Premiership

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

Simpson urges Gloucester to get smarter

4 October 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Pragmatic: Joe Simpson GLOUCESTER No.9 Joe Simpson is confident that the building blocks put in place by their new coaching team since […]

How did a £91m sink hole open up to swallow the RFU?

4 October 2020 0 comments

NICH CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK HOW is it that the RFU, which has had the enviable reputation almost since its inception of […]

Fast-starting Warriors bag bonus point by half-time

4 October 2020 0 comments

By ADAM THOMPSON Lethal: Francois Hougaard WORCESTER won their last home match of the season in style with a bonus point in the bag by […]

Lam: Job done but far too many errors

4 October 2020 0 comments

By TOM RILEY On the way: Ioan Lloyd of Bristol Bears touches down for their first try PICTURE: Getty Images BRISTOL kept their play-off bid […]

Sale hit six to remain in the hunt but Manu injury mars victory

4 October 2020 2 comments

By SAM JACKSON Hammer blow: Manu Tuilagi receives treatment SALE claimed the bonus point to stay in the race for the play-offs but their title […]

Creevy try settles see-saw struggle

4 October 2020 2 comments

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Interception: Curtis Rona scores London Irish’s second try PICTURE: Getty Images Power: Ollie Devoto LONDON Irish recorded their first win over the […]

Early bath for Elia dampens Robshaw’s farewell party

4 October 2020 2 comments

By FRED LYONS @therugbypaper Sent off: Elia Elia ELIA ELIA’S red card allowed Wasps to fight back in the second half and deny Quins captain […]

Dunn will meet fire with fire in fight for a home semi-final

4 October 2020 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Team player: Bath hooker Tom Dunn SELFLESS Tom Dunn has thanked his Bath teammates for propelling him into the national spotlight. The […]

Diamond backs James brothers for England run

4 October 2020 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE STEVE Diamond has backed Luke James and Sam James to become the latest set of brothers to play for England. Both have […]

Pressure won’t restrain Wasps

4 October 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Daring to dream: Josh Bassett PICTURE: Getty Images WINGER Josh Bassett insists Wasps will not crumble as they aim to complete one […]

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond

‘Double-figure’ positive tests at Sale Sharks leave Premiership finale in doubt

2 October 2020 0 comments

On the eve of the final round of the Premiership season play-off chasing Sale Sharks have had a number of players test positive for COVID-19. […]

Manu Tuilagi facing lengthy lay-off for Sale and England

1 October 2020 0 comments

A big blow for Sale and England as centre is confirmed to have suffered torn Achilles

Premiership may not return until 2021 in risk to Lions tour schedule

30 September 2020 0 comments

One Premiership chairman has told TRP it could take ‘five to eight years’ for clubs to recover from financial impact of the pandemic

Harlequins and Exeter Chiefs to raise the curtain on 2020-21 Premiership season

29 September 2020 0 comments

Premiership Rugby have released the full schedule for the new season beginning in November

Surreal start for Noah Heward in Worcester’s fast lane

29 September 2020 0 comments

Another one off the Worcester block who has been getting a look in with England U20s and the Warriors first team

Leicester decision imminent on legal dispute brought by five former players

29 September 2020 0 comments

Tigers could face a High Court battle with the five players who opted to not agree to pay cuts this summer

Would a London NFL Franchise Pose a Threat to Premiership Rugby?

29 September 2020 0 comments

American football officially landed in the UK on October 27, 2007, when the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins in a regular season contest […]

Premiership play-off race going down to the wire

28 September 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain looks at the Premiership run-in with three play-off places still up for grabs

Five young English players primed to break out in 2021

25 September 2020 0 comments

Already on England’s radar after coming through the Under-20 programme

Atkinson: Dom Waldouck is obsessive when it comes to defence strategies

24 September 2020 0 comments

Did you know Gloucester defence coach Waldouck is Mark Atkinson’s brother-in-law?

Dean Richards names Mark Wilson as Newcastle Falcons captain

22 September 2020 0 comments

19-cap England back row Wilson handed leadership duties ahead of new Premiership seaso

Transfer news: Bath’s search for a No.10 and a new job for Ed Griffiths

22 September 2020 0 comments

Bath turn long-winded search for a No.10 to Stormers fly-half Willemse

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons

Players will go from feast to famine, says Alan Solomons

22 September 2020 0 comments

The Worcester Warriors director of rugby is envisaging development players to bear the impact of unprecedented times in rugby

Government hits pause button on return of fans to stadiums

22 September 2020 0 comments

Fears for RFU, Premiership and Championship finances as government orders matches to be played behind closed doors

Bath are favourites but that can matter for little in derbies, says Moody

22 September 2020 0 comments

The former Bath flanker is expecting a ding-dong battle at the Rec, as Watson and Cokanasiga return

Wasps fly up to second with nine-try demolition

20 September 2020 0 comments

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Try scorer: Jack Willis WASPS scored nine tries against a weakened Bristol outfit to move up to second in the table. It […]

Spencer’s try double puts Bath in control

20 September 2020 1 comment

By TIM WOODS Bonus ball: Jonathan Joseph scores the last try of the game Right: Rohan Janse van Rensburg scores Sale’s first try PICTURES: Getty […]

Lethal Lawrence hits top gear for Warriors

20 September 2020 1 comment

By JACK ROBERTS OLLIE Lawrence showed his class as Worcester scored five second-half tries to earn just their second Premiership win of 2020 – and […]

Sarries kids produce the goods again for McCall

20 September 2020 1 comment

By DAVID FLEMING Control: Manu Vunipola EXETER suffered their first defeat in eight games as both sides put out much-changed lineups ahead of European Cup […]

Tenacious Tigers ride out yellow card storm

20 September 2020 0 comments

By TOM WALKER LEICESTER earned only a second win in seven matches since the restart despite three yellow cards and a period of playing with […]

Big job for Joe to stop Sharks getting a sniff

20 September 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Praise: Paul Gustard JOE Marchant returns to the city where he won an U20s World Cup with England determined to steer Harlequins […]

James targets return to glory days

20 September 2020 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE Hunting silverware: Sharks centre Sam James SAM JAMES hopes the Premiership Rugby Cup can serve as a catalyst for a dynasty of […]

Jacek’s stats don’t lie, drop the box kicks!

20 September 2020 1 comment

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Tedium: Ben Youngs puts up a box kick against South Africa in […]

End of the road for villainous Victor

20 September 2020 0 comments

SO rugby is bidding farewell to Clermont and Georgia flanker Victor Kolelishvili who, after struggling with concussion issues for the best part of two years, […]

Gloucester fail to fire in front of the fans

20 September 2020 1 comment

■By SAM JACKSON HARLEQUINSbooked their place in next season’s Champions Cup as a 1,000- strong crowd were unable to lift Gloucester who failed to take […]

Stuart Hooper turns Bath fly-half search elsewhere

16 September 2020 0 comments

Bath’s long-winded search for a No.10 goes on…

Newcastle Falcons have signed Louis Schreuder

Newcastle Falcons sign experienced South African scrum-half Louis Schreuder

16 September 2020 0 comments

One-time Springboks Schreuder worked with defence coach Nick Easter at the Sharks

Premiership broadcaster BT Sport to raise prices this November

15 September 2020 0 comments

Some BT Sport customers face paying additional £48 each year to watch Premiership rugby

Bath can spring a surprise in final furlong, says Beno Obano

11 September 2020 0 comments

Bath loosehead Obano is striving to improve every day and push the club into the Premiership play-offs

Bristol centre Siale Piutau goes to ground

Bristol Bears appeal three-game ban for Siale Piutau

10 September 2020 0 comments

A hearing with an appeals panel will now take place on Thursday, as Alan Solomons offers his views on the matter

Alex King plots new ‘Wasps dynasty’ at Gloucester

9 September 2020 0 comments

Gloucester attack coach Alex King expects great things to happy at Kingsholm after being reunited with Danny Cipriani and Dom Waldouck

Two Premiership players test positive for COVID-19

9 September 2020 0 comments

A total of seven personnel at Premiership clubs have tested positive after the latest round of screening

Pat Lam uses post-match interview to vent frustration over Siale Piutau ban

9 September 2020 0 comments

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam wants to see a ‘shake-up’ of the citing and mitigation process

Owen Farrell avoids ten-game ban for high tackle on Wasps’ Atkinson

9 September 2020 0 comments

Farrell has ten-game entry point reduced to five as panel grants mitigating factors after testimony from Mark McCall and Eddie Jones

Scotland and Exeter Chiefs full-back Stuart Hogg

A snap Q&A with Scotland captain Stuart Hogg

8 September 2020 0 comments

Five snapshot questions are posed to the Scotland captain and Exeter Chiefs star

Steve Diamond in no rush to bring Manu Tuilagi to negotiating table

8 September 2020 0 comments

Neil Fissler envisages French clubs remaining interested in Tuilagi closer towards January due to his one-year Sale contract

Emotional to finish ride alongside MJ’s two boys

6 September 2020 0 comments

WE celebrated what would have been Matthew Watkins’ 42nd birthday in style last week with a 100 mile bike ride from Parc y Scarlets to […]

Youngsters are in for a shock when fans return

6 September 2020 0 comments

WASN’T it great seeing a few fans watching the Scottish derby match at Murrayfield last weekend. The lucky 700 were the first to witness a […]

Hard work from Chiefs impresses Hepher

6 September 2020 1 comment

ENGLAND hopefuls Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds scored hat-tricks as Exeter cruised to a nine-try win. The Chiefs had the bonus point wrapped up inside […]