Premiership

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

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Lawes looks like leaving

7 January 2024 0 comments

Northampton are struggling to hold on to Courtney Lawes. The 34-year-old former England flanker, who retired from international rugby after the World Cup, is mulling […]

Devoto back with a new lease of life

7 January 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Ollie Devoto says he’s been given a new lease of life this season after battling back from a potentially career-ending injury to […]

Freeman sets his sights on England

7 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Tommy Freeman has taken inspiration from club colleague Alex Mitchell as he strives to make England’s Six Nations squad, which will be […]

Pepper the shining star for Falcons as they battle hard

7 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Newcastle have had little to smile about this season, but Guy Pepper has added some spice to the fare being served up […]

Leicester power too much for Saracens

7 January 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester ………………………19pts Tries: Kelly 12, Rogerson 34, Simmons 60 Conversions: Pollard 34, 60 Saracens ………………………10pts Tries: Parton 20 Conversions: Farrell 20 Penalties: […]

Chessum and Martin were really ‘up for it’, says McKellar

7 January 2024 0 comments

Leicester boss Dan McKellar paid tribute to his young locks Ollie Chessum and George Martin. The Australian said they were “up for it” in a […]

Sleightholme leads the Saints fightback

7 January 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Exeter ………………………….. 36pts Tries: Vermuelen 5, 22; Feyi-Waboso 13, Townsend 17 Tuima 71 Conversions: Slade 6, 18, 24, 72 Penalty: Slade 61 […]

First-half tries were crucial – Dowson

7 January 2024 0 comments

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said the two tries before half-time were crucial as they fought back from 26-0 down to stun Exeter. “We […]

Malins puts Bristol on the right course

7 January 2024 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Sale ……………………………….14pts Tries: Hill 31, Creevy 67 Conversions: Du Preez 32, 68 Bristol………………………….. 22pts Tries: Randall 7, Ibitoye 18, Malins 42 Conversions: […]

‘We must be yards better than that’

7 January 2024 0 comments

Alex Sanderson was more angry with his Sale team’s performance than the fact their proud unbeaten home record had been ruined. The Sharks have made […]

Pitfalls ahead for England’s new management company

7 January 2024 0 comments

AN England player group taking over the squad negotiations on remuneration – whether from RFU hybrid contracts, match fees, or sponsorship deals – may seem […]

Mass rotation could end up a crowd killer

7 January 2024 0 comments

The Premiership wants to be taken seriously, but then makes the cardinal error of not taking itself seriously by trashing its own ‘product’. How can […]

Newcastle fail again as Quins march on

7 January 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle……………………… 3pts Penalties: Connon 36 Harlequins ………………….. 24pts Tries: David 2, Esterhuizen 28, Walker 46, Hammond 55 Conversions: Edwards 47, 56 South […]

We need to turn a corner, and soon, says captain Chick

7 January 2024 0 comments

Newcastle skipper Callum Chick admits his side are not at the standard they need to be at, and is calling for the squad “to turn […]

50 up for Muir as he sets sights on a podium finish

7 January 2024 0 comments

■ By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Bath v Gloucester Today. Kick-off 3pm, The Recreation Ground SHRUGGING off defenders has proved far easier than his nickname for […]

Millard backing Gloucester to do some damage

7 January 2024 0 comments

■ By PAUL REES Starts: Jonny May GLOUCESTER are looking for the new year to provide them with a reset after eight successive Premiership defeats […]

Pellegrini steers Cov back to top of the pile

7 January 2024 0 comments

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Bedford …………. 19pts Tries: King 11, 32; Penalty 48 Conversions: Maisey 33 Coventry ………. 34pts Tries: Pellegrini 3, Hutler 20, Poole […]

Lyon set to swoop for pair of Sharks

7 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon are eyeing up a double raid on Sale Sharks to take their England and Lions stars Luke Cowan-Dickie and […]

Bath win battle to keep Redpath

7 January 2024 0 comments

Bath have won their tug of war with the Scottish Rugby Union and will be keeping Scotland centre Cam Redpath at The Rec for the […]

Rees-Zammit in line for big Japan payday

7 January 2024 0 comments

WALES superstar Louis Rees-Zammit could be set to jump aboard the oriental gravy train after Mie Honda Heat made an offer to sign him when […]

Pearson: We are getting our reward for hard work

7 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Exeter’s rise this season with a largely young group of players has taken many by surprise, but not the players at Sandy […]

Call for more diversity among referees

7 January 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to high-level ex-ref David Rose On Boxing Day, Sam Allison became the first black referee to take charge of a Premier League […]

Gwilliam’s aiming for silverware with Dings

7 January 2024 0 comments

Bristol hooker Tomas Gwilliam is on a season-long loan at Dings Crusaders and is hoping for the first silverware of his adult career by lifting […]

Premiership previews: Round 11

5 January 2024 0 comments

Round 11 of the Premiership heralds the inaugural weekend of matches in 2024 with just three points separating the top six teams. Round ten smashed […]

Coles and Dingwall sign new contracts at Saints

2 January 2024 0 comments

24-year-old duo Alex Coles and Fraser Dingwall have signed new contracts at Premiership leaders Northampton Saints. The pair have been a key part of the […]

Smith stars on the big stage

31 December 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Marcus Smith delivered a man-of-the-match performance as Harlequins signed off 2023 with a 32-26 victory over Gloucester in front of 76,813 at […]

Bailey glad to learn from Finn

31 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE After being prematurely cast as Bath’s first-choice fly-half, precocious homegrown talent Orlando Bailey says he is enjoying his supporting role to main […]

Easter’s backing Alex to return

31 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Having unearthed a hidden gem for Harlequins in 2018 with the signing of Alex Dombrandt, Nick Easter is hoping the No.8’s blistering […]

Chessum hits 50 and links up with Martin in the row

31 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE As he prepares to make his 50th appearance for Leicester against Bath, Ollie Chessum is set for a new experience – a […]

Harrison grabs his chance

31 December 2023 0 comments

Sale have switched to a new energy provider this season – prop Ross Harrison, the longest serving player at the club having joined in 2011. […]

Skivington keen to keep hold of Hastings

31 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Gloucester last week added Charlie Atkinson to their outside-half roster but want to keep Adam Hastings and are in talks with the […]

Langdon in right place at Saints

31 December 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Curtis Langdon’s world was thrown upside down when Worcester folded last season three matches into his contract with the Warriors, but the […]

Wiese on course for Japan

31 December 2023 0 comments

Urasayu D-Rocks have emerged as favourites to sign Leicester No.8 Jasper Wiese when he leaves Welford Road at the end of the season. Tigers thought […]

Mitchell planning to stay a Saint

31 December 2023 0 comments

England scrum-half Alex Mitchell has opted to remain loyal to Northampton after being offered the chance of jumping ship and moving to France. Mitchell is […]

Bristol and Bath chasing Welsh prop

31 December 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER West Country rivals Bath and Bristol are battling over Wales loosehead Nicky Smith, who could activate a get-out clause written into his […]

Quins looking out to the wings

31 December 2023 0 comments

Harlequins are looking to see which wingers are available for a move this summer if they are unsuccessful in persuading Louis Lynagh to stay. Lynagh, […]

Saints go top after thrilling fightback

31 December 2023 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Northampton……………….. 21pts Tries: Furbank 54, Mitchell 66, Penalty 70 Conversions: Smith 54, 66 Sale ………………………………. 17pts Tries: Carpenter 39, Cowan-Dickie 48 Conversions: […]

Furbank enjoys move to captain

31 December 2023 0 comments

Northampton’s George Furbank believes captaincy has made him a better player and he hopes his good form will bring an England recall. His second-half try […]

Quins take honours in Big Game showdown

31 December 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ………………….. 32pts Tries: David 7, 19, Dombrandt 23, Lamb 45, Care 54 Conversions: Smith 46, 55 Drop goals: Smith 70 Gloucester […]

Wilson: Good to get the job done

31 December 2023 1 comment

Harlequins coach Danny Wilson was delighted with the team performance as his side got over the line at Big Game 15. “It was brilliant to […]

Saracens pushed all the way by Falcons

31 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Saracens …………………….. 37pts Tries: Dan 10, van Zyl 30, Gonzalez 40, Penalty 63, Mako Vunipola 70 Conversions: Manu Vunipola 31, 40 Penalties: […]

Beaten again but Codling ‘incredibly proud’ of his team

31 December 2023 0 comments

Newcastle go into the new year still seeking their first victory of the season, but ahead of Friday’s home encounter with Harlequins Alex Codling was […]

Baxter: We gave away soft penalties

31 December 2023 0 comments

Rob Baxter believed his Chiefs should have won more comfortably after their 24-14 win at Bristol. “We started well and gained momentum to subdue the […]

Chiefs enjoying life on the road for once

31 December 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bristol ……………………………14pts Tries: Oghre 11, Heward 36 Conversions: Sheedy 11, 36 Exeter ………………………….. 24pts Tries: Iosefa-Scott 6, Feyi-Wasobo 21, Townsend 41, Vermuelen […]

We’ve got a long way to go-Van Graan

31 December 2023 0 comments

■ By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Leicester vBath Today. Kick-off 3pm, Welford Road BATH head of rugby Johann van Graan insists his table-topping team “have achieved […]

McKellar looking forward to the Welford Road buzz

31 December 2023 0 comments

ACADEMY graduate Ollie Chessum will make his 50th appearance in Tigers colours against the current leaders, with fellow pathways product Dan Kelly featuring in his […]

Too little in reserve for Manu

31 December 2023 0 comments

Problem area: Another injury to Manu Tuilagi highlights England’s lack of strength in depth at inside-centre PICTURE: Getty Images THE groan of disappointment from England […]