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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Fearing players going abroad is a false storm

26 November 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WORLD Cups provide rugby union with an opportunity to reset, and the actions taken following the 2023 tournament, […]

Gloucester founder on Leicester rocks

26 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Gloucester ……………………20pts Tries: McGuigan 49, Ford-Robinson 65 Conversions: Barton 50, 66 Penalties: Barton 16, 2 Leicester …………………….. 38pts Tries: Hassell-Collins 39, 62; […]

McKellar: We will keep hold of Jasper

26 November 2023 0 comments

Dan McKellar is confident Leicester will hold on to their World Cup winning No.8 Jasper Wiese who has attracted the attention of French clubs. Wiese […]

Seven-try Saracens too good for Bears

26 November 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens …………………….. 39pts Tries: Farrell 7, Lewington 11, Vunipola 27, Lewington 44, George 53, 77; Willis 68 Conversions: Farrell 45, 54 Bristol […]

McCall backs misfiring Farrell

26 November 2023 0 comments

Saracens boss Mark McCall insists at no time did they consider changing their kicker as Owen Farrell landed just two of his eight shots at […]

Furbank in control as Saints hold on

26 November 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Northampton………………. 36pts Tries: Sleightholme 8, 72; Ludlam 31, Mitchell 40+1, Coles 61 Conversions: Furbank 9, 32, 40+2, 62 Penalties: Furbank 42 Harlequins […]

Speedy Sleightholme earns the plaudits from Vesty

26 November 2023 0 comments

Saints head coach Sam Vesty singled out Ollie Sleightholme who was returning after a long lay off with hamstring issues and a series of heavy […]

Ford keeps his cool to seal it for Sharks

26 November 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Sale ………………………………. 11pts Tries: Hill 25 Penalties: Ford 49, 74 Bath ………………………………… 9pts Penalties: Russell 5, 22, 39 GEORGE Ford stepped up […]

Bath chief proud of battling display

26 November 2023 0 comments

Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan was disappointed at his side’s loss but was encouraged by their performance in a battling display. He said: […]

Stay patient and results will come – McDonald

26 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Newcastle v Exeter Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingston Park IT has been an eventful four months for Kiran McDonald. The second row […]

Baxter urges his young charges to win on the road

26 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Going well: Joe Hawkins ROB Baxter has called on his young Exeter side to lay down a marker at Kingston Park this […]

Young Guns: Harlequins back row Louis Schmid

26 November 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Following in his father’s footsteps, Lucas Schmid took up rugby as early as three and after excelling at U18s level he has […]

Premiership Round Seven Preview

24 November 2023 0 comments

In the aftermath of an exhilarating round of derbies, where Bath narrowly triumphed over Bristol, Leicester Tigers revived their season by outplaying Northampton Saints, Saracens […]

“It opened my eyes” – Sean Long looks back on time in rugby union

23 November 2023 0 comments

Cross-code coaches are nothing new in rugby union. The likes of Kevin Sinfield, Shaun Edwards, Mike Ford and more recently Lee Radford have all made […]

Stooke heading back to Bath

23 November 2023 0 comments

Elliot Stooke’s return to Bath has been confirmed by the club a month after it was foreseen by The Rugby Paper’s Neil Fissler in his […]

Saracens confirm Earl will be available for Six Nations

21 November 2023 0 comments

Saracens have confirmed that Ben Earl will be available for the Six Nations despite suffering a knee injury in the build-up to their one-sided victory […]

Police investigating racial abuse of Monye

20 November 2023 0 comments

Police are investigating Ugo Monye’s accusation of racist abuse by a supporter following an appearance he made as a pundit at Exeter vs Gloucester on […]

Slade penalty gives Exeter thrilling late derby win

19 November 2023 0 comments

Exeter……………………………………..25 Tries: Tuima 9, Jenkins 33, Townsend 76 Conversions: Slade 10, 77 Penalties: Slade 61, 80+1 Gloucester……………………………..24 Tries: Clement 29, Thorley 56, Rees-Zammit 66, Atkinson […]

McKellar praise for humble Pollard

19 November 2023 0 comments

Leicester Tigers boss Dan McKellar hailed Handre Pollard after the coach’s first taste of a passionate East Midlands derby. The Australian praised both Pollard and […]

Baxter: Focus on all the good stuff

19 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Rob Baxter believes that the 15 per cent drop in Premiership attendances from last season, revealed by The Rugby Paper last week, […]

Vakatawa grateful to Lam for giving him a chance at Bears

19 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Virimi Vakatawa says he feels blessed to be playing rugby again after being told last year that a heart condition meant his […]

Sale captain Curry enjoying return to the ‘hamster wheel’

19 November 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Now he is fit again and back on the “hamster wheel” of training, playing and recovering, everything in Ben Curry’s world appear […]

Launchbury happy to be back where it all started

19 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Joe Launchbury has returned to the club where his career started, and nearly ended, 14 years ago. He is now one of […]

Carreras on way to Bayonne

19 November 2023 0 comments

Argentina wing Mateo Carreras will leave Newcastle Falcons at the end of the season to join Top 14 side Bayonne. Carreras is in his third […]

Russell has the mastery to push Bath to the top

19 November 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Finn Russell is, with out a doubt, an ultra talented fly-half and the Scot has a touch of […]

World Cup winner puts Tigers on top

19 November 2023 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester …………………….. 26pts Tries: van Wyk 56, Liebenberg 72 Conversions: Pollard 56, 72 Penalties: Pollard 2, 23, 25, 47 Northampton………………..17pts Tries: Furbank […]

Dowson bemoans lack of discipline

19 November 2023 0 comments

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said he was frustrated at the afternoon and bemoaned the poor discipline of is team. “In the first half […]

Ruthless Saracens demolish Harlequins

19 November 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins …………………… 10pts Try: Esterhuizen 74 Conversion: Smith 74 Penalty: Smith 18 Saracens …………………….. 38pts Tries: Gonzalez 19, Hartley 29, George 33, […]

Farrell heaps praise on his pack

19 November 2023 0 comments

Saracens recorded their most impressive win of the season despite the disruption of not one but two injuries in their warm up at The Stoop. […]

Lawrence shines on a night of spectacle

19 November 2023 0 comments

By TOM BRADSHAW Bath ……………………………….20pts Tries: Lawrence 16, Spencer 18 Conversions: Russell 17, 19 Penalties: Russell 12, 70 Bristol ……………………………19pts Tries: Bradbury 6, Lane 51, […]

I’m proud of the way our players fought, says coach Lam

19 November 2023 0 comments

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam was far from dejected after seeing commitment and valour in his team’s performance in their narrow defeat to Bath. […]

Reed races away to steer Sale to the top

19 November 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale ……………………………… 40pts Tries: Reed 10, 37; B Curry 28, R du Preez 31, S James 76, Roebuck 80 Conversions: R du […]

I saw a lot positives out there – Codling

19 November 2023 0 comments

Newcastle were left with plenty of positives despite their winless run stretching to a sixth Premiership outing. A measured head coach Alex Codling said: “We’ve […]

Davis keen to put on a show on derby day

19 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Sandy Park Aidon Davis has played in all three major leagues in Europe and […]

Skivington: We are going to stay in the fight this time

19 November 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Skivington was lost for words after Gloucester’s second half capitulation to Bath at Kingsholm and expects a marked improvement in attitude […]

The Tank who is adding weight to Bath’s attack

19 November 2023 0 comments

Thomas du Toit may not have featured in as many headlines as Finn Russell, but the South African prop has been an equally significant figure […]

Smith: I want to join Alex in England team

19 November 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Fin Smith dreams of pairing up with Alex Mitchell for both club and country in the not too distant future after a […]

Lyon put marker down for Itoje

19 November 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon have emerged as a potential shock destination for England and Lions lock Maro Itoje, but he will have […]

French pair to battle for Rees-Zammit

19 November 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit is being lined up for a money-spinning move to France at the end of the season following his […]

Boks may move in for Van Graan

19 November 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Bath’s impressive start to the Premiership season hasn’t gone unnoticed in South Africa, who have still got head coach Johann van Graan, […]

Sale on the lookout

19 November 2023 0 comments

Premiership pace setters Sale are looking to strengthen their squad. Alex Sanderson’s team went top of the Premiership table after beating Newcastle 40-22 on Friday […]

Grace fights back

19 November 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Super League star Regan Grace is set to train with Bath while he bids to regain his fitness as he […]

Hogg: Now is the time for young guns to shine

19 November 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK EXETER Chiefs‘ young talent have had to bide their time but are now the focus of Rob Baxter’s side and former full-back […]

Radwan motivated to make up for lost time

19 November 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Adam Radwan’s relishing Newcastle’s new expansive style this season, with the winger confident it will lead to an England recall. The 25-year-old’s […]

Scottish genie turning on the magic at Bath

19 November 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at Finn Russell, the big-money signing who is making a name for himself in the West Country Big-name signings have become rare […]

When relegation battle was the key

19 November 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Twenty years on from England’s World Cup triumph – Wednesday is the […]

Anderson aims to be a starter

19 November 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Harlequins full-back Cameron Anderson believes doing the hard yards in London Scottish’s survival fight last season will help him in his hunt […]

Premiership Derby Weekend preview

17 November 2023 0 comments

Round six of the Gallagher Premiership ignites local pride and historic rivalries with three intense derbies set to take place. Bath face Bristol under the […]

Bath star reinvents centuries-old famous recipe Sally Lunn’s Bun

16 November 2023 0 comments

Step aside Mary Berry, Bath‘s longest-serving current player, who recently reached 200 appearances for the club, has swapped scrummaging for a shift in one of […]