Premiership

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

Townsend in line to take over at Tigers

15 January 2023 1 comment

By NEIL FISSLER Leicester Tigers have held talks with Scotland boss Gregor Townsend about taking over at Welford Road next season. Townsend, 49, who won […]

Skivington quiet on Farrell’s high tackle

15 January 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES George Skivington has put the controversy of the defeat to Saracens in the last Premiership round behind him, refusing to make an […]

Ramm enjoying the high life as a Saint

15 January 2023 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE Regular visits to Bondi Beach and back flips used to be the norm but now James Ramm is enjoying having his feet […]

Lam: 11-team Premiership works well

15 January 2023 2 comments

By PAUL REES Bristol boss: Pat Lam PAT Lam wants to see the Premiership remain an 11-club tournament amid calls for the number to be […]

Classy Leinster put Gloucester to sword

15 January 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ……………………14pts Tries: Penalty 25, 64 Leinster……………………….. 49pts Tries: Larmour 4, Ala’alatoa 11, Osborne 27, Doris 40, Keenan 46, van der Flier […]

A red for Slade but Chiefs in good shape

15 January 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Blue Bulls ……………………. 39pts Tries: Louw 15, Kriel 24, Vermaak 36, Simelane 42 , 70; Grobbelaar 51 Conversions: Smith 15, 43, Goosen […]

Sale stretch gap in second with superb wet weather win

8 January 2023 0 comments

Harlequins…………….16 Tries: Marchant 42, David 74 Penalties: Allan 5, 31 Sale Sharks……………24 Tries: O’Flaherty 18, Du Preez 24, van der Merwe 53, Wiese 63 Conversions: […]

Chessum still keen to make England mark

8 January 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Ollie Chessum would love to continue working with Steve Borthwick in the England set up but says his immediate focus is on […]

McCall: No contact over Peel so far

8 January 2023 0 comments

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall says there has been no contact from England with his scrum coach Ian Peel amid speculation that he is […]

Haywood out to end his days on a high at Saints

8 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Mike Haywood is one of Northampton’s longest serving players and hopes to finish his career at the club having graduated through its […]

Maunder: French leavers a big blow

8 January 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Exeter scrum-half Sam Maunder admits the departure of their England stars at the end of the season will be a big loss […]

New Year honour for chairman Rowe

8 January 2023 1 comment

Exeter chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe has been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to rugby and to the […]

Bath hope Russell can be catalyst for success

8 January 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Finn Russell has “bought into the Bath dream” according to the man hoping the mercurial Scotsman can help transform the struggling West […]

Ruthless Chiefs are too sharp for Saints

8 January 2023 2 comments

By PAUL REES Exeter ………………………….. 35pts Tries: S Simmonds 2, Woodburn 15, Cowan-Dickie 28, 44; Slade 56 Conversions: J Simmonds 3, 16, 29, 45, 57 […]

Hooker’s injury a scare for England

8 January 2023 2 comments

Luke Cowan-Dickie gave Steve Borthwick an early injury worry when he limped off in the second-half after rolling his ankle. “I felt something pop but […]

Carreras helps to demolish Leicester

8 January 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Newcastle…………………… 45pts Tries: Carreras 13, 35, 37; Chick 27, Blamire 52, Moroni 74 Conversions: Connon 14, 36, 38, 28, 53, 75 Penalties: […]

Walder: We flew out of the blocks

8 January 2023 0 comments

Newcastle Falcons boss Dave Walder was understandably delighted with his team’s performance. “That’s three wins in our last three home league games, and against three […]

Borthwick sees the two sides of Farrell

8 January 2023 0 comments

By TOM BRADSHAW Gloucester …………………… 16pts Tries: Thorley 16 Conversions: Carreras 17 Penalties: Carreras 36, 45, 73 Saracens ……………………… 19pts Tries: Malins 7, Van Zyl […]

McCall: We competed and scrapped for everything all the way

8 January 2023 0 comments

Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby, hailed his side’s tenacity as they extended their lead at the summit of the Premiership. “We competed and […]

Flannery: We need to get back on right track

8 January 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Harlequins v Sale Today. Kick-off 3pm, Twickenham Stoop Harlequins coach Jerry Flannery is looking for a reaction today following back-to-back Premiership […]

Sharks keen to build on record win over Leicester

8 January 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Fit and firing: Manu Tuilagi caused Tigers problems LAST season’s thumping 36-14 win over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop – only their […]

Home comforts key to Irish challenge

8 January 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… London Irish v Bristol Today. Kick-off 3pm, Brentford Community Stadium Benhard Janse van Rensburg believes home comforts can get London Irish […]

Rejuvenated Bears believe they can still make playoffs

8 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Leading the way: Ellis Genge scores in the 40-36 win over Irish in September BRISTOL exorcised a ghost when they defeated Harlequins […]

Potent Du Preez fires Sharks past champions

8 January 2023 1 comment

Sale ………………..40pts Tries: O’Flaherty 34, McIntyre 52, Penalty try 66, Ashman 76, R du Preez 79, Conversions: R du Preez 35, 53 Penalties: R du […]

Double for Ramm as Saints hit feeble Quins for six

8 January 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton ………………. 46pts Tries: Waller 3, Ramm 16, 40; Salakaia-Loto 53, Furbank 68, Hutchinson 74 Conversions: Smith 4, 17, Furbank 54, 69, […]

Super Spencer takes gritty Bath off the bottom

8 January 2023 0 comments

Bath ………………. 24pts Tries: Lawrence 12, Hill 47, Spencer 55 Conversions: Bailey 13, 48, 56 Penalties: Bailey 78 Newcastle…….. 16pts Tries: Blamire 26 Conversions: Connon […]

Carreras on target to cause more pain for Irish

8 January 2023 0 comments

Gloucester ……… 8pts Tries: Alemanno 10 Penalties: Carreras 80 London Irish …… 6pts Penalties: Jackson 27, 71 SANTIAGO Carreras built on his growing status as […]

Farrell back to his best as Sarries ease past Chiefs

8 January 2023 0 comments

Saracens ……….35pts Tries: Christie 9, Maitland 22, Riccioni 39, Lewington 71, Tompkins 80 Conversions: Farrell 10, 40 Penalties: Farrell 44, 49 Exeter ……………… 3pts Penalties: […]

Irish breeze past Bath to reach final four

8 January 2023 2 comments

By NICK POWELL London Irish ….26pts Tries: Cornish 19, 43 Scragg 29, Miller 75 Conversions: Atkins 20, 30, 44 Bath …………………. 7pts Tries : Ellis […]

Leicester ring changes as they look to bounce back at Newcastle

6 January 2023 0 comments

Following last week’s thrashing by Sale, Leicester make seven changes in the hope that a win away against Newcastle will propel them into 2023 play-off […]

Nowell in and Cowan-Dickie captains for Chiefs clash against Saints

6 January 2023 0 comments

Jack Nowell is included despite speculation over his future, and departing Luke Cowan-Dickie is named as captain as Exeter host Northampton. Nowell is named in […]

Tuisue out of crucial top four clash with Saracens

5 January 2023 0 comments

The suspension of Albert Tuisue has forced Gloucester into one of six changes to their team as they face league leaders Saracens. Meanwhile Saracens make […]

Australian deal for Wasps flier Kibirige

31 December 2022 0 comments

By NEIL FISSLER Heading south: Zach Kibirige has agreed a 12-month deal with Western Force in Perth PICTURE: Getty Images Former Wasps flyer Zach Kibirige […]

Marler faces long ban for insulting opponent

31 December 2022 0 comments

Joe Marler faces a lengthy ban and possibly the end of his England career after he insulted an opponent’s hospital-bound mother in Tuesday’s game between […]

Hill has his sights set on England

31 December 2022 1 comment

By PAUL REES Paul Hill has given himself a New Year’s resolution of getting the ball in his hands more as he looks to get […]

‘I want warriors like Sam at Bath’

31 December 2022 0 comments

Having secured the services of Sam Underhill on a new contract, Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan wouldn’t change the openside flanker for the […]

Every game is big, says McCall as Chiefs await

31 December 2022 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE For Mark McCall, Saturday’s encounter with Exeter Chiefs is just another big match in pursuit of a play-off place. Recent history dictates […]

No bigger test than Saracens – Nowell

31 December 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Jack Nowell put his injury frustrations behind him in 2022 and is looking for more of the same in a New Year […]

Wigglesworth: I love challenge

31 December 2022 0 comments

Moving up: Richard Wigglesworth Richard Wigglesworth says there will be no ripping up of Leicester’s foundations after taking over as head coach from Steve Borthwick. […]

We need to get moving – Baxter

31 December 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Saracens v Exeter Saturday December 31. Kick-off 3pm, StoneX Stadium Rob Baxter believes the next month will be crucial for Exeter […]

Skivington: We beat ourselves up over Leicester

31 December 2022 1 comment

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Gloucester v London Irish Saturday December 31. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm Limped off: Rees-Zammit GEORGE Skivington hopes the Kingsholm factor will take […]

Walder delight as Carreras finds his feet to lift Falcons

31 December 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Bath v Newcastle Saturday December 31. Kick-off 3pm, The Rec Top form: Mateo Carreras scores the winner against Sale NEWCASTLE coach […]

Lawes back and ready to rumble

31 December 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Northampton v Harlequins Sunday January 1. Kick-off 3pm, Franklin’s Gardens Key player: Courtney Lawes in action for Northampton PICTURES: Getty Images […]

First defeat for Saracens as Irish come good at last

31 December 2022 0 comments

London Irish ….29pts Tries: Hassell-Collins 1, Cunningham-South 77 Conversions: Jackson 3, 79 Penalties: Jackson 19, 27, 30, 44, 57 Saracens ………. 20pts Tries: Pifeleti 40, […]

Bristol stand firm as heroic defence keeps Quins out

31 December 2022 0 comments

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Harlequins ………………..12pts Tries: Bassett 19, Murley 57 Conversions: Allan 59 Bristol ………………………..15pts Tries: Thacker 15, Ibitoye 38 Conversions: MacGinty 16 Penalties: […]

Resurgent Falcons fight back as Sale lose discipline

31 December 2022 0 comments

Newcastle…….. 20pts Tries: Carreras 54, Stuart 61 Conversions: Connon 55, 62 Penalties: Connon 42, 68 Sale ……………….. 14pts Tries: Ashman 10, O’Flaherty 24 Conversions: R […]

Chiefs keep their cool to hold off late Bath revival

31 December 2022 1 comment

Exeter ……………. 20pts Tries: Ewers 15, Slade 30 Conversions: J Simmonds 16, 31 Penalties: J Simmonds 1, 40 Bath ……………….. 15pts Tries: Cokanasiga 11, Annett […]

Wigglesworth off to a flier as Leicester cruise home

31 December 2022 1 comment

@therugbypaper Leicester ……….28pts Tries: Porter 43, Watson 57, 65 Conversions: Burns 44, 58 Penalties: Burns 12, 19, 53 Gloucester ……. 13pts Tries: Tuisue 41, May […]

Courageous Bears end losing run at The Stoop

27 December 2022 0 comments

Harlequins 12-15 Bristol Bears Bristol Bears produced an impressive defensive display to win a first game in eight as Harlequins missed out on the chance […]