Premiership

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

Fit-again Richards is setting his sights high

17 September 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Bath’s Ewan Richards is hoping that he can put last season’s injury troubles behind him and keep pushing forward at The Rec, […]

High-flying Codling is perfect fit for Falcons

17 September 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Codling has taken a roundabout route to land a top coaching job in the Premiership – and believes his experience of […]

Coventry boss Rae reacts to landmark Saracens win

12 September 2023 0 comments

By Paul Smith In the week after Coventry Rugby pulled off a landmark 28-14 win over English champions Saracens the scale of the club’s achievement […]

We must promote game – Skivington

10 September 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Skivington has called for the game in England to put its best face, and voice, forward and sell itself after the […]

Baxter admits Exeter will need to change

10 September 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE ROB Baxter admits Exeter’s keep-ball tactics are a thing of the past as they look to remodel their attack. Exeter’s rise to […]

Randall out to get Bristol motoring

10 September 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Harry Randall is using his disappointment at missing out on the World Cup to ensure Bristol make a strong start to the […]

Samoa in good shape to do well, says Lam

10 September 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam believes Samoa will pose the same threat in this year’s World Cup as they did in the 1990s when they […]

Dolly calls the shots as Knights take over

10 September 2023 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON Doncaster………38pts Tries: Simpson 8, Holden 38, 73; Tait 40, Cant 44, 48 Conversions: Dolly 38, 40, 48 Holden 74 Cambridge ……. 11pts […]

Hassell-Collins has flying start

10 September 2023 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester …………………..50pts Tries: Hassell-Collins 2, Whiteley 35, Ilione 46, 71; van Wyk 48, Atkinson 58, Cokanasiga 73, Shillcock 75 Conversions: Shillcock 2, […]

Cleaves on song as Quins run riot

10 September 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Harlequins ………………….54pts Tries: Cleaves 2, 36, 38; Trenholm 7, 12; Bradley 17, Slevin 63, Zheng 80 Conversions: Slevin 3, 8, 13, 19, […]

Falcons take time to get their show on the road

10 September 2023 0 comments

By BEN WHITE Ampthill ………… 17pts Tries: Skelcey 10, Bacon 72 Conversions: Parks 11, 73 Penalties: Parks 42 Newcastle……..40pts Tries: Stevenson 21, Lockwood 30, Stephens […]

Gloucester too strong for battling Nottingham

10 September 2023 0 comments

By CONOR O’HARA Gloucester …… 42pts Tries: Clement 5, 55; Dunn 11, Hathaway 22, Morris 32, Penalty 44 Conversions: Barton 6, 12, 23, 33, 56 […]

Two scores for Thomas helps Sale coast home

10 September 2023 0 comments

By DAVID PRICE Sale ………………. 47pts Tries: Thomas 5, 52; Caine 14, 34; Ene 25, Reed 40, Birch 70 Conversions: Curtis 6, 15, 26, 40+1, […]

Saracens left stunned as Coventry grab the glory

10 September 2023 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry ……………………….28pts Tries: Ma’asi 16, Wand 39, Hutler 44, Pellegrini 80 Conversions: Pellegrini 16, 39, 44, 80 Saracens ………………………14pts Tries: Harris 10, […]

Slade in starring role as Chiefs too hot for young Bears

10 September 2023 0 comments

■By DAN ANJOS IN the last throws of summer, the Exeter sizzled as they blew away a vastly less experienced Bristol side by 75 points. […]

Jersey go for three new faces to take on Scottish

10 September 2023 0 comments

■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… L Scots v Jersey CHAMPIONSHIP winners Jersey Reds have named three new signings in their starting XV as they travel to […]

Graham in charge as Saints take on Ealing

10 September 2023 0 comments

■By BEN JAYCOCK Ealing v Northampton PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 1pm, Vallis Way SAM Graham will captain Northampton Saints for the first time today as […]

Pirates make Bath battle all the way

10 September 2023 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish Pirates ……….. 23pts Tries: Grubb 27, Trewin 64, Moyle 76 Conversions: Jenkins 65 Penalties: Pittman 8, 23 Bath …………………………… 29pts Tries: […]

Bristol set to revive big match

10 September 2023 0 comments

Bristol are looking to revive plans to play a ‘big match’ across the Severn Bridge in Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium next season. The Bears were […]

Baxter: I’d have stuck by Luke

10 September 2023 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admits that he was ready to step in and offer Luke Cowan-Dickie the chance of staying at Sandy Park after […]

Moore agrees Saints deal

10 September 2023 0 comments

Northampton Saints have handed former London Irish back row Izzy Moore a short-term contract after he joined the club on trial. The former England U20 […]

Sale take a lesson in Finnish resolution

10 September 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson spent the summer mugging up on Finnish philosophy to ensure Sale finish matches and the coming campaign strongly after being […]

Halliday welcomes new-look Prem Cup

3 September 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN The latest incarnation of the Premiership Cup, and the most positive because it includes Championship clubs competing against those in the top […]

Dowson: Things are going to get better

3 September 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Premiership clubs get their season underway this weekend with Northampton’s director of rugby Phil Dowson looking confident that the gloom that has […]

Van Rensburg ready to rumble for Bristol

3 September 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES When Benhard Janse van Rensburg became available after London Irish folded in June, Pat Lam wasted no time in getting in touch […]

Suitors line up for Sarries star Isiekwe

3 September 2023 2 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England international Nick Isiekwe is being lined up by a trio of clubs interested in signing him after entering […]

Saints trial for Moore

3 September 2023 0 comments

Back row Izzy Moore, who has been looking for a new club since the demise of London Irish, has joined Northampton on trial. Moore, 23, […]

Burgess makes Bath switch

3 September 2023 0 comments

Former agent and England team manager Rob Burgess, who was head of recruitment at the Dragons, is leaving to take up a similar role with […]

I was rescued by trip to Sri Lanka

3 September 2023 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to Bath flanker Chris Cloete on how he saved his rugby career ROCKED by a badly broken leg, a torn ACL and […]

22 teams raring to go in new-look Cup

3 September 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK THE Premiership Cup returns on Friday in the new-look format involving Championship clubs for the first time. Exeter Chiefs secured their third […]

Bassett gets ready to roar for Tigers

27 August 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Chris Ashton will take some replacing but Josh Bassett has come to Leicester hoping to make a splash of his own. Bassett and […]

Rowe confident Chiefs will be back in the black soon

27 August 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES TONY Rowe is confident Exeter will move back into the black by the end of the season after three years of financial […]

Sarries fight to keep hold of big stars

27 August 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens are looking to head off potential interest in some of their big-name stars out of contract at the end of the […]

Codling needs more money

27 August 2023 0 comments

Newcastle boss Alex Codling is weighing up asking for an increase in his budget to bring in at least another player before the start of […]

RFU will honour Watson contract

27 August 2023 0 comments

The RFU are set to continue picking up the tab for Anthony Watson despite the winger being ruled out of the World Cup with a […]

Robinson’s delight to be back at Bath

20 August 2023 0 comments

Jon Newcombe finds the club’s former captain in fine form as he returns to join coaching team Twenty five years after leading Bath to their […]

Northampton Saints fly-half James Grayson

Volavola chosen ahead of Grayson

20 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Northampton Saints fly-half James Grayson was a target for French ProD2 outfit Agen when they […]

Blake out to make No.2 slot his own

13 August 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK A hooker crisis at Kingsholm last season saw tyro Seb Blake chucked in at the deep end but now he wants to […]

Hoyland out to shine on Barbarians duty

13 August 2023 0 comments

Scotland winger Damien Hoyland will be looking to put himself in the shop window for a move to the Premiership when he plays for the […]

Pumas include 11 players from English top flight

13 August 2023 0 comments

Squad Watch: ARGENTINA Nicolás Sánchez and Sale’s Agustín Creevy will play in their fourth Rugby World Cup after coach Michael Cheika included the experienced duo […]

Sanderson looking for an extra 12%

6 August 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson believes Sale will need to improve by at least 12 per cent if they are going to go one better […]

Quins form partnership with Honda Heat

6 August 2023 0 comments

Harlequins and top tier Japanese side Mie Honda Heat have entered into a long-term strategic partnership designed to help support the growth and development of […]

Carcassonne the next stop for Graham

6 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Gary Graham is linking up with his former Newcastle Falcons teammate Carl Fearns in […]

Codling can’t wait to take on ‘fantastic challenge’

30 July 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Having coached in multiple leagues in Wales, Northern Ireland, England and France, it is fair to say Alex Codling has never shied […]

Treat players well and they will stay here, says RPA’s Day

30 July 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE RPA chairman Christian Day believes making English players the best-looked after in the world will help to combat the player drain from […]

Fed-up Falcons angry over limited telly time

23 July 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Newcastle Falcons are said to be seething after what they perceive to be another snub in the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership TV fixture […]

Sale Sharks part company with chief exec Sutton

23 July 2023 0 comments

Sale Sharks CEO Sid Sutton has left the club after almost three years in the role. Sutton, who joined the club in November 2020, has […]

Hill keen for a new adventure Stateside

23 July 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Bored with the Premiership rugby landscape, former Exeter and Sale Sharks centre Sam Hill is hoping for a fresh challenge abroad. Hill […]

Smith has unfinished business at Quins

23 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Marcus Smith wants to repeat Harlequins 2021 Premiership triumph next season insisting he has unfinished business at the club. The England star […]