Premiership

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

Simpson, 34, calls it quits

11 December 2022 0 comments

Former England scrum-half Joe Simpson has retired from professional rugby, aged 34. Simpson, who played six games for Sale on a short-term deal this season, […]

Chiefs find their form to blast out a Euro warning

11 December 2022 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Castres………………………….. 12pts Penalties: Dumora 22, 30, 34, 40 Exeter…………………………… 27pts Tries: S Simmonds 19, Ewers 27, Maunder 44, Woodburn 60 Conversions: J […]

Chapman comes on to break the gloom

11 December 2022 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester…….22pts Tries: Varney 24, Tuisue 63, Socino 68, Chapman 76 Conversions: Carreras 76 Bordeaux………. 17pts Tries: Falatea 2, Willis 38 Conversions: Holmes […]

Springbok Louw to add his insights at Bath

11 December 2022 1 comment

By TOM BRADSHAW Springbok World Cup hero Francois Louw is making a return to Bath to advise the team on match days and inject some […]

Ringfenced Premiership has become boring at bottom of the table – Lane

6 December 2022 0 comments

Bristol full-back Rich Lane is keen to see relegation and promotion return to English rugby, but only if a fairer funding system is brought into […]

Exeter reach semis after high-scoring win

5 December 2022 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs………..50 Tries: Feyi-Woboso 4, Cordero 13, 17; Tuima 26, 43; Frost 62, 69 Conversions: Jenkins 4, 14, 27, 44, 63, 70 Penalties: Jenkins 24 […]

Not again! Chiefs lose star player to France

4 December 2022 1 comment

By NEIL FISSLER Exeter Chiefs are this week set to confirm the player drain away from Sandy Park will continue with England and Lions hooker […]

Lloyd’s the man for Wales at 10 – Madigan

4 December 2022 0 comments

By SIMON ROBERTS Bristol playmaker Ioan Lloyd has been tipped as a future successor to Dan Biggar as Welsh rugby’s main man at No.10. The […]

Simmons: Arundell will be brilliant for a long time

4 December 2022 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Speed king: Henry Arundell playing for England Henry Arundell has the mental strength to battle through his lengthy injury despair and return […]

We need to improve discipline – Proctor

4 December 2022 3 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Matt Proctor is as frustrated as the next person at Northampton’s Jekyll & Hyde start to the season. Going into Round 12 […]

Carreras weaves his magic to stun Saints

4 December 2022 1 comment

By TOM BRADSHAW Gloucester…………………… 34pts Tries: Singleton 13, Harris 25, Carreras 36, Balmain 60 Conversions: Carreras 14, 26, 37, 61 Penalties: Carreras 70, 79 Northampton………………… […]

Dowson: We didn’t convert pressure

4 December 2022 0 comments

Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson was frustrated by his side’s wayward discipline and leaky defence. “We missed a lot of tackles and didn’t turn […]

Irish work hard to get back on track

4 December 2022 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER London Irish………………… 39pts Tries: Stokes 9, Jackson 54, Cinti 59, 75; Coleman 71 Conversions: Jackson 10, 55, 72, 76 Penalties: Jackson 20, […]

We need to build on this – Rogerson

4 December 2022 0 comments

London Irish captain Matt Rogerson, making his 100th League appearance, said: “The last few results have got away from us a little. We lost the […]

Quins hold on to make it four wins in a row

4 December 2022 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Bath……………………………….. 13pts Tries: Butt 42 Conversions: Bailey 43 Harlequins……………………. 19pts Penalties: Bailey 11, Francis 56 Tries: Dombrandt 6, Beard 23, David 53 […]

We had the chance to take that one, says frustrated van Graan

4 December 2022 0 comments

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan rued his side’s missed opportunities. He said: “It was frustrating. That last few minutes we were over the […]

MacGinty misses out as Tigers hold nerve

4 December 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Bristol ………………………….. 26pts Tries: Radradra 4, Piutau 24, Byrne 64, Ibitoye 75 Conversions: Sheedy 25, MacGinty 65, 76 Leicester …………………….. 26pts Tries: […]

Bristol close in on deal with Oghre

4 December 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Wanted: Oghre Bristol Bears are set to agree to a deal with former England under-20 […]

Bath and Racing to battle over Russell

4 December 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE Racing 92 have stepped up their bid to keep Scotland ace Finn Russell in the French capital next season amid interest from […]

Rugby set to be caught up in another legal drama

4 December 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Rugby is set for another legal drama with a growing group of players preparing to launch a demand for compensation over the […]

Dunn: It hurts me so much to lose

4 December 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Bath warrior Tom Dunn concedes his chances of an England recall in time for the 2023 World Cup are slim despite his […]

Skosan: We need to get flying start

4 December 2022 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Power runner: Courtnall Skosan playing for Northampton PICTURE: Getty Images Courtnall Skosan is banking on fortress Franklin’s to help Northampton Saints scratch […]

Hougaard joins Sarries as injury cover

1 December 2022 0 comments

Francois Hougaard has signed for Saracens on a short-term deal as injury cover on the wing, less than a week after The Rugby Paper reported […]

Cokanasiga back as Bath host Harlequins

1 December 2022 0 comments

Joe Cokanasiga is one of four changes as Bath look to keep their fine Premiership form going against third-placed Harlequins. Cokanasiga returns from England duty, […]

Sweeney ‘living in ivory tower’, MPs hear

27 November 2022 2 comments

By SAM JACKSON RFU chief Bill Sweeney has been accused of living in an “ivory tower” and asked by MPs whether he should be considering […]

Falcons cracking the beer business

27 November 2022 2 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE For four Newcastle players there is an extra incentive for winning matches – more of their beer gets drunk. Can after can […]

Future of Leicester Tigers is strong says Borthwick

27 November 2022 0 comments

Leicester’s defence of the Premiership title may have got off to a slow start, but Steve Borthwick believes the future of the club is set […]

Sanderson: Why do Springboks ignore Rob?

27 November 2022 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE Sale points-machine: Rob du Preez Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson is surprised that South Africa ignored Premiership points-machine Rob du […]

Care keeps his head to steer Quins home

27 November 2022 1 comment

By NICK POWELL Harlequins……………………. 21pts Tries: Care 7, 37; Lamb 14 Conversions: Allan 8, 15, 37 Gloucester……………………. 12pts Tries: Morgan 21, Socino 34 Conversions: Carreras […]

‘We are making the same mistakes’

27 November 2022 0 comments

Frustrated Gloucester head coach George Skivington urged his side to stop making the same mistake of giving their opponents an early lead. After watching his […]

Sanderson on a high as Sharks halt Bears

27 November 2022 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale………………………………. 25pts Tries: R du Preez 10, Roebuck 25, JL du Preez 68 Conversions: R du Preez 26, 69 Penalties: R du […]

Lam: We created a lot of chances

27 November 2022 0 comments

Bristol’s defeat, slipping away from being 20-18 ahead with barely 12 minutes to play, ensures their equal worse run of form in the Premiership. The […]

Falcons keep nerve as Chiefs lose again

27 November 2022 2 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Newcastle……………………. 24pts Tries: McGuigan 6, Carreras 19, Pepper 40 Conversions: Connon 7, 20, 41 Penalties: Connon 61 Exeter……………………………. 21pts Tries: van Heerden […]

Walder: Rousing speech set tone

27 November 2022 0 comments

Falcons director of rugby Dave Walder revealed how a rousing speech from club legend Gary Armstrong helped set the tone for Newcastle’s win. The Scotland […]

Bath sink as Exeter weather the storm

27 November 2022 0 comments

By TOM BRADSHAW Exeter…………………………… 25pts Tries: Tuima 20, Davis 37, 60 Conversions: Jenkins 21, 38 Penalties: Jenkins 6, 18 Bath………………………………. 22pts Tries: Richards 40, Harris […]

Sarries aim to put on a show

27 November 2022 0 comments

Preview Saracens v Tel Aviv Heat Today. Kick-off 12.15pm SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall has named an exciting 26- man squad for today’s clash […]

Quins confirm Launchbury signing

21 November 2022 0 comments

Harlequins have confirmed the signing of Joe Launchbury for the 2023/24 season. It was first reported that Quins were set to sign Launchbury on The […]

Slater Cup kicks off on Christmas Eve

20 November 2022 0 comments

Gloucester and Leicester are to contest the Slater Cup – a trophy named after the sides’ former lock Ed Slater, who was diagnosed with motor […]

Oghre lines up move to Leicester

20 November 2022 0 comments

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Gabriel Oghre, above, has become the latest former Wasps player to find himself a new club after agreeing […]

London Irish fighting to keep hold of Jackson

20 November 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER London Irish are fighting to keep former Ireland international fly-half Paddy Jackson in West London next season as they […]

Rees-Zammit back on the wing for Gloucester

20 November 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Louis Rees-Zammit has been used at full-back by Wales in their last two Tests, but he will be back on the wing […]

Exiles ace Parton set for Saracens

20 November 2022 0 comments

London Irish full-back Tom Parton will join Saracens at the end of the season. The 24-year-old has played more than 50 games for the club […]

Jansen takes charge as Saracens cave in

20 November 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Saracens………………………… 8pts Try: Elliott 20 Penalty: Elliott 35 Leicester……………………… 45pts Tries: Ramage 11, Jansen 32 43; Henderson 36, van Wyk 66, Horton […]

Hotshot Atkinson sparkles for Tigers

20 November 2022 1 comment

Brett Deacon praised Charlie Atkinson after the ex-Wasps man sparkled in his first start for Tigers and helped engineer the easy win. Fly-half Atkinson, 21, […]

Waldouck happy as Gloucester fight hard

20 November 2022 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester…………………… 38pts Tries: Morris 1, 49, Clement 21, Knight 32, Atkinson 39, Blake 72 Conversions: Barton 21, 32, 39, 72 Bristol……………………………. 31pts […]

Irish: We threw in young players

20 November 2022 1 comment

Bristol coach Mark Irish was buoyed by his side’s competitive performance. He said: “We came with the mindset of winning and we asked for physicality […]

Ferguson gets the best from Aussie duo

20 November 2022 1 comment

By TOM VICKERS Newcastle……………………. 28pts Tries: Blamire 27, Kerr 36, Pepper 39, Qorowale 73 Conversions: Schoeman 27, 36, 39, Thomas 73 Northampton………………… 31pts Tries: Irvine […]

Saints hooker Smith pleased with gritty performance

20 November 2022 1 comment

Northampton hooker Robbie Smith was proud of his side’s ‘gritty’ display in ensuring they finished strongly after giving Falcons a let-off. “It was the story […]

Birch makes sure hard work pays off

20 November 2022 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Sale………………………………. 40pts Tries: Birch 15, 55; Postlethwaite 42, Caine 65, Wilkinson 71, 80 Conversions: Curtis 16, 43, 66, 73, 80+1 Harlequins……………………. 19pts […]