Premiership

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

stdClass Object ( [id] => 1 [league_name] => Premiership [league_logo_id] => 0 [league_logo_url] => [parent_league_id] => 0 [wp_league_id] => 77 )

Bath

Bristol

Exeter

Gloucester

Harlequins

Leicester

London Irish

Newcastle

Northampton

Sale

Saracens

Wasps

Worcester

Sanderson annoyed by Ashman’s move north

30 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson is unhappy with the departure of Ewan Ashman to Edinburgh next season, adamant the hooker would be better off staying […]

Let’s hope this new-look Cup has meaning

30 April 2023 0 comments

So the Premiership Cup is to remuster in yet another guise this autumn as a joint competition with the Championship sides which I would greet […]

We need to rebuild in the north

30 April 2023 1 comment

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL A radical move to bring together Sale Sharks with Newcastle Falcons – and potentially Doncaster or Leeds Tykes – to create a […]

Premiership-Championship Cup confirmed

24 April 2023 0 comments

The addition of Championship teams to the Premiership Rugby Cup, first reported in The Rugby Paper on 9th April, has been confirmed by Premiership Rugby, […]

Atkinson enjoying life at Gloucester

23 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Seb Atkinson is ending the season on a high having feared his career might be over just as it had started following […]

Exit for Wilson

23 April 2023 0 comments

Mark Wilson will leave Newcastle Falcons’ coaching team at the end of the current season, as revealed on Blindside earlier this month. The 33-year-old Cumbrian, […]

McGuigan set for coach job

23 April 2023 0 comments

Sale winger Byron McGuigan will retire at the end of the season and move on to the club’s coaching staff. The 33-year-old joined the Sharks […]

I’m quicker, stronger and better, says Lynagh

23 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Louis Lynagh claims he has returned from his injury nightmare “quicker, stronger and better than ever”. And the young winger is determined […]

Sanderson backs his ‘squadfather’

23 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson says Sale will be a different proposition in the Premiership play-offs than they were two years ago in his first […]

Whitten keen to finish on a high

23 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Exeter may be the underdogs in next Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final against holders La Rochelle in Bordeaux, but Ian Whitten says recent […]

Lawrence on fire as Bath find their mojo

23 April 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ………………….. 35pts Tries: Murley 6, Wallace 23, Smith 35, Gjaitema 55, Dombrandt 70 Conversions: Smith 7, 24, 36, 56, 71 Bath […]

Bayliss: We are proud of our effort

23 April 2023 0 comments

Bath back rower Josh Bayliss, who came on early in the first half, felt their win against Harlequins showed that things were coming together at […]

Simmonds lands late winner to stun Bears

23 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Exeter ………………………….. 22pts Tries: Whitten 25, Ewers 36, Iosefa-Scott 70 Conversions: J Simmonds 26, 71 Penalties: J Simmonds 79 Bristol ……………………………21pts Tries: […]

We made it far too easy for Exeter, admits coach Lam

23 April 2023 0 comments

Pat Lam was left with a sour taste in his mouth after watching his Bears fail to finish the job off when they had 14-man […]

Sale take hard route to land a home semi

23 April 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Gloucester ………………….. 22pts Tries: Ludlow 47, Rees-Zammit 56, May 80+2 Conversions: Hastings 48, 57 Penalties: Hastings 31 Sale ……………………………… 25pts Tries: J-L […]

Sharks told to get on fun bus

23 April 2023 0 comments

ALEX Sanderson, the Sale director of rugby, praised his side’s guts – then promised a big night out on the bus back to Manchester. Sale […]

Collins double keeps Saints in the running

23 April 2023 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Newcastle……………………… 5pts Tries: Radwan 4 Northampton………………. 66pts Tries: Mitchell 8, 57, Collins 15, 29; Augustus 40, Hill 44, Smith 53, Graham 59, […]

Dowson lines up Leicester friendly

23 April 2023 0 comments

Tom Collins is hoping he has not made his final appearance for Northampton. The popular long-serving winger, whose brace against Newcastle took him to 50 […]

Irish must be sharp, says Van Rensburg

23 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Saracens v London Irish Today. Kick-off 3pm, StoneX Stadium PUTTING a kitchen accident to one side, Benhard Janse van Rensburg has […]

McCall: We need to hit our peak form for the play-offs

23 April 2023 0 comments

Saracens can secure first place in the league today but all DoR Mark McCall really cares about is hitting peak form for the play-offs. Sarries […]

Old rivals set for spicy showpiece

23 April 2023 0 comments

Premiership Cup Final By ROB COLE PREVIEW… Newport v Cardiff Today, kick-off 3pm Principality Stadium CLUB games in Wales don’t come any bigger than Cardiff […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]