Premiership

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

Gatland: I’d love to be allowed to select Hawkins

14 July 2024 0 comments

Warren Gatland says he has never been in favour of Welsh rugby’s cap rule and would like to be able to select Exeter centre Joe […]

George: Keep the faith

7 July 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Dunedin England skipper Jamie George told his side to keep the faith after their agonising 16-15 defeat to New Zealand continued […]

‘It’s about being the best player you can be’

7 July 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees finds out what drives new Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and what he plans to do at Welford Road Despite their chequered past […]

Cheika will be good for Tigers – Richards

30 June 2024 0 comments

EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE Dean Richards, the most decorated coach in Leicester Tigers’ history, has given Michael Cheika’s appointment the big thumbs up. Cheika this […]

Premiership final tickets for 2025 going fast

30 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Ticket sales for next year’s Premiership 2024/25 final are double what they were at this stage last year, reflecting the renewed buzz […]

Gloucesterer are facing a defining season

30 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR COACH GEORGE SKIVINGTON AND CEO ALEX BROWN AT KINGSHOLM Gloucester marked their 150th anniversary last season. Celebrated […]

Hunt and George lead the way in a team packed with talent

30 June 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock talked to our reporters to select The Rugby Paper’s Women’s Premiership Team of the Season 2023-24 Premiership Women’s Rugby finalists Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol […]

Marcus Smith given the keys as Borthwick goes all guns blazing

18 June 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys Steve Borthwick has decided there is no room for experimentation as he names his strongest squad for this weekend’s fixture against Japan. […]

Carpenter looking to make his mark

16 June 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Sale’s Joe Carpenter is aiming for a cap with Steve Borthwick’s Red Rose touring side but admits his heart is […]

Tuima: I have to move up the ladder

16 June 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Even by his own expectations, it’s been quite the year for Exeter Chiefs forward Rusi Tuima. Handed his chance to shine by […]

Green tipped to take chance with England

16 June 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Key Harlequins figures believe that if Tyrone Green doesn’t get picked for the Springboks this summer, then he’ll turn his attentions to […]

Return of relegation is reason to cheer

16 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN The restoration of promotion and relegation, which this column has advocated non-stop since the RFU’s ring-fence moratorium in 2021, is cause for celebration. […]

Quartet help Cardiff pull off unlikely double

16 June 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson discovers which clubs and players come out best and worst when it comes to red and yellow cards Despite winning just four matches […]

Bath prop Beno Obano handed four-match ban for dangerous tackle in final defeat

13 June 2024 0 comments

Beno Obano has received a four-match ban for his dangerous tackle in Bath’s defeat by Northampton in the Gallagher Premiership final. Obano was sent off […]

Tom Curry named in England’s summer tour squad despite limited game time

12 June 2024 0 comments

Tom Curry has been included in an England squad that contains seven players from newly crowned Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton. Curry features in the 36-man […]

Lawes in dreamland

9 June 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK at Twickenham Courtney Lawes was delighted to have a fairytale ending to his 17 years of service at his boyhood club, skippering Northampton […]

Hotshot Hendy seizes the day

9 June 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN at Twickenham Northampton Saints….. 25pts Tries: Freeman 24, Sleightholme 28, Mitchell 73 Conversions: Smith 24, Furbank 75 Penalties: Furbank 48 Drop goals: […]

By George! Hendy is the saviour of Saints

9 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Courtney Lawes has never been one to turn his face away from reality. His first reaction at the final whistle of his final […]

Northampton’s brilliant trio are leaving the club in the best hands

9 June 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER You don’t always get what you deserve in sport, not least when it comes to the send-off you dream of, but Courtney Lawes, […]

Callard impressed by Bath coaches

9 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Bath legend Jon Callard believes two of the best signings Johaan van Graan has made as the club’s head of rugby are […]

After that season, Bath can’t let it slip

9 June 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Finn Russell has been a poster boy for Bath this season because of the success of the club […]

Sanderson: We’ll come back better

9 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES It’s all over: Sale fly-half George Ford during last week’s defeat PICTURES: Getty Images Alex Sanderson is an ebullient, upbeat character who […]

New Zealand teams display their strength

9 June 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK New Zealand continued their Trans-Tasman dominance with three of the final four teams participating in next weekend’s Super […]

Johann van Graan: Bath exactly where they should be after years of hard graft

7 June 2024 0 comments

Bath will face Northampton at Twickenham on Saturday after being transformed from Gallagher Premiership no-hopers to title contenders in under two years. South African Johann […]

Courtney Lawes proud of Northampton legacy as he prepares for final game

7 June 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes is proud of the one-club legacy he leaves behind at Northampton as he stands one victory away from a fitting end to his […]

Matt Dawson: Scrum-Halves could decide Premiership Final

6 June 2024 0 comments

Matt Dawson believes the battle of the scrum-halves could decide the Premiership Rugby final – and who wears the number nine shirt for England this […]

Twickenham security ‘all over’ any attempted protests at Premiership final

6 June 2024 0 comments

Premiership Rugby has been assured that security at Twickenham is “all over” any potential repeat of last year’s protests when Northampton and Bath meet in […]

Charlie Ewels believes Bath are ready to claim first Gallagher Premiership crown

5 June 2024 0 comments

Charlie Ewels says Bath are “embracing the pressure” ahead of their quest for a first Gallagher Premiership title. Bath and west country rivals Gloucester are […]

Tommy Freeman: Saints taking lessons from Dublin defeat into Premiership final

5 June 2024 0 comments

Northampton have been reflecting on the harsh lessons of their defeat at Croke Park to steel their bid to claim the Gallagher Premiership title on […]

‘Final will be a huge day for the club’

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath are in the Premiership final for the first time since 2015 after overcoming a battling Sale yesterday. They will now meet […]

I want my England shirt back says JVP

2 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD The sight of the world’s best scrum-half strutting his stuff at the home of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club last weekend increased the […]

Sanderson warns about selecting Curry too soon

2 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Selecting Tom Curry for this summer’s England tour comes with a warning from Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson – pick him now […]

Boyd got me back on track – Ludlam

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Lewis Ludlam left the Franklin’s Gardens turf in a Northampton jersey for perhaps the last time on Friday night, six years after […]

Clarke confident Gloucester can put the bad times behind them

2 June 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Gloucester will have regrets for their disappointing season that saw the Cherry & Whites finish second bottom in the Premiership for a […]

Chessum ‘gutted’ to miss out on England

2 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Ollie Chessum admits he is “gutted” to be missing out on a busy summer with England in the southern hemisphere. However, the […]

Finally! Bath hold nerve to see off Sharks

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath ………………………………. 31pts Tries: Hill 11, Obano 21, Annett 72 Conversions: Russell 22, 73 Penalties: Russell 2, 26, 47, 65 Sale Sharks […]

Van Graan’s attitude just right for us, says Spencer

2 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Bath captain Ben Spencer says one of the most impressive things about Johann van Graan is how quickly he got buy-in from […]

Smith has final say for Saints

2 June 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Northampton Saints….. 22pts Tries: Odendaal 19 Conversions: Smith 20 Penalties: Smith 28, 31, 40, 62, 70 Saracens ………………………20pts Tries: Lewington 54, Cinti […]

Proud to see so much character, says Dowson

2 June 2024 0 comments

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson hailed his side’s hunger. He said: “Character is something that’s really hard to define and measure but you saw […]

We’ve just been too inconsistent, admits Farrell

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Owen Farrell succinctly summed up Saracens’ season in two words before what turned out to be his final match for the club […]

Gloucester put faith in ‘some old heads’

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES It was typical of Gloucester’s season – make that the last couple – that when they came up against a front five […]

Exeter’s Harris has to retire

2 June 2024 0 comments

Exeter hooker Iestyn Harris has been forced to retire from rugby on medical grounds aged 25. The Welshman, who joined from Cardiff Blues in 2022, […]

Only one full house in ‘greatest season’ finale

2 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Here’s something for the RFU mandarins and Premiership owners who are hell-bent on keeping England’s top league ring-fenced to ponder. The greatest Premiership […]

Time to let Borthwick pick from the best

2 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SAYS THE ENGLAND COACH SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY SELECTING PLAYERS WHO PLAY IN THE PREMIERSHIP England’s preliminary training squad for the […]

Courtney Lawes ready to run ‘blood to water’ one last time at Franklin’s Gardens

30 May 2024 0 comments

Courtney Lawes says he will “treasure forever” his 17 years as a Northampton player as he prepares for an emotional Franklin’s Gardens farewell. Lawes’ final […]

Jack van Poortvliet relishing England return after leaving last camp in tears

30 May 2024 0 comments

Jack van Poortvliet’s last experience of an England camp was being driven out in tears by his mum knowing his World Cup was over before […]

Owen Farrell believes Saracens will rise to challenge of knockout rugby

29 May 2024 0 comments

Owen Farrell insists Saracens are ready to shed the inconsistency that has defined their season as their Gallagher Premiership title defence reaches its moment of […]

Tom Curry set to return for Sale this weekend following ‘car crash’ hip injury

27 May 2024 0 comments

England flanker Tom Curry is poised for a long-awaited return to action for Sale Sharks’ semi-final against Bath on Saturday after being sidelined since the […]