Premiership

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

Whirlwind year for ex-Quin Harry Barlow, now starting anew with the Free Jacks

13 June 2021 2 comments

HARRY Barlow thought his rugby career was over last season following his release from Harlequins, with the country in lockdown. So former England U19 winger […]

Wasps 31-38 Leicester: Wasps pay for their spirit of adventure

13 June 2021 1 comment

LEICESTER outstayed Wasps in an all-action finale to clinch a European Champions Cup place next season and reward Steve Borthwick’s squad improvements. Second-half tries from […]

Harry Wells is the epitome of Borthwick’s new Tigers

13 June 2021 3 comments

HARRY Wells has enjoyed his breakthrough season at the age of 27, an almost ever-present in an improving Leicester side the second row has come […]

Worcester legend Chris Pennell to depart after 14 seasons

10 June 2021 1 comment

The 34-year-old will be ‘exploring other opportunities’ once his contract expires at the end of the month at Sixways

James Stokes driven by imposter syndrome at London Irish

10 June 2021 0 comments

The ex-Nottingham and Coventry back didn’t feel worthy of being in the Premiership when he first joined the Exiles, but that soon changed

Pat Lam ‘welcomes’ inquiry into fiery Leicester-Bristol climax

9 June 2021 0 comments

The RFU have not yet confirmed details of an inquiry but Lam has said he is ‘over the moon’ there will be one after receiving an email

Harlequins list players who will be leaving this summer

9 June 2021 0 comments

Nathan Earle, Ben Tapuai and Tex Cavubati among the names who will leave the Stoop at the end of June

Matt Banahan posts farewell to rugby after Gloucester’s final game is cancelled

9 June 2021 0 comments

The Gloucester and ex-Bath wing announced back in November that this season would be his last in rugby as a player

Saints wing Ollie Sleightholme leads charge for Vesty’s young guns

9 June 2021 1 comment

OLLIE Sleightholme has the mental strength as well as the blistering speed to thrive on the top international stage. Northampton may have missed out on […]

Season finale between Gloucester and Worcester cancelled due to Covid-19

8 June 2021 0 comments

This weekend’s match at Sixways has been called off

Ex-Saints flanker Ben Nutley announces retirement at Coventry

8 June 2021 1 comment

The Coventry back row explains his feelings around making his retirement call at the age of 29

Rugby league ace Kevin Sinfield may join Leicester Tigers

6 June 2021 3 comments

Could the Leeds Rhinos director of rugby join Steve Borthwick’s staff at Welford Road?

RFU will get backing for 14-club Premiership

6 June 2021 2 comments

The Premiership looks set to have a three-year moratorium on relegation to the Championship

Steve Diamond in range of Gloucester and Bath

6 June 2021 0 comments

The former Sale director of rugby is planning a move down south

Northampton Saints fly-half Dan Biggar wanted by Toulouse

EXCLUSIVE: Lions duo Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes wanted by Toulouse

6 June 2021 2 comments

EUROPEAN champions Toulouse are looking to make a double swoop on Northampton Saints to take Lions pair Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes to the Top […]

Sam Matavesi previews Northampton versus Exeter

Preview: Sam Matavesi lies in wait for his Lion pal Luke

6 June 2021 0 comments

Sam Matavesi will go head-to-head with Luke Cowan-Dickie at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday

High-tempo Quins’ better fit for Luke Wallace than Tigers

6 June 2021 0 comments

LUKE Wallace rejoined Harlequins from Leicester last week and reckons the mood at the Stoop hints at a return to the glory days for […]

Eddie wants extra Currys to keep England on the boil

6 June 2021 0 comments

EDDIE Jones has already marked the card of his young guns telling them to gain inspiration from Tom Curry as their journey to the 2023 […]

Leicester 23-26 Bristol: Tempers fray as Bears thwart Tigers’ big finish

6 June 2021 0 comments

A late sin-bin to prop Nahuel Chaparro leads to controversy around contested scrums and allowing John Afoa back onto the field for Bristol Bears

Newcastle 24-14 Worcester: Groundhog day goes on for the Warriors

6 June 2021 0 comments

Worcester still await their first proper win since the start of the Premiership season

Move on, says ‘liar’ Lam after fracas

6 June 2021 0 comments

What was said to the media after Leicester’s dramatic defeat to Bristol Bears at Welford Road

Richards: Now you know why I played a weak team at Exeter

6 June 2021 0 comments

NEWCASTLE boss Dean Richards said: “That first 35 minutes was probably the best rugby we’ve played all season,” as he justified his decision to send […]

Sale 45-12 Harlequins: Depleted Quins torn to shreds by Sharks

6 June 2021 1 comment

Reaching Twickenham final won’t be enough in of itself, says confident Sanderson

Wasps back row Tom Willis scored a hat-trick at London Irish

London Irish 36-39 Wasps: Willis’ hat-trick seals vital win at the death

6 June 2021 1 comment

Wasps overturn 33-10 half-time deficit to produce miracles in Brentford

Manu Tuilagi will be back for Sale’s run-in

6 June 2021 0 comments

MANU TUILAGI will return in Sale’s final-day trip to champions Exeter after being forced to self-isolate during Friday’s demolition of Quins. The England centre was […]

Willis: Fightback sets up ‘Cup final’ at Tigers

6 June 2021 0 comments

HAVING snatched one ‘Cup final’ game at the death yesterday MOM Tom Willis insists Wasps will be approaching their key match with Leicester on Saturday […]

Facundo Cordero honoured to continue Santi’s Chiefs legacy

6 June 2021 0 comments

Facundo Cordero reveals his desire to play alongside brother Santi, whether that be at Exeter Chiefs or not

Ospreys keen to help Elvis Taione rock on in Wales

6 June 2021 1 comment

The Exeter Chiefs hooker could be on his way to the Liberty Stadium this summer

My only regret is not hitting the 200 club, says Ross Batty

6 June 2021 0 comments

PAUL REES talks to Bath’s Ross Batty who announced his retirement this week Ross Batty will on Saturday bid an emotional farewell to Bath supporters […]

Tom Wood commits to Northampton Saints

4 June 2021 1 comment

The 50-cap England flanker agrees extension to remain at Franklin’s Gardens beyond the current Premiership season

Where Henry Thomas will be playing next season after Bath confirm prop’s exit

4 June 2021 0 comments

The tighthead will be leaving his boyhood club this summer to move to France, TRP understands

Manu Tuilagi withdrawn from Sale Sharks squad due to Covid-19 protocols

4 June 2021 1 comment

Manu Tuilagi will not be featuring for Sale Sharks against Harlequins this evening after he was deemed to be close contact of a Sale Sharks […]

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson

Alex Sanderson fans the flames ahead of clash with ‘ungracious’ Harlequins

4 June 2021 1 comment

Sale Sharks boss harbours some ill-feeling over Harlequins’ celebrations from 24-12 win at the Stoop back in February

Exeter Chiefs confirm signing of Connacht centre Sean O’Brien

3 June 2021 1 comment

As revealed in The Rugby Paper last weekend, the reigning Premiership champions have signed the former Ireland U20 international

Lam: Big names aren’t guaranteed their place

3 June 2021 0 comments

No guarantees await the squad who have taken Bristol to the top of the Premiership, says Pat Lam

Paolo Odogwu out of England’s summer with serious knee injury

2 June 2021 0 comments

‘Heart-breaking’ news for the Wasps centre, who follows Joe Launchbury and Jack Willis in suffering a knee ligament injury this year

Mateo Carreras signs new contract with Newcastle

2 June 2021 2 comments

A one-year extension for the Argentine wing, who follows Mark Tampin and Connor Collett in agreeing new deals this week

Covid-19 outbreak casts cloud over Gloucester’s season run-in

1 June 2021 0 comments

The Premiership match between Gloucester and Bath this weekend has been cancelled after a number of Covid-19 cases were detected at the Cherry and Whites

‘I’m totally at peace’ – Bath hooker Ross Batty to retire

1 June 2021 1 comment

“His decision to retire has not been easy, however as part of being a seasoned professional he has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches” – Stuart Hooper

Jack Maunder hopes to take Chiefs form onto Test stage

30 May 2021 0 comments

The Exeter Chiefs scrum-half toured Argentina with England back in 2017, and is looking for a return to the Test stage this summer

‘Fat kid’ Alex Waller brings up his 300 for Saints

30 May 2021 1 comment

Plenty more to come from the Northampton Saints 300-match man

Evans: Home-grown talent will be crucial next season for Harlequins

30 May 2021 0 comments

Harlequins attack coach Nick Evans believes the club are returning to their ways of bringing through great talent to the first team

Shaun Adendorff ready to leave Northampton Saints

30 May 2021 0 comments

The Saints No.8, a summer arrival in 2020, is set to move to a Pro D2 club in France

Exeter Chiefs sign highly-rated centre from Connacht

30 May 2021 1 comment

EXETER Chiefs have completed the signing of Ireland U20 outside centre Sean O’Brien who has agreed to a two-year deal. O’Brien, in his third season […]

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons

Alan Solomons expects to be leaving Worcester on a high

30 May 2021 1 comment

Worcester director of rugby Alan Solomons tells PAUL REES why next season will be his last at Warriors Alan Solomons is 70 going on 20. […]

Manu proves it’s collision not evasion that counts | Chris Hewett

30 May 2021 0 comments

THE most depressing comment of last week came from Alex Sanderson, which was counterintuitive, since the Sale director of rugby is one of the more […]