Premiership

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

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 […]