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 )

All clubs must be able to reach top

21 January 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN SO it’s back to the future with the RFU CEO Bill Sweeney telling the Championship that they either don’t understand or have been […]

Hutchinson glad to be back in the fold

21 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Much has been made of the five backs from free-scoring Northampton who have made the Six Nations squad, but just as deserving […]

Diamond replaces Codling at struggling Falcons

19 January 2024 0 comments

Steve Diamond has replaced Alex Codling in charge of the Premiership’s bottom club Newcastle Falcons. Codling was appointed head coach over the summer to replace […]

Rees-Zammit will have to go to a ‘dark place for months and years’ – Wade

18 January 2024 0 comments

Racing 92 winger and former Buffalo Bills practice squad member Christian Wade has backed Louis Rees-Zammit in his decision to try and forge a career […]

Rees-Zammit leaves Gloucester and Wales to pursue NFL ‘dream’

16 January 2024 0 comments

Gloucester and Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit has left his club with immediate effect to “pursue his dream” of playing in the NFL. The Rugby Paper’s […]

Lam stays optimistic despite £14m losses

14 January 2024 1 comment

By PAUL REES Pat Lam is confident Premiership clubs are heading towards sustainability despite three of them posting losses of nearly £14m between them in […]

Pearson ready to step up at Saints

14 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Norhtampton are doing everything they can to persuade Courtney Lawes to carry on at Franklin’s Gardens, but should the former England captain […]

Townsend: I’ll keep on playing hard

14 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Stu Townsend’s new year resolution is to stay fit after an unlucky run with injuries has left him spending more time in […]

Tigers are braced for Porter departure

14 January 2024 0 comments

Leicester Tigers are looking for an outside centre, with Super Rugby sides spying on a move for England international Guy Porter, below, who has a […]

Farrell will cost Racing £500k transfer fee

14 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens have put a €600,000 (£515,000) price tag on England’s World Cup skipper, Owen Farrell, before they agree to […]

De Glanville, Ewels in talks

14 January 2024 0 comments

Bath are in advanced discussions with Tom de Glanville and Charlie Ewels about remaining at The Rec when their contracts run out at the end […]

Chiefs enter Grady chase

14 January 2024 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs are among a clutch of Premiership clubs interested in signing Mason Grady, who could become the next Wales star to cross the Severn […]

Pay me what I’m worth – Lawes

14 January 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes has sent a warning to Northampton and told the club, “I’ve got to be paid what I’m worth,” after having talks with Racing […]

With Smith and Mitchell, there should be fireworks

14 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Topsy Ojo and finds the TV pundit in optimistic mood for both club and country Topsy Ojo gets a reminder every […]

Radford gives the credit to simpler defence

14 January 2024 0 comments

Northampton defence coach Lee Radford cites simplified structure as the key to his side’s turn in fortunes this season. In recent years, Saints were top […]

Proposed hybrid contracts causing major debate

14 January 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL On the most recent edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast, Jeff Probyn joined host Ollie Little and our regulars – Nick Cain, […]

Sharks confirm they are keen on Wales flyer

14 January 2024 0 comments

Sale have confirmed they have spoken with Wales wing Mason Grady, a target for up to four English clubs. The 21-year-old, below, is out of […]

Everest skydive caps off world’s fastest rugby ball charity challenge

9 January 2024 0 comments

Bath Rugby legend Iestyn Lewis has taken charity fundraising to new heights after skydiving in freezing Himalayan conditions close to Mount Everest, all whilst clutching […]

De Glanville double gives Gloucester unwelcome record

7 January 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Bath…………………………………17 Tries: De Glanville 31, 62 Muir 41 Conversions: Russell 43 Gloucester………………………….10 Tries: Ackerman 7 Conversions: Hastings 8 Penalties: Hastings 34 Tom […]

McCall: I wouldn’t blame Farrell

7 January 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Saracens boss Mark McCall did little last night to dampen the speculation that England captain Owen Farrell is set to join Racing […]

Sanderson: Don’t put cap back up to £6.4m

7 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Alex Sanderson remains against increasing the Premiership salary cap back up to £6.4 million after his club Sale Sharks and Friday’s opponents […]

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 […]