at Perpignan and represent […]

Falcons get new boss Diamond off to flying start

10 March 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale ………………..28pts Tries: Taylor 6, Quirke 13, Reed 32, Bradshaw 77 Conversions: R du Preez 7, 14, 33; Curtis 78 Newcastle……..31pts Tries: […]

Bath get in the mood for restart

10 March 2024 0 comments

By JAMES EVANS Bath ……………………………. 59pts Tries: Reid 10, 35; Coetzee 13, Stewart 22, Wright 40, Richards 55, Gallagher 62, de Glanville 65, Faiva 70 […]

Party time as Stormers win 12-try thriller

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton…29pts Tries: Glister 3, 29, Odendaal 40, Garside 63, Graham 77 Conversions: Salava 4, 40 Stormers………. 45pts Tries: Simelane 10, Morabe 14, […]

Reid: We want to build new legacy

10 March 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to Bath back rower Miles Reid who wants to see the glory days return, if only to keep his dad quiet Combative […]

Young Guns: Sale Sharks second row Tom Burrow

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Towering Yorkshireman Tom Burrow has found his calling at Sale Sharks and, after transitioning from the U18s programme, he has his sights […]

There’s plenty of talent on its way through – Skivington

3 March 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS George Skivington insists the future is bright in terms of the talent coming through within the English rugby set-up. Handed the perfect […]

Andre’s heading home

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Andre Esterhuizen will leave Harlequins at the end of the 2023/24 season and return to South Africa for family reasons. The Springboks […]

Bristol go on the rampage

3 March 2024 0 comments

Bedford Blues….. 33pts Bristol Bears……. 54pts BRISTOL Bears ran in eight tries as they put on show at Goldington Road on Friday night. There were […]

Every time my name is called out, I get excited

3 March 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe catches up with Northampton’s Sam Graham as the Saints look to keep hold of top spot in the Premiership FOR industrious back row […]

“Time feels right” to make Racing move – Farrell

28 February 2024 0 comments

Owen Farrell admits that leaving Saracens was a “difficult decision” but that he is ready to “experience something different” by moving to Racing 92. Farrell’s […]

End of an era as Lawes commits to Brive

25 February 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes will leave Northampton this summer to join ProD2 side Brive after 17 seasons at Franklin’s Gardens. Lawes said Northampton did “everything they could” […]

Mercer: I’m focused on Gloucester

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES If desire to play for England was a factor in selection, Zach Mercer would be one of the first names on the […]

Van Graan banking on Russell to hit the target

25 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Johann van Graan has every faith that Finn Russell can transfer his goal-kicking form for Scotland to Bath if needed in clutch […]

Yet again, Ealing prove they have what it takes

25 February 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Ealing Trailfinders’ narrow defeat by Leicester in the Premiership Cup semi-final last weekend has blown most of […]

Munster have edge on Quins

25 February 2024 0 comments

By TOM EVANS Harlequins ……. 35pts Tries: Walker 23, Edwards 37, Hammond 42, Bradley 69, Zheng 76 Conversions: Edwards 24, 38, 43; Slevin 70, 77 […]

Double for McFarland as Saracens find feet

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL CLEMENCE Saracens ……31pts Tries: Tizard 2, McFarland 8, 15; Lewington 28, Hallett 70 Conversions: Vunipola 3, 9, 70 Leinster…… 19pts Tries: Jenkins 45, […]

Ealing showed they are worthy

25 February 2024 0 comments

Ealing Trailfinders knew it was a big day and they gave it a proper lash. A single point behind Leicester with 90 seconds left on […]

Rugby’s stuck in the ice age. It needs to open up

25 February 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock talks to Freddie Burns about life in Japan and what he thinks the sport must do to attract the youngsters FREDDIE Burns is […]

Mercer on a mission

18 February 2024 0 comments

Gloucester booked their place in the Premiership Cup final with Zach Mercer, pictured, leading the way with the first try and a hand in both […]

Baxter expecting decision on Slade future soon

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Exeter expect to know “very shortly’ whether England centre Henry Slade will be extending his 13-year stay at Sandy Park. The 30-year […]

Dowson hoping Lawes will stay

18 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson still harbours some hope that Courtney Lawes has a future at Franklin’s Gardens beyond the end […]

Magnificent Mercer takes no prisoners

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Gloucester …………………… 17pts Tries: Mercer 6, Llewellyn 11, Hathaway 31 Conversions: Tries: Barton 12 Exeter Chiefs ……………….14pts Vermeulen 60, Vintcent 68 Conversions: […]

‘If England happens, then it happens’

18 February 2024 0 comments

ZACH Mercer said his man-of-the-match performance was down to his desire to prove himself with Gloucester, not a response to being overlooked by England. The […]

Tigers keen to make it a day to remember

18 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Ealing v Leicester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Trailfinders Sports Ground LEICESTER scrumhalf Tom Whiteley wants to give Hanro Liebenberg a day to […]

We want to create some more history, says Ward

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK No fear: Coach Ben Ward EALING Trailfinders finished top of Pool D following a clean sweep of victories at home to Northampton […]

Hendrickson enjoying his new life in Japan

18 February 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Tom Hendrickson is settling well to life in the Far East having swapped the Premiership for that of Japanese Rugby League One. […]

Short-term contract takes Grace to Bath

18 February 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Former Wales rugby league star Regan Grace has signed a short-term contract with Bath. The 27-year-old switched to rugby union and joined […]

Rebel Kemeny on his way to Northampton

18 February 2024 0 comments

AUSTRALIA back row Josh Kemeny will join Northampton from Melbourne Rebels ahead of next season. The 25-year-old flanker has made 27 Super Rugby appearances for […]

Young Guns: England U20s and Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With an ageing front row, England are crying out for youthful props who can go toe to toe with the world’s best […]

Norey working hard to grab his Prem chance

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Norey made his Exeter debut in 2019 but has had to wait until this season to nail down a regular place […]

Anglo-Welsh league ‘depends on money’

11 February 2024 1 comment

By PAUL REES Premiership coaches have given their backing to Warren Gatland’s call for an Anglo-Welsh league – as long as the finances add up. […]

High five as Nottingham put on show at Lady Bay

11 February 2024 0 comments

FRIENDLIES By ROB WILDMAN Nottingham……27pts Tries: Dickinson 8, Graham 47, Shine 65, J Olowofela 70, Green 75 Conversion: Annand 75 Leicester ………… 0pts A TRIUMPHANT […]

Crusaders make it tough for Bears as lively crowd enjoy fright night

11 February 2024 0 comments

FRIENDLIES By ROGER PANTING Bristol……………………… 14pts Tries: Davies 27, Marmion 56 Conversions: MacGinty 27, 56 Crusaders……………….. 31pts Tries: Springer 39, 51; Aumua 62, 66; Hotham […]