Premiership

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

‘Worcester as a rugby club will be as competitive as ever’ – Kidney

7 September 2022 1 comment

London Irish boss Declan Kidney has said he sympathises with Worcester’s situation, but will be approaching their opening fixture like any other when the two […]

World Cup carrot will inspire us – George

4 September 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Jamie George admits it will be “difficult” pushing thoughts of France to the back of his mind but hopes the World Cup […]

Sanderson: Ford’s best days to come

4 September 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Star man: George Ford, pictured playing for Leicester, has joined Sale PICTURES: Getty Images George Ford has “the best years ahead of […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Bath

4 September 2022 1 comment

Head coach: Johann van Graan Captain: Ben Spencer Ground: The Recreation Ground Capacity: 14,509 PREDICTED FINISH: 11TH Johann van Graan, Bath‘s new head coach, is […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Bristol

4 September 2022 2 comments

Director of Rugby: Pat Lam Captain: Steven Luatua Ground: Ashton Gate Capacity: 27,000 PREDICTED FINISH: 8TH Pat Lam’s glass is always half full. Even after […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Exeter

4 September 2022 1 comment

Director of Rugby: Rob Baxter Captains: Jack Yeandle/Joe Simmonds Ground: Sandy Park Capacity: 14,100 PREDICTED FINISH: 6TH The Chiefs missed out on the Premiership final […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Gloucester

4 September 2022 1 comment

Head Coach: George Skivington Captain: Lewis Ludlow Ground: Kingsholm Capacity: 16,115 PREDICTED FINISH: 3RD When George Skivington arrived at Gloucester during the Covid summer, the […]

Dombrandt urges Quins to aim high

4 September 2022 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY No.8 Alex Dombrandt admits Harlequins did not set the bar high enough last season and got trapped into thinking they could repeat […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Harlequins

4 September 2022 2 comments

Team-by-team guide by Paul Rees Head Coach: Tabai Matson Captain: Stephan Lewies Ground: Twickenham Stoop Capacity: 14,816 PREDICTED FINISH: 2ND Quins felt they were not […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Leicester

4 September 2022 0 comments

Head Coach: Steve Borthwick Captain: Hanro Liebenberg Ground: Welford Road Capacity: 25,849 PREDICTED FINISH: 4TH The Tigers clawed their way from the bottom to the […]

‘We must build on what we achieved’

4 September 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Dan Cole dismisses suggestions Tigers enter the new season as favourites in the same manner he deals with each scrum or ruck…head […]

Big brother Creevy happy to claim Irish can be champions

4 September 2022 1 comment

Agustin Creevy is as bullish with his predictions for London Irish’s title chances as he is when taking the field, claiming: “We can be champions.” […]

Team-by-team Premiership previews: London Irish

4 September 2022 0 comments

Director of Rugby: Declan Kidney Captain: Matt Rogerson Ground: Gtech Community Stadium Capacity: 17,250 PREDICTED FINISH: 7TH The Exiles were involved in precious few dull […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Newcastle

4 September 2022 3 comments

Head Coach: Dave Walder Captain: Will Welch Ground: Kingston Park Capacity: 10,200 PREDICTED FINISH: 12TH The Falcons are getting used to life without Dean Richards […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Northampton

4 September 2022 0 comments

Director of Rugby: Phil Dowson Captain: Lewis Ludlam Ground: Franklin’s Gardens Capacity: 15,200 PREDICTED FINISH: 5TH Northampton have tended to yo-yo in recent seasons, not […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Sale Sharks

4 September 2022 0 comments

Director of Rugby: Alex Sanderson Captain: Jono Ross Ground: AJ Bell Stadium Capacity: 12,000 PREDICTED FINISH: 9th Salfrord is no longer little South Africa. Faf […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Saracens

4 September 2022 0 comments

Director of Rugby: Mark McCall Captain: Owen Farrell Ground: StoneX Stadium Capacity: 10,500 PREDICTED FINISH: 1ST Saracens returned to the Premiership after their vacation in […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Wasps

4 September 2022 1 comment

Head coach: Lee Blackett Captain: Joe Launchbury Ground: Coventry Building Society Arena Capacity: 32,753 PREDICTED FINISH: 10TH Recruitment was put on hold for a few […]

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Worcester Warriors

4 September 2022 0 comments

Director of Rugby: Steve Diamond Captain: Ted Hill Ground: Sixways Stadium Capacity: 11,499 PREDICTED FINISH: 13TH Steve Diamond’s bid to become the first Worcester coach […]

Salary cap is forcing clubs to invest in youth policy

4 September 2022 0 comments

PAUL REES Worcester’s plight at a time when the salary cap has been reduced by some 20 per cent to £5m a year has reinforced […]

Saints agree new deal with Freeman

4 September 2022 0 comments

England wing Tommy Freeman, 21, has signed a new “long-term” contract at Northampton Saints. Freeman, who can also operate at full-back, scored 14 tries in […]

Ravens thumped as Gage turns on the magic

4 September 2022 0 comments

Premiership By LLOYD PHILLIPS Aberavon……… 45 Bridgend……….. 14 ABERAVON ran in six tries as they thrashed Bridgend at the Talbot Athletic Ground to lay down […]

Jones leads by example to fire Llandovery

4 September 2022 0 comments

Premiership By JAMES BEYNON Carmarthen………….. 3 Llandovery…………… 9 LLANDOVERY edged out Carmarthen Quins to claim a hard-fought win in a ferocious West Wales derby. The […]

Price is right for runaway Llanelli

4 September 2022 0 comments

Premiership By STEFFAN THOMAS Llanelli…………………46 Swansea……………..26 LLANELLI got their Premiership campaign off to a flying start with a bonus-point victory over arch-rivals Swansea in a […]

Knoyle sparkles to give Phillips ideal start

4 September 2022 1 comment

Premiership By SIMON ROBERTS Merthyr………………..22 RGC……………………….. 15 ROWLAND Phillips kicked off his tenure as new Merthyr boss with a hard-fought victory over RGC at the […]

Lloyd helps Steelmen turn tables

4 September 2022 1 comment

Premiership By LEANNE THOMAS Newport……………….22 Ebbw Vale……………25 EBBW Vale caught Newport cold on the opening weekend of the season with a stunning victory. Newport are […]

Fish catches Ponty cold with 13-point tally

4 September 2022 1 comment

Premiership By SIMON ROBERTS Pontypridd………….. 12 Cardiff………………….26 WILY old Dan Fish proved the difference as Premiership champions Cardiff saw off rivals Pontypridd. The veteran navigated […]

Walder sets his sights on playing entertaining rugby

4 September 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Dave Walder spent 10 years working under Dean Richards but is now in charge at Newcastle and determined to put his stamp […]

Mercer to join Gloucester for 2023/24 season

31 August 2022 0 comments

Gloucester have sealed the signing of Zach Mercer, who will join the Cherry and Whites at the beginning of next season. It ends a summer […]

Upping salary cap is not the answer

28 August 2022 3 comments

Colin Boag Last week was when the Premiership chickens started to come home to roost. From a purely rugby perspective, Worcester Warriors have been the […]

Wounded Warriors won’t be replaced

28 August 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE The 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership regular season is likely to remain a 26-round season – even if Worcester are thrown out. The Warriors’ […]

Rogerson: Our Henry will need protection

28 August 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Henry Arundell’s stunning rise up the rugby ladder and onto the international stage means the young England flyer will need some special […]

Malins can make Eddie think again, says Wyles

28 August 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Max Malins can start the new Premiership campaign on a special World Cup mission and make it impossible for Eddie Jones to […]

Matthews raring to go with Quins

28 August 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Heading home: Charlie Matthews, pictured playing for Wasps, is heading back to The Stoop PICTURES: Getty Images Charlie Matthews is hoping to […]

Bath turn sights on du Preez brothers

28 August 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Bath are the latest club to run the rule over Sale Sharks twins Dan, […]

Return to Japan on the list for Goode

28 August 2022 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Alex Goode is being lined up for another stint in Japan when his contract with former Premiership and European […]

Financial grief puts sport in a sorry state

28 August 2022 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT A few days ago, the proposed transfer of the Senegalese footballer Ismaila Sarr from Watford to Aston Villa disappeared down the same hole […]

Potter hits high notes as Tigers march on

28 August 2022 2 comments

Newcastle ……..28pts Leicester ……….42pts By BEN JAYCOCK Harry Potter scored a hat-trick as Leicester Tigers ended their pre-season in style with an emphatic win over […]

Bath off to a flier with a blitz of Cov

28 August 2022 0 comments

Coventry …………..7pts Bath ………………..38pts By SAM KERR Bath scored six tries in their first match of pre-season as head of rugby Johann van Graan’s rein […]

Wasps pack a perfect 10

28 August 2022 0 comments

Doncaster …………0pts Wasps …………….56pts By DAN WILLIAMS Touchdown: Matteo Minozz goes in for his second try PICTURES: Gareth Lyons Wasps kicked off their pre-season campaign […]

The game paying too much for its players

28 August 2022 1 comment

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Top gun: Semi Radradra is a marquee player for Bristol PICTURE: Getty Images After this week’s […]

Worcester Warriors finally release statement over administration rumours

22 August 2022 0 comments

Worcester Warriors‘ owners have released long-awaited a statement, after a day filled with speculation regarding the future of their club. The statement did not deny […]

Ludlow: Three ops and I’m good to go

21 August 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Lewis Ludlow feels like a new man. The Gloucester captain had three operations in as many weeks after the end of last […]

Johnson glad to be a Wasp

21 August 2022 0 comments

Ashley Johnson has left his role as player-coach at Birmingham Moseley to take forward his coaching career with his former side Wasps. Johnson, who made […]

Chiefs confirm Sio signing

21 August 2022 1 comment

Exeter Chiefs confirmed the signing of Australia loose-head Scott Sio on a “long-term deal”. Sio, 30, has won 71 caps and started the Wallabies’ 2015 […]

Van Zyl has his sights set on the World Cup

21 August 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Seeing Billy and Mako Vunipola battle their way back into Eddie Jones’ good books has encouraged Ivan van Zyl to keep his […]

Painful budget cuts are for greater good

21 August 2022 0 comments

COLIN BOAG Still looking for a club: Former England full-back Mike Brown left Newcastle at the end of last season PICTURE: Getty Images The Rugby […]

Exiles waiting in wings for Chick

21 August 2022 2 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE London Irish are waiting in the wings to potentially move for Newcastle Falcons No.8 Callum Chick if there is a last-minute hitch […]

We know what went wrong last season, says Lewies

21 August 2022 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Stephan Lewies claims Harlequins “know where we went wrong” last season and is confident they can snatch the Premiership title back from […]

Worcester aim to re-assure fans with statement

18 August 2022 0 comments

Worcester Warriors have aimed to re-assure fans as the club released a statement clarifying that they are in discussions with HMRC about their tax liability. […]

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