Premiership

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

Baxter: Red cards destroying game

16 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Rob Baxter says the rash of red cards since the last World Cup is destroying the game. Exeter’s director of rugby has […]

Falcons to put emphasis on academy players

16 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Newcastle are putting the emphasis on sustainability ahead of Alex Coding’s arrival as head coach in the summer. The Falcons have cut […]

Hastings on way back after shoulder injury

16 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Adam Hastings is in line to return to action for Gloucester before the end of the season, four months after the Scotland […]

Saints go fourth in battle for play-offs

16 April 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Northampton Saints….. 38pts Tries: Moon 15, Ludlam 21, Freeman 38, Hutchinson 42, Smith 49, Dingwall 63 Conversions: Smith 22, 39, 43, 63 […]

Dowson: Patience was key for us

16 April 2023 0 comments

Phil Dowson was pleased that patience prevailed in the second half and Saints got their reward. “We were a little nervous today,” said the Saints […]

Quins find their feet to finish job in style

16 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Harlequins ………………….. 48pts Tries: Esterhuizen 36, Lynagh 40, Bassett 49, Dombrandt 52, 69; Lamb 73, Marchant 76, Baxter 80 Conversions: Smith 37, […]

Matson delight as Evans confirms he’s staying at The Stoop

16 April 2023 0 comments

Tabai Matson spoke of his joy that attack coach Nick Evans will be staying at Harlequins despite England‘s attempt to lure the attack coach to […]

Reid finds the fire to lead Bath fightback

16 April 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………………….. 24pts Tries: Varney 6, Carreras 27, Atkinson 45 Conversions: Carreras 6, 27, 45 Penalties: Carreras 12 Bath ……………………………… 33pts Tries: […]

Van Graan delight as attack gets into gear

16 April 2023 0 comments

Bath director of rugby Johan van Graan was overjoyed as his side secured a victory to remember. He said: “We missed a chance when Tom […]

Curry brothers put the heat on Bristol

16 April 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Bristol Bears ………………..20pts Tries: Naulago 39, Ibitoye 73 Conversions: MacGinty 40, 73 Penalties: MacGinty 9, Williams 24 Sale Sharks ………………… 36pts Tries: […]

Lam: We gave Ford too many chances

16 April 2023 0 comments

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam conceded that his side were second best and foolishly gave George Ford opportunities to chip away at the scoreboard. […]

Last-chance saloon for title hopes – Baxter

16 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs Today. Kick-off 3pm, Welford Road Focused: Aidon Davis and, inset, Jasper Wiese PICTURES: Alamy HAVING beaten […]

Steward: We want to help Ashy get to that century

16 April 2023 0 comments

Retiring: Chris Ashton MIKE Brown has been left out of Tigers’ matchday 23 for the visit of Exeter today, with Freddie Steward joined in the […]

Sam Matavesi previews Northampton versus Exeter

Raiwalui gets Sam backing to lead top Fiji campaign

16 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Sam Matavesi is confident the appointment of Simon Raiwalui as Fiji’s head coach will minimise the loss of Vern Cotter who resigned […]

Top level new cup contest to launch

9 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Coventry executive chairman Jon Sharp has confirmed that a Premiership/Championship Cup will take place next season. The new competition, which will be […]

RFU finds Burrell’s claims are true

9 April 2023 0 comments

An RFU investigation found Luther Burrell’s claims of racism in rugby were true, prompting the governing body to fast-track publication of a new strategy to […]

Morris, 28, to call time after injury-hit season

9 April 2023 0 comments

Harlequins full-back Aaron Morris will retire at the end of the season, following a series of serious injuries which have seen him sidelined for much […]

Green off to America

9 April 2023 0 comments

London Irish academy graduate Luke Green has joined Major League Rugby’s San Diego Legion on loan. The prop links up with former Exiles Blair Cowan […]

Bath back row Ellis signs deal with Sale

9 April 2023 0 comments

Sale Sharks have signed Bath back rower Tom Ellis on a deal until the end of the season. The 28-year-old came through Bath’s academy and […]

Lawes future at Saints still up in the air

9 April 2023 0 comments

Northampton flanker Courtney Lawes remains in negotiations about his future after the Rugby World Cup. Lawes, 33, is contracted to Saints until 2024 but has […]

Stage set for a Tiger attack

9 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES This is the stage of the season when momentum counts. The Premiership campaign resumes next weekend with champions Leicester the form team […]

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter

Baxter’s rebuilding mission

9 April 2023 0 comments

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he is aiming to build a side that will be dominant for the next five years. The Chiefs have signed […]

Pivac was Falcons first choice

9 April 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former Wales boss Wayne Pivac turned down the chance of becoming Newcastle Falcons boss next season before the Premiership’s […]

Play-off run is over admits Skivington

9 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Skivington says he has stopped talking about the play-offs after Gloucester’s defeat at Newcastle in the last Premiership round left them […]

Exiles’ long wait for action frustrates Kidney

9 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Declan Kidney admits it has been frustrating having to endure a long break between Premiership games while others have had the chance […]

Itoje sets sights on toppling champions

9 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… La Rochelle v Saracens Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Marcel-Deflandre Visit infinitysportstravel.com to view our packages or call us on 0203 725 […]

Harlequins launch youth volunteer programme for ‘Big Summer Kick Off’ event

5 April 2023 0 comments

Harlequins have launched their Summer Squad competition, announcing a range of exciting roles to be filled by their young supporters ahead of and during their Big Summer Kick […]

Brown agrees new deal with Leicester

2 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Patience finally paid off for Mike Brown two months ago when the former England full-back’s determination to show he could still cut […]

Kidney keeping Arundell positive as Irish aim for top four

2 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Declan Kidney showed there is no place for favouritism in his London Irish side by bringing Henry Arundell back to earth with […]

Lam dismisses Goode criticism of club spirit

2 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam dismisses claims by former England fly-half Andy Goode that some of his Bristol players, including prop Ellis Genge, are not […]

Saracens sweat on Farrell for Euro clash

26 March 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES England captain Owen Farrell is a doubt for Saracens in the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup against the Ospreys next […]

Give refs more latitude on cards – Skivington

26 March 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Skivington believes referees should be given more latitude over challenges that involve head contact following Freddie Steward’s rescinded red card in […]

Laycock: We’ll finish strongly

26 March 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Mark Laycock is confident Newcastle will finish the campaign strongly after becoming the third person to take charge of the side in […]

55,000 see Saracens secure top-two finish

26 March 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Saracens …………………….. 36pts Tries: Lozowski 7, Tompkins 12, Christie 36, Maitland 56, Itoje 65 Conversions: Farrell 8, 13, 57, 66 Penalties: Farrell […]

Vunipola: We just want to get better

26 March 2023 0 comments

Billy Vunipola says Saracens are focused on getting better after their victory against Harlequins ensured they would be at home in the play-offs. One victory […]

Leicester muscle too much for Bears

26 March 2023 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester …………………….. 46pts Tries: Youngs 15, Watson 29, Montoya 53, 59, Pollard 67, Clare 80 Conversions: Pollard 15, 53, 59, 67; Gopperth […]

Lam: We must put blame on ourselves

26 March 2023 2 comments

Bristol boss Pat Lam was frustrated by injuries and poor discipline for a defeat which leaves his team struggling to make the play-offs. “It’s going […]

Peerless Pearson lifts Irish into fourth

26 March 2023 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD London Irish ……………….. 37pts Tries: Fa’aso’o 7, Pearson 17, Loader 42, Munga 64 Conversions: Jackson 8, 18, 43, 66 Penalty: Jackson 40, […]

We were chasing shadows in the second half, admits Dowson

26 March 2023 1 comment

Phil Dowson bemoaned his side’s costly mistakes as Saints came out decidedly second best against Irish in Brentford. Director of Rugby Dowson admitted: “We gave […]

14-man Newcastle dig deep to secure victory

26 March 2023 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle…………………….17pts Tries: Radwan 12, Obatoyinbo 63 Conversions: Connon 13, 64 Penalties: Connon 40 Gloucester ……………………12pts Tries: Blake 6, Thorley 18 Conversions: Carreras […]

Strong start, but poor finish

26 March 2023 0 comments

After a strong start to their campaign, defeat to Newcastle ended injury-ridden Gloucester’s play-off chances. They had two tries disallowed in the firsthalf, and are […]

Time we showed some pride – Dunn

26 March 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Bath v Exeter PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 3pm, The Recreation Ground Tom Dunn says that the time for Bath players apologising for mistakes […]

Baxter calls on Chiefs to win the 10-pointers

26 March 2023 0 comments

Rob Baxter says every match is a virtual cup final for Exeter as they look to make the Premiership play-offs and progress in the Heineken […]

Warr stepping into Faf’s shoes

26 March 2023 0 comments

By HARRY BAMFORTH The pressure of replacing one of the world’s best rugby players could see many crack, but not Gus Warr, whose rise to […]

Laycock takes over as Walder steps down

19 March 2023 1 comment

Newcastle director of rugby Dave Walder has left his position at the club less than a year after he succeeded former boss Dean Richards. Although […]

Pollard helping to put life into Tigers

19 March 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Handre Pollard says that his experience in the Premiership with Leicester has made him a more rounded player ahead of his return […]

Painter looking forward to ‘exciting’ Exeter challenge

19 March 2023 0 comments

Exeter confirmed the signing of prop Ehren Painter from Northampton Saints, as revealed in last week’s TRP. The 24-year-old tighthead comes in as cover for […]

Cooke: Last year’s defeat driving us on

19 March 2023 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… London Irish v Exeter Today. Kick-off 2pm, Gtech Community Stadium Jack Cooke says the memory of last year’s Premiership Rugby Cup […]