Premiership

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

We can beat anyone now says stoked up Matavesi

26 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Sam Matavesi knew something had changed when he joined up with Northampton after Fiji’s World Cup quarter-final exit last autumn. “Something seemed […]

Slade delighted to be presented with top award

26 May 2024 0 comments

Exeter and England outside centre Henry Slade has picked up the 2023/24 Premiership Player of the Season award following a standout campaign. Slade bounced back […]

We will have a full deck of cards next season – McKellar

26 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Leicester’s dejection at finishing well short of the play-off positions was compounded by the sight of their fierce rivals Northampton sitting at […]

Lam backs Ibitoye for England’s tour

26 May 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Bristol boss Pat Lam says winger Gabriel Ibitoye should be selected for England’s summer tour after he topped the rankings for the […]

Bath and Saints to win – but only just

26 May 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK It’s hard to see Northampton changing the way they’ve played all season when they face Saracens in the […]

Try tsunami sends a mixed message

26 May 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson looks at an increase in points scored but suggests the figures may be hiding a problem for the Premiership. Over the last seven […]

Dugdale’s stepping out of the shadows

26 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Sam Dugdale has stepped out of the shadows of the Curry brothers and Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson couldn’t be happier for […]

Fantastic four face final tests

26 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: NORTHAMPTON v SARACENS AND BATH v SALE NORTHAMPTON The Saints finished at the top of the […]

Diamond out to add some steel

26 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Even someone without Steve Diamond’s coaching experience would have known that taking over at Newcastle was never going to turn them into […]

You write off Saracens at your peril – Grewcock

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Danny Grewcock has joined Paul Sackey as the second player to be inducted into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame for 2024 […]

Young guns who are shining for the Chiefs

26 May 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Exeter DoR Rob Baxter to find out how his investment in homegrown talent is paying off at 9 and 10 Exeter […]

Playing for Tigers a privilege, says Scott

26 May 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Matt Scott says it was his ‘privilege’ to pull on the Leicester Tigers jersey after playing his final game for the club […]

Poor defence cost us, admits Wilson

26 May 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson has admitted poor defence cost them a place in the play-offs after a disappointing end to the […]

Cloete & Van Velze to retire at end of season

26 May 2024 0 comments

Bath’s South African forwards GJ van Velze and Chris Cloete will retire from rugby at the end of the season. Van Velze, 36, has made […]

Jennings looking for new challenge

26 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Still only 28, Rory Jennings is seeking the seventh full-time contract of his nomadic career after being released by Newcastle. By his […]

Young gun Baxter headlines Premiership Team of the Season

23 May 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Tyro Harlequins prop Fin Baxter is the headline selection in Premiership Rugby‘s 2023/24 team of the season which has a strong Northampton […]

Slade awarded Premiership Player of the Season

22 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Exeter Chiefs and England star Henry Slade has picked up the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Player of the Season award following a standout […]

Sarries to hit road as Sale upset their plans

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Sale and Bath joined Northampton and Saracens in the Premiership play-offs after a final round yesterday full of twists and shocks. Sale […]

It’s away day delight as Sharks bite Sarries

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens ……………………… 10pts Tries: Riccioni 66 Conversions: Farrell 67 Penalties: Farrell 26 Sale ……………………………….20pts Tries: Roebuck 23, R du Preez 51 Conversions: […]

Big Ben strikes at right time for Sale

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ben Curry is often referred to as the twin brother of Tom, the 50-cap England flanker who has missed the entire season […]

Danny hails departing ‘Quins legend’ Collier

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Harlequins’ household names are nearing the end of their careers but scrum-half Danny Care believes their new coaching team has built a […]

McCall: Vunipolas at the heart of all we have achieved

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall says departing stalwarts Mako and Billy Vunipola are ‘two of the keenest rugby minds’ he’s ever […]

Williams is still the centre of attention

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES When Bristol signed Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Virimi Vakatawa last year to boost their midfield, few would have picked James Williams […]

Lam so keen to keep hold of Vakatawa

19 May 2024 0 comments

Pat Lam wants Virimi Vakatawa to extend his stay at Ashton Gate and is in talks with the France centre over a new deal. Vakatawa […]

Hendy: We want special send off for top Saints

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton flyer George Hendy has enjoyed a breakthrough year with the table toppers and while the likes of Saracens insist they won’t […]

Ruthless Bath crush Saints on perfect day

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bath ……………………………… 43pts Tries: Bayliss 7, Muir 14, 63; Dunn 42, Spencer 53, Barbeary 60 Conversions: Russell 8, 15, 43, 54; Spencer […]

Johann savours ‘special’ moment

19 May 2024 0 comments

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan is proud of his side’s turnaround this season but says the job is not yet finished. “I’m so […]

Ollie helps top Tigers finish with a flourish

19 May 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Leicester …………………….. 40pts Tries: Hassell-Collins 20, van Poortvliet 26, Reffell 43, Brown 54 Conversions: Pollard 21, 26, 44, 55 Penalties: Pollard 16, […]

It’s a tale of mixed emotions for Baxter

19 May 2024 0 comments

When Rob Baxter sits down to carry out his final assessment of this season, the Exeter director of rugby will look back on a campaign […]

Big win but it’s not enough for Bears

19 May 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Harlequins ………………….. 28pts Tries: Cunningham-South 9, 52; Dombrandt 22, Northmore 47 Conversions: Smith 10, 23, 48, 53 Bristol ………………………….. 53pts Tries: Williams […]

Pat’s proud as his boys stoop to conquer in record style

19 May 2024 0 comments

Pat Lam was pleased with his team’s efforts in a history-making win at The Stoop despite missing out on a place in the top four. […]

McCall: ‘They wanted it more’

19 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall admitted his side were ‘out enthused’ by Sale. He said: “That was a really disappointing performance. I thought we […]

Falcons’ misery but hosts restore pride

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Gloucester ………………….. 54pts Tries: Mercer 10, Harris 18, C Atkinson 20, Thorley 31, Blake 42, May 48, Hearle 73, Hathaway 80 Conversions: […]

May: My focus is only on cup final

19 May 2024 0 comments

Jonny May made sure his final appearance at Kingsholm ended on a high and is relishing his last appearance for Gloucester in Friday’s Challenge Cup […]

Top flight losing its soul, and integrity

19 May 2024 1 comment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK GLOUCESTER’S 90-0 capitulation to Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend reflected all that is rotten about a […]

Best I’ve felt for six years – Roux

19 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Quinn Roux is feeling in the best shape of his life but the former Ireland international admits it’ll be a stretch for […]

McNally to leave Rec this summer

19 May 2024 0 comments

Bath lock Josh McNally is to leave the club at the end of the 2023-24 season after five years at The Recreation Ground. The 33-year-old […]

Slade extends his stay at the Chiefs

19 May 2024 0 comments

ENGLAND centre Henry Slade has agreed a new contract with Exeter. The 31-year-old has won 62 caps for England and started all five Six Nations […]

‘Privilege to play in Jonny’s 10 jersey’

19 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Achieving his boyhood dream of replicating the highs of Jonny Wilkinson in Newcastle’s No.10 shirt has led to Brett Connon extending his […]

Maitland to call time in summer

19 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens wing Sean Maitland, 35, will retire from rugby at the end of the season. The 53-cap Scotland flyer, who represented New Zealand at U20 […]

Exeter’s Slade signs new contract

16 May 2024 0 comments

England centre Henry Slade has signed a new contract at Exeter Chiefs, extending his stay at the club into at least a 13th season. Slade […]

Series 3, Episode 38: JP Doyle on laws of the game and Premiership final day

15 May 2024 0 comments

The Gallagher Premiership is headed towards a superb Super Saturday, with five teams still in the running for the final two play-off spots! Joining host […]

Vunipola trio to depart Saracens

14 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens players Billy, Mako and Manu Vunipola are to leave the North London club at the end of the current campaign. The trio have amassed […]

Thrilling title race goes to final day

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES The race for the top four will go down to the final round on Saturday, although Northampton and Saracens secured their berths […]

I’m still supporter of relegation – Diamond

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Newcastle may be adrift at the bottom of the Premiership but Steve Diamond remains an advocate for promotion and relegation. The Falcons […]

I want to win title before I leave Bristol – Luatua

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Few overseas signings have had a more lasting impact in the Premiership than Steve Luatua who looks like finishing his career at […]

Game in England is good, says Ford

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Ford feels English rugby is on the up after a testing couple of years on and off the field and has […]

Graham: Guys were in tears after that defeat but we’ll fight back

12 May 2024 0 comments

Sam Graham believes Northampton can turn the heartache of losing last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final to their advantage as they set their sights on the […]

Saracens closing in on finishing line

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bristol Bears ………………..20pts Tries: Batley 4, Thacker 52 Conversions: MacGinty 5, Williams 53 Penalties: MacGinty 11, 20 Saracens ………………………41pts Tries: Itoje 22, […]

Farrell: We play with our heads up

12 May 2024 0 comments

OWEN Farrell said Saracens remained on course for another Twickenham final because of their ability to adapt their gameplan. A close victory at Bath was […]

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