Premiership

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

Champions Cup draw suits Bears

25 June 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bristol Bears sneaked into the Champions Cup through the cat flap rather than the back door, but they will be more content […]

Borthwick impressed with intensity of Prem final

25 June 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Steve Borthwick’s hopes that England can enjoy a successful World Cup campaign were boosted by the “Test match” performances of some of […]

Harlequins swoop to sign trio from London Irish

25 June 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Harlequins have pounced for three players who found themselves out of work after the collapse of neighbours London Irish, including England centre […]

Willis: I’d never have left Wasps

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England back row Jack Willis admits that he would never have left Wasps if they hadn’t become one of […]

Witty looks set to sign for Rouen

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs lock Will Witty is set for another move this summer with a drop-down from the Top […]

Sale lock still in hunt for new club

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Sale Sharks lock Matt Postlethwaite is still looking for a new club, with his contract with the Premiership finalists running out later […]

Boyle turns down Exeter approach

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Exeter have failed with their attempts to land young Leinster prop Jack Boyle who has decided that his immediate future is with […]

Baldwin happy to take chance at Falcons

25 June 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Wales and Ospreys hooker Scott Baldwin has called time on his playing career to become defence coach at Newcastle. Baldwin had signed […]

Purdy out to make his name overseas

18 June 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK As many professional rugby players are discovering, the financial problems in the Premiership are making it tough to make a living and […]

Bristol swoop to snap up Van Rensburg

18 June 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Bristol Bears have leapt upon London Irish’s misfortune by signing South African centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg. The 26-year-old, who can also […]

We’ll keep on fighting, says Newcastle owner

18 June 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Newcastle owner Semore Kurdi has rubbished claims that the club is willing to be relegated to the Championship because it is struggling […]

Millard moves up at Quins

18 June 2023 0 comments

Harlequins have appointed Billy Millard as director of rugby, with Tabai Matson switching from head coach to become director of performance development. The reshuffle comes […]

Snow has his eye on new deal at Chiefs

18 June 2023 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs are set to return to pre-season this week and will see a familiar face trying to earn himself a new deal, with Joe […]

Ojo wishes Irish were given more time

16 June 2023 0 comments

London Irish‘s record try scorer Topsy Ojo says it’s regrettable that the club weren’t given more time to try and find someone to fund the […]

Series 2, Episode 23: Topsy Ojo on London Irish’s suspension from the Prem

16 June 2023 0 comments

London Irish have officially become the third club to be suspended from the Gallagher Premiership this season. The Exiles demise subsequently means that the English […]

Rowe fires back at reports of financial difficulty at Chiefs

13 June 2023 1 comment

Exeter Chiefs Chairman Tony Rowe has labelled reports on social media that his club are in financial trouble as ‘wide of the mark’. Following the […]

Prem hoping to avoid Six Nations clashes

11 June 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES London Irish’s demise means the Premiership will be reduced to 10 teams next season and officials are looking to arrange the fixture […]

Bainbridge can’t wait for life as a Falcon

11 June 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Foraging flanker Josh Bainbridge is looking forward to starting his Newcastle Falcons career after a whirlwind pre-season. Now 27, Bainbridge has had […]

We need to return to amateur ways, says Thompson

11 June 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Steve Thompson has voiced his “fears” for the future of rugby following London Irish becoming the third club to fall from Premiership […]

Varndell fears for future generation

11 June 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Tom Varndell says that allowing three Premiership teams to go under this season is ‘completely unforgivable’ and urges a major restructure of […]

Haskell calls for radical overhaul

11 June 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK James Haskell believes the Premiership should be ring fenced and rebuilt using a franchise style NFL model, including a draft system that […]

Borthwick’s plea for Irish boys to stay

11 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England boss Steve Borthwick hit the phones last week in a plea to stop London Irish players moving to […]

Racing trying to tempt Marcus

11 June 2023 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Racing 92 have made England and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith an offer of around €500,000 (£425,000) gross to move […]

Winger Zheng on his way to Quins

11 June 2023 0 comments

Harlequins have signed Cardiff Met University winger Roma Zheng, who will join the club’s academy ahead of next season. Zheng, below, was a standout in […]

Premiership in freefall as Irish suspended

6 June 2023 0 comments

London Irish became the third club in eight months to be removed from the Premiership for financial reasons as the RFU suspended them from all […]

Tax bill pushes Irish to the brink

4 June 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON London Irish’s hopes of Premiership survival are hanging by a thread after the club was hit with winding-up petitions by HM Revenue […]

Dickens raring to get going at Tigers

4 June 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Leicester Tigers new attack and backs coach Alan Dickens is excited about reuniting with the multitude of players he coached while in […]

Sanderson: We want to improve and not just be one-off wonders

4 June 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Sale took their pain to Spain. The day after the Premiership final defeat to Saracens at Twickenham, the players and management flew […]

Graham struggling to land a new deal

4 June 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE EXCLUSIVE Homeless, a second child on the way and no job. That is the brutal reality confronting Gary Graham as one of […]

Warriors laugh off Farrell switch

4 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Wigan Warriors have moved to put distance between themselves and a reported big-money cross-code move to take England skipper […]

Arundell and Pearson on Bath’s radar

4 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Bath will waste no time this week to cherry-pick the best talent if, as expected, on Tuesday, London Irish […]

Van Vuuren keen to join Premiership

4 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lions lock Pieter Jansen Van Vuuren, who is reaching the end of his deal with the Ellis Park-based outfit, […]

I love playing in ‘rugby city’, says Williams

4 June 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK James Williams has enjoyed a breakthrough season in the top flight with Bristol Bears but is disappointed his side couldn’t reward their […]

15 stars of a bonkers season

4 June 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees selects his team of the tournament from the Gallagher Premiership 2022/23 The most emotionally charged Premiership campaign finished as it started, overshadowed by […]

We want Worcester to play at Sixways again

4 June 2023 0 comments

Q&A Ben Jaycock speaks to Worcester Warriors Supporters Trust founder Marcus Mulcahy about the group’s plans to revitalise the club Following a torrid 12 months […]

Series 2 Episode 21: Sarries back on top, London Irish discussion and Premiership season review

31 May 2023 0 comments

A memorable Gallagher Premiership season (for many of the wrong reasons) is done and dusted as Saracens have reclaimed their throne following a turbulent two […]

Irish deadline extension gives hope of survival

30 May 2023 0 comments

London Irish‘s hopes of continuing in the Gallagher Premiership next season have been boosted by an extension being placed on the looming threat of suspension […]

Super Saracens lift sixth crown

28 May 2023 0 comments

From BEN JAYCOCK at Twickenham Owen Farrell hailed the resolve of his Saracens side as they returned to the top of the English game by […]

Barbarian test will give me a chance

28 May 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Adam Radwan aims to use the warm sun and “iconic” Barbarians jersey on his back to give Steve Borthwick a gentle nudge […]

Ross: Ben good enough to lead England

28 May 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Jono Ross believes Ben Curry has the ability to develop into a top-class captain for both club and country. Curry has made […]

Farrell in command as Sharks cut down by incisive Saracens

28 May 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Saracens …………………….. 35pts Tries: Penalty 20, Malins 34, Daly 67, van Zyl 71 Conversions: Farrell 35, 72 Penalties: Farrell 5, 14, 50 […]

Farrell shows who’s the master

28 May 2023 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER It was billed as a titanic head-to-head between Owen Farrell and George Ford but in truth rugby, a game involving 30 players on […]

Sanderson will know that better times are ahead

28 May 2023 0 comments

PAUL REES As Alex Sanderson reflected on what could have been after a Premiership final that yielded 60 points, Sale’s director of rugby had been […]

I’m keen to learn from the best, says Dowson

28 May 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson will spend part of his summer holiday examining how other sports operate as he looks to steer Northampton into the […]

Ellis will get his medal either way

28 May 2023 0 comments

Tom Ellis started the season with Bath but was guaranteed to finish his Saturday with a Premiership winner’s medal in his kit bag, whoever won […]

London Irish look to boost squad

28 May 2023 0 comments

London Irish have given the clearest indication yet that they expect to be playing in the Premiership next season after it emerged that they are […]

It’s time for real change in a game drowning in debt

28 May 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees looks back on a sobering season for the professional game in England and wonders what happens next The more things change, the […]

Series 2, Episode 20: Gallagher Premiership Final Preview with Alex Lozowski

22 May 2023 0 comments

It was a great weekend in Europe for French rugby with a resounding Challenge Cup win for Toulon and a one-point victory for La Rochelle […]

Baron calls for PGA deal to be scrapped

21 May 2023 1 comment

By NICK CAIN Francis Baron believes that the RFU is in serious financial difficulties which will undermine rugby union in England for the foreseeable future […]