Premiership

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

Quins get in the mood for Munster challenge

11 February 2024 0 comments

FRIENDLIES By MO SHER L Scottish ………12pts Tries: Nutton 35, Mehson 69 Conversion: Sheppard 70 Harlequins …….22pts Tries: Jibulu 5, 38; Anyanwu 21, Lawday 40 […]

Sleightholme out to follow his pals

11 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Ollie Sleightholme takes huge encouragement from seeing his Saints mates get England recognition as he looks to further his own international ambitions. […]

Ludlam has his sights set on Toulon

11 February 2024 0 comments

ENGLAND flanker Lewis Ludlam will leave Northampton at the end of the season, with Toulon understood to be his destination. The 28-year-old Saints captain, who […]

Hodge to hit the ground running

11 February 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Josh Hodge insists he’s looking to make up for lost time after making his return to first team action at Exeter Chiefs. […]

Young Guns: Bristol wing Louis Nancekivell

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Louis Nancekivell didn’t go down the traditional route entering rugby and has only played for one club so far in his career […]

Sale put pressure on Saints to deliver

11 February 2024 0 comments

ACADEMY ROUND-UP By TOM JEFFREYS The penultimate round of group stage action in the Premiership U18 Academy league has left it all to play for […]

Ene sets his sights high after signing Sale deal

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Proud Yorkshireman Obi Ene is hungry to achieve everything there is in the game after signing a three-year contract with northern rugby’s […]

Ludlam confirms Saints departure

5 February 2024 0 comments

Lewis Ludlam has confirmed he has made the “extremely tough decision” to leave Northampton Saints at the end of the season. The 28-year-old has been […]

University helps lift Exeter’s challenge

4 February 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS When Rob Baxter outlined his vision for the future of Exeter Chiefs, the director of rugby made no secret of the fact […]

Brive line up move for Lawes

4 February 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes is set to leave Northampton this summer to join Brive. According to reports in France, the former England back row has agreed a […]

Lovejoy on his way to Bristol

4 February 2024 0 comments

Bristol Bears have signed Harlequins tighthead prop Lovejoy Chawatama. Chawatama opted to sign for Harlequins after the demise of his former club London Irish but […]

Diamond’s dual role can’t be right

4 February 2024 0 comments

The Twickenham suits are also not averse to turning a blind eye when a conflict-of-interests is involved. Perhaps the RFU’s performance director, Conor O’Shea, can […]

Kennedy wanted in France

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Top 14 giants LA Rochelle and Racing 92 are both eyeing up a move for Saracens recruitment guru Nick […]

Gloucester might be planning on May exit

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington is still hunting two wingers and a fly-half as he looks to revamp […]

Lozowski set to get Sarries keys at No.10

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens are set to roll the dice and gamble on Alex Lozowski playing fly-half next season to replace Racing […]

Bath win buys time for Lam

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Bristol’s crushing win over rivals Bath at Ashton Gate eased some of the pressure that was building on boss […]

We are here for the long term

4 February 2024 0 comments

Newcastle were the only Premiership club to sack their head coach mid-season last year and the Falcons were at it again last month when Alex […]

Great to see jeopardy in battle to be champions

4 February 2024 0 comments

Q&A Ben Jaycock talks to former Harlequins and England winger Ugo Monye, below, now a pundit for TNT Sports, about the state of play in […]

Dunn: I want to finish my time with a trophy

4 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Tom Dunn has spent his senior career at Bath and intends to finish it by emulating the teams he watched as a […]

Odendaal enjoying his life back in the Prem

4 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Burger Odendaal was one of the few Premiership players who did not welcome the break for the Six Nations, raring to go […]

Carnduff learns the Leicester way

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Finn Carnduff is honoured to join an illustrious list of England U20 captains and made it four of their past five age-grade […]

Bears believe they can mount a title challenge

4 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bristol went into the Six Nations break as one of the form teams in the Premiership with skipper Fitz Harding calling on […]

Gloucester end longest losing run with Sale success

28 January 2024 0 comments

Gloucester………………………………..32 Tries: Thorley 6, McGuigan 20, Ackermann 23, Atkinson 35 Conversions: Carreras 7, 24, 36 Penalties: Carreras 58, 80+3 Sale Sharks……………………………….20 Tries: Warr 16, Taylor […]

Ward: Diamond is the right man for Falcons

28 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Steve Diamond takes over at Newcastle this week with club stalwart Micky Ward believing the hard-nosed former Sale and Worcester director of […]

David: I’m loving the freedom I get here

28 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Nick David is revelling in the freedom given to players at Harlequins and is in contention for a place in the England […]

Van Graan delighted by Spencer’s recall

28 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Bath boss Johann van Graan has hailed Ben Spencer’s England return as a triumph of perseverance after his captain and scrum-half was […]

Sinckler may head to France after England snub

28 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam accepts that Kyle Sinckler may be more tempted to leave Bristol for France after being left out of the England […]

Ackermann looks likely to join Lions

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER The Lions have emerged as the South African side most likely to sign Gloucester back row Ruan Ackermann, who […]

Hill’s move to Lyon hangs in the balance

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon’s move for England lock Jonny Hill appears to be on the brink of collapse after he suffered a […]

Vunipola set to follow Farrell out of Saracens

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens could be set for another fly-half blow with Manu Vunipola set to follow Owen Farrell out of the […]

Esterhuizen says no to Toulon

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen is on the shopping list for several clubs in Japan after appearing to have rejected […]

Saracens in position for sprint to the line

28 January 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens …………………….. 40pts Tries: Hadfield 5, 65; Van Zyl 13, Gonzales 41, McFarland 80 Conversions: Farrell 14, 42, 66 Penalties: Farrell 30, […]

McCall: We are back in the mix

28 January 2024 0 comments

Mark McCall says Saracens are back ‘in the mix’ after a stuttering couple of months. “The last 13 days have been the most enjoyable of […]

Chairman Bear sees his wishes granted

28 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM BRADSHAW Bristol ………………………….. 57pts Tries: Capon 7, Batley 10, MacGinty 18, Heward 23, Williams 32, Harding 44, Bradbury 51, Lane 79 Conversions: MacGinty […]

There’s no panic, says van Graan

28 January 2024 0 comments

Johann van Graan won’t be hitting the defensive panic button just yet, despite his side conceding a half century of points. “I wouldn’t say it […]

Lawes the enforcer as Saints ease home

28 January 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Northampton………………. 38pts Tries: Lawes 13, Penalty 22, S Matavesi 33, James 50, Sleightholme 63, Augustus 75 Conversions: Savala 13, 50, 75 Newcastle……………………. […]

Newcastle gave us a real challenge, admits Dowson

28 January 2024 0 comments

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson accepted that his side had been given a real challenge despite victory over Newcastle Falcons. He said: “We saw […]

Battling Tigers hold on in last-kick drama

28 January 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Harlequins …………………… 19pts Tries: David 37, Walker 58, Green 79 Conversions: J Evans 38, 59 Leicester ………………………20pts Tries: Wiese 27, Brown 63 […]

‘Jarrod stood up despite the pain’

28 January 2024 0 comments

Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson revealed Jarrod Evans struggled with kicking the ball before his failed last-gasp conversion. Wilson said: “He’s been out for a […]

Crisis? Not in my view, says Sanderson

28 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Gloucester v Sale Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm WITH four straight defeats in all competitions and a season-ending injury to England lock […]

Atkinson gets his chance to prove himself at No.10

28 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Starts: Charlie Atkinson CHARLIE Atkinson will make only his third Premiership start since Wasps folded 15 months ago with Gloucester looking to […]

Premiership previews: Round 12

26 January 2024 0 comments

After a two-week break for European action, the Premiership is all set for its final round of matches before the Six Nations. With Steve Borthwick‘s […]

Exeter game is must-win for Saracens – Monye

25 January 2024 0 comments

The last time Saracens finished a Premiership season outside of the top four was in 2009 but after a sluggish start to this campaign, Ugo […]

Farrell Racing switch confirmed

22 January 2024 0 comments

Owen Farrell’s much-rumoured move to Racing 92 has been confirmed, ending his 15-year career at English champions Saracens. Farrell, 32, captained England in their most […]

Skivington considers how to replace ‘Zam’

21 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Skivington is considering whether to add to his squad after the departure of Louis Rees-Zammit, but not necessarily on the wing. […]

Quesada turns to Vintcent

21 January 2024 0 comments

Exeter’s South Africa-born No.8 Ross Vintcent has been called up by new Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada. Vintcent joins prop trio Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli […]

Gallagher set for Munster return

21 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Bath full-back/winger Matt Gallagher is in advanced talks with Munster about a return to Thomond Park when when his […]

Sale swap Wiese for Roets

21 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Sale have recruited Le Roux Roets, a second row enforcer for Sharks in the URC, to replace Cobus Wiese […]

Now Slade holds talks with Stade

21 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has had a […]

Taylor happy to leave the bad times behind

21 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Following London Irish’s demise, Gloucester has been a safe haven for numerous redundant Exiles and promising England U20s fly-half Rory Taylor is […]

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