Premiership

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

London Wasps outplay and dominate Bath to go fourth

6 January 2013 0 comments

London Wasps made their way into the Top 4 with a dominant 29-15 win over Bath at Adams Park today. What a turnaround from a […]

Saints and London Irish claim big wins at Exeter and Gloucester

5 January 2013 0 comments

Northampton confirmed their new-found form with a comprehensive 30-19 win over Exeter at Sandy Park today. A try from Ken Pisi along with eight points […]

Leicester go top of Premiership with win against Worcester

4 January 2013 1 comment

Leicester went top of the Premiership table following their narrow 19-14 victory over Worcester at Sixways tonight. David Lemi with a try and Andy Goode […]

“Christian Wade must add to his X-factor” – Joe Rokocoko

4 January 2013 0 comments

Joe Rokocoko admits he sees plenty of his younger self in Christian Wade, but the former All Black insists the Wasps wing must not make […]

Sale Sharks still alive with bonus-point defeat at London Wasps

23 December 2012 0 comments

Sale secured a last gasp losing bonus-point against London Wasps to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive this afternoon. While Wasps had the game […]

London Wasps flyer Tom Varndell firing on all cylinders

21 December 2012 0 comments

When it comes to spare time, tweeting and playing video games rank pretty high on most rugby players’ list of hobbies. But yesterday, Tom Varndell […]

Premiership round 11: preview and predictions

21 December 2012 0 comments

Bath v Saracens Bath Rugby have made six changes to the starting line-up that beat Calvisano in the Amlin Challenge Cup last weekend as they […]

How a phone revamped Harlequins’ coaching

12 December 2012 0 comments

Never afraid to explore new ways of training, Harlequins have been making giant strides in recent weeks using…a 5.5”-screen mobile phone. For just over a […]

Brian Mujati is brewing up a storm at Saints

7 December 2012 2 comments

These are hectic days for Northampton‘s former South Africa prop Brian Mujati. Aside from agreeing a move to Paris moneybags Racing Metro, he played against […]

“Relegation threat keeps it interesting” – London Irish Ian Humphreys

6 December 2012 1 comment

London Irish may be struggling in the Premiership but fly-half Ian Humphreys is not joining the clamour for relegation to be scrapped. Nor, insists the […]

Wasp Tom Varndell hunting down Steve Hanley’s record

5 December 2012 2 comments

With nine tries in nine Premiership games played so far this season, Tom Varndell is in the form of his life and the Wasp winger […]

Fearless Freddie Burns gets his chance – Mike Tindall

30 November 2012 1 comment

Gloucester player-coach Mike Tindall believes 22-year-old Freddie Burns will have no problem stepping into international rugby should he feature against the All Blacks tomorrow. The […]

“We’re getting more and more confident” – Tom Varndell

30 November 2012 0 comments

London Wasps are travelling to Sandy Park tomorrow to face Exeter looking to carry on their good run of form against one of the toughest nut to […]

Premiership round 10: previews and predictions

30 November 2012 0 comments

Harlequins v Worcester Harlequins have made three changes to the starting XV that played Bath last weekend for the reception of Worcester tonight. Seb Stegmann […]

Openside gambit from Luke Wallace: “I’ll oust Chris Robshaw”

28 November 2012 1 comment

Ultra-competitive Harlequins flanker Luke Wallace believes he could provide the long-term answer to England‘s search for a genuine openside. And he has put Quins team-mate […]

Premiership round 9 review

26 November 2012 0 comments

Bath (beat Harlequins 21-18) While the talk is all about Gloucester in the West Country, Bath are quietly becoming a force to be reckoned with […]

Spirited London Wasps tame Leicester Tigers

25 November 2012 2 comments

London Wasps remained unbeaten at home with a spirited 14-12 win over the Leicester Tigers at Adams Park today. As a result, the Men in […]

“We stopped doing the hard graft up front” – Northampton’s Ken Pisi

23 November 2012 2 comments

Last week against the Dragons, Northampton ended a four-game losing streak which saw them go from unbeaten at top of the Premiership to fifth in […]

Bryan Redpath is ready to face the Kingsholm abuse

23 November 2012 0 comments

Bryan Redpath will stride through the gates of Kingsholm with his head held high on Saturday, proud of the legacy he left behind at Gloucester. […]

Premiership round 9: preview and predictions

23 November 2012 0 comments

Bath v Harlequins: Army boy Semesa Rokoduguni is in line to make his Premiership debut for the West Country side as they host the reigning […]

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 […]