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_id] => 1 [season_name] => Premiership Regular Season [season_slug] => premiership-regular-season [season_start] => 2022 [season_end] => 2023 [wp_league_id] => 77 [status] => 1 )

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 […]