Premiership

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

Itoje is too expensive for French

8 October 2023 0 comments

French clubs have gone cold on signing England and Lions lock Maro Itoje when his contract with Premiership champions Saracens runs out at the end […]

Racing 92 will fight to keep Arundell

8 October 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER Racing 92 will fight any attempts by Gloucester and Bath to lure England international Henry Arundell back to the Premiership after the […]

Leicester’s new launch

8 October 2023 0 comments

Leicester have announced that they will launch their first-ever Down Syndrome rugby team later this month to mark awareness month for the genetic disorder. Tigers […]

Saracens go on rampage to cut down Hartpury

8 October 2023 0 comments

By MO SHER Saracens ……….68pts Tries: Segun 16, 32; Hartley 47, Adejimi 51, 58, Davies 54, Knight 61, 78; Stonham 73, Parton 80 Conversions: Lozowski […]

Impressive Bath start to show their worth

8 October 2023 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Bath ……………………………. 34pts Tries: Annett 4, De Glanville 15, Francis 36, Muir 39, Ojomoh 76 Conversions: Francis 5, 15, 40 Penalties: Francis […]

Anderson hits the heights to steer Quins home

8 October 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Nottingham…… 21pts Tries: Valentine 26, Tiueti 38, Stronge 41 Conversions: Hollingsworth 27, 39, 42 Harlequins …… 45pts Tries: Browne 2, White 11, […]

Blues tame the Tigers for first time in over 40 years

8 October 2023 0 comments

By DAVID THOMPSON Bedford ………… 47pts Tries: Litchfield 3, Howard 13, Adamson 47, Worley 49, King 60, Conway 70, French 80 Conversions: Maisey 4, 48, […]

We need to hit ground running, says Waller

8 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Northampton Saints v Doncaster Knights Today. Kick-off 2.15pm, Franklin’s Gardens Hard work ahead: Northampton prop Ethan Waller NORTHAMPTON Saints have made […]

Clinical Pirates are too strong for Scottish

8 October 2023 0 comments

By MO SHER London Scots ..14pts Tries: Mehson 61, Panday 77 Conversions: Haydon 62, 78 Cornish P ……….50pts Tries: Dugmore 8, Evans 11, Trewin 18, […]

Sharks pack just has too much bite for battling Mob

8 October 2023 0 comments

By KEVIN MILLER Sale ………………. 64pts Tries: James 2, Dugdale 11, 24, 30, 61, Taylor 15, Bedlow 40, 67, Carpenter 69, Roebuck 75 Conversions: R […]

Galloping Reeves races in to steal it for Gloucester

8 October 2023 0 comments

By PAUL SMITH Gloucester ……………………32pts Tries: Hillmann-Cooper 7, Hearle 14, Clement 34, 58; Reeves 79 Conversions: Hastings 14, Barton 58 Penalties: Barton 56 Coventry ………………………. […]

16-try Bristol go on a spree to demolish Cambridge

8 October 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bristol …………….98pts Tries: Thacker 4, 19, 35, Lane 10, 47, Bradbury 12, Caulfied 15, Thomas 24, 51, 60, 72, Harding 41, Marmion […]

Falcons call up young guns for Caldy clash

8 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Newcastle v Caldy Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Kingston Park Ready to go: Ben Douglas makes his first start OLIVER Spencer makes his […]

Bunker system may expand to other contests

8 October 2023 0 comments

It was always going to be a World Cup in which discipline would be crucial with a zero tolerance on head high tackles which lacked […]

Bath bank on Russell class

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Bath Bath finished last season with four consecutive victories, their best run for three years. They scored 175 points and 24 tries […]

Lam puts his faith in Vakatawa to fire Bears

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Bristol Bears HOW do you replace Semi Radradra? By signing Virimi Vakatawa, the France centre who was forced to retire from rugby […]

Baxter out to rebuild again

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Exeter Chiefs The summer marked a reset for Exeter following the departure of a number of players who were instrumental in their […]

Mercer the man to power Gloucester

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Gloucester Gloucester started last season in the fast lane and finished it spluttering along in the hard shoulder after being decimated by […]

Quins hope to keep it smooth

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Harlequins When Quins won the title in 2020-21, they finished the season strongly to make up for a slow start and took […]

McKellar’s putting pieces into place

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Leicester Tigers The Tigers did well to reach the play-offs last season after losing head coach Steve Borthwick and his right-hand man […]

Codling knows it will be tough

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Newcastle Falcons ALEX Codling knew what he was taking on when he agreed to become Newcastle’s third director of rugby in little […]

Saints have to nail it away from home

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Northampton There was a point last season where Northampton looked as if they could qualify for the play-offs despite conceding a century […]

Sale need to seize the day

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Sale Sharks Alex Sanderson has pushed his players to their physical and mental limits this season after they fell short in May’s […]

Saracens will still be the team to beat

8 October 2023 0 comments

Premiership team-by-team previews: Saracens THE champions have been denuded by the World Cup and will start their Premiership campaign with nine players in France and […]

RFU must provide a pathway for everyone

8 October 2023 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WELL, who would have believed it? One of the best teams in the Championship calling in […]

Chawatama so happy at Quins

8 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK When the news broke that London Irish were to go into administration, Lovejoy Chawatama drove his family to Cornwall and went off […]

This is no way to run a pro sport – Halliday

1 October 2023 1 comment

By NICK CAIN Simon Halliday says the decision of Jersey Reds to go into administration, while criticising the RFU leadership for a lack of support, […]

24-team World Cup would suit MacGinty

1 October 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES AJ MacGinty is pumped to fire Bristol’s potent back division this season, but after having a rare full pre-season this summer admits […]

Feyi-Waboso determined to find his feet at Exeter

1 October 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Manny Feyi-Waboso is determined to establish himself at Exeter this season after a turbulent start to the 20-year-old’s professional career. The Welsh […]

The Tank ready to roll for Bath

1 October 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Thomas du Toit remains on standby for the Springboks but, for now, his focus is on quickly learning the ropes at Bath. […]

Lam moves quickly to sign up Vakatawa

1 October 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam has re-established the French connection to the Premiership by signing powerful centre Virimi Vakatawa following a chance conversation in August. […]

I’m going to give Sarries everything, says Willis

1 October 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Tom Willis aims to take the positives from his failed attempt to prove his World Cup credentials to Steve Borthwick. The back […]

Pepper: I like to cause some chaos

1 October 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Dominic Cummings would definitely have needed his eyes testing had he gone to Barnard Castle and not seen the potential of Guy […]

Nottingham cash in on Coventry mistakes

1 October 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Coventry………..33pts Tries: Anstey 13, Nkwocha 20, Mitchell 26, Kvesic 46, Martin 59 Conversions: Mitchell 14, 21, 27, 47 Nottingham……33pts Tries: Stronge 23, […]

Bears pacy attack proves too much for Knights

1 October 2023 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster ………41pts Tries: Davey 13, 80; Holden 25, Doughty 40, Davidson 45, Ehizode 58 Conversions: Olver 13, 40, 45, 80 Penalties: Olver […]

Powell runs the show for Tigers

1 October 2023 0 comments

■By ROB WILDMAN Leicester …………………… 60pts Newcastle…………………….7pts Tries: Liebenberg 3, 58; Clare 9, 36; Powell 18, 39; Porter 25, van Wyk 27, Rogerson 74, Whiteley […]

Barton in control as Gloucester find groove

1 October 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury…………14pts Tries: Denty 1 Penalties: Bazalgette 56, 58 Drop Goals: Bazalgette 31 Gloucester …….40pts Tries: Blake 21, 37; Jones 53, Clement 66, […]

Sanderson happy to see Sharks turn screw

1 October 2023 0 comments

By JOHN LYON Caldy……………….. 7pts Connor Wilkinson 45 Conversions: Barker 45 Sale ………………. 24pts Tries: JL Du Preez 5, 35; Dugdale 43, Birch 80 Conversions: […]

Grimoldby on target to guide Blues past Ampthill

1 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN WHITE Ampthill…………19pts Tries: Bacon 8, Bracken 23, Morris 43 Conversions: Parks 24, 44 Bedford ………… 24pts Tries: Conway 38, Howard 63, French 76 […]

Freeman finds his form to lead the Saints fightback

1 October 2023 0 comments

■By TOM VICKERS Northampton………………. 43pts Tries: Freeman 20, 47, 68, E Waller 28, Davison 35, Langdon 55, Seabrook 66 Conversions: Smith 21, 28, 48, 69 […]

Ealing prove too much for Cambridge to handle

1 October 2023 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge ……. 17pts Tries: Hanks 23, Veness 47 Conversions: James 24, 48 Penalty: James 36 E Trailfinders ..52pts Tries: Davidson 15, 42; […]

Anyanwu: Joseph will be a big star at The Stoop

1 October 2023 0 comments

■By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Quins v Saracens Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, The Stoop WILL Joseph makes his second appearance for Harlequins at The Stoop today with […]

Vintcent looking good for Exeter

1 October 2023 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ……………………..47pts Tries: Vintcent 16, 42, 56; Relton 24, Armstrong 40, Snow 72, Burrows 78 Conversions: Haydon-Wood 18, 25, 40, 42, 73, […]

Cabango on song to help Cardiff see off Scarlets

1 October 2023 0 comments

URC Friendlies THEO Cabango scored two tries as Cardiff beat Scarlets 21-12. In front of 4,289 fans, new head coach Matt Sherratt saw Cabango grab […]

Prem Cup shows the sham of no relegation

24 September 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN The early rounds of the new Premiership Cup has shown the RFU-endorsed ring-fencing of English rugby’s top league to be an utter sham. […]

Reid aims to be Bath enforcer

24 September 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Miles Reid is looking to raise his game to new heights and play the role of Bath’s enforcer in attack and defence. Bath-born […]

Old boy Catt in line for Bath approach

24 September 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Mike Catt could be offered the chance to return to Bath if the Springboks come calling for head coach […]

French keen to recruit yet more

24 September 2023 0 comments

The exodus of players from England and Wales to France is set to continue next summer, with one source claiming as many as 13 players […]

Bath run rings around Scottish

24 September 2023 0 comments

By NATHAN EDWARDS Bath …………………………47pts Tries: Annett 8, Hennessey 20, Cloete 35, Lee-Warner 66, Penalty 69, de Glanville 74, 76 Conversions: Francis 9, 36, 66, […]