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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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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