Premiership

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

stdClass Object ( [id] => 1 [league_name] => Premiership [league_logo_id] => 0 [league_logo_url] => [parent_league_id] => 0 [wp_league_id] => 77 )

Bath

Bristol

Exeter

Gloucester

Harlequins

Leicester

London Irish

Newcastle

Northampton

Sale

Saracens

Wasps

Worcester

Wasps making late surge for play-off spots

1 March 2020 1 comment

■By NEALE HARVEY Flyer: Hassell-Collins Knockout king: Malakai Fekitoa relishes a crack at ‘play-off footy’ PICTURE: Getty Images BUOYED by last week’s stunning win over […]

Webb thrown straight in for derby day

1 March 2020 0 comments

■By NEALE HARVEY Test quality: Welsh ace Rhys Webb WALES international scrum-half Rhys Webb is handed a first start for Bath as rugby director Stuart […]

Recalling Liam and Josh would be panic

1 March 2020 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Put him on bench: Wales’ Liam Williams evades the tackle of France’s Gael Fickou PICTURE: Getty Images IT’S NOT […]

Booth can herald new era at Ospreys

1 March 2020 1 comment

FINALLY, there is some clarity at the Ospreys. For my old region to appoint Toby Booth as their new head coach and get captain Justin […]

Ref Ridley hands Quins a poetic final flourish

1 March 2020 2 comments

■By NICK CAIN Quick thinking: Harlequins’ Paul Lasike crashes over for their opening try from Danny Care’s tap penalty Selling the dummy: Phil Dollman goes […]

Baxter: I don’t think a score was certain

1 March 2020 0 comments

ROB Baxter said he would not make an issue of the controversial penalty try, The Exeter DoR commented: “I asked the ref as he came […]

England U20 champion Dom Barrow quits rugby after spells at Leicester and Northampton

28 February 2020 0 comments

The lock came through the academy at Leeds and also played for Newcastle

TEAMS: Rhys Webb to make Bath debut against rivals Bristol

28 February 2020 0 comments

Bath and Bristol make several changes for Sunday’s derby clash at the

‘He’s a new man’ – Johan Ackermann commends Cipriani and Gloucester

28 February 2020 0 comments

Gloucester will be promoting mental health awareness and the #BeKind campaign at Friday night’s Premiership match

Why Justin Tipuric turned down Bristol and the Top 14 to stay in Wales

28 February 2020 0 comments

A huge boost for the Welsh region after a deeply troubling campaign thus far in the PRO14

Henry Thomas targets new Bath contract on his way back from ACL injury

27 February 2020 0 comments

Neale Harvey talks to Thomas and Bath head coach Neal Hatley

Scrum-half to make step up from the Championship to sign for Northampton Saints

27 February 2020 0 comments

Unbeaten Newcastle Falcons are also set to sign a player as they look set to return to the Premiership

Harlequins’ Fijian lock Tevita Cavubati signs new contract

27 February 2020 0 comments

Paul Gustard has shares his views on a ‘physically dominant presence’ within the Harlequins engine room

I’ll stay as long as Saracens want me to, says Alex Goode

26 February 2020 0 comments

Alex Goode comes to the defence of ex-Saracens chairman Nigel Wray, and says he wants to finish his career at the club

Bristol Bears’ Welsh exile Mat Protheroe signs for Ospreys

26 February 2020 0 comments

A player capable of making the move into Test rugby by playing under Wayne Pivac’s nose?

Harry Mallinder one of four key players to sign on with Saints

26 February 2020 0 comments

Northampton Saints have announced new contracts for Harry Mallinder, Tom Collins, Paul Hill and Ahsee Tuala. The quartet boast just under 400 appearances and 25 […]

Saracens pair agree season-long loan moves to Bristol Bears

26 February 2020 0 comments

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam continues to add to his arsenal for next season

Exclusive: Championship threaten to revive play-off system and add to Saracens woe

25 February 2020 0 comments

Life in the Championship next season might not be as straightforward as Saracens were expecting

Bath outline intentions for next season by signing Premiership trio

25 February 2020 0 comments

Ben Spencer and Will Spencer sign for Bath, with Cameron Redpath making a mid-season move from Sale

Purdy aims to repay Bristol faith

23 February 2020 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY Dangerman: Henry Purdy is in top form for Bristol HENRY Purdy aims to fire Bristol to Premiership glory having signed a twoyear […]

sends Eddie a two-try reminder

23 February 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Here I am Eddie: Ruaridh McConnochie runs in for Bath PICTURES: Getty Images WING ace Ruaridh McConnochie issued a timely reminder to […]

Gustard grumbles as Smith struggles

23 February 2020 0 comments

HARLEQUINS fly-half Marcus Smith endured a difficult day and boss Paul Gustard lamented his side’s failure to control field position. He said: “We didn’t control […]

Ollie on fire to spark Exiles with all four of their tries

23 February 2020 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Hat-trick: Ollie Hassell-Collins scores London Irish’s third try PICTURES: Getty Images Don’t forget him: Louis Rees-Zammitt dives in for Gloucester OLLIE Hassell-Collins […]

Johan: Our family is having tough time

23 February 2020 0 comments

JOHAN Ackermann urged his Cherry and Whites to fight their way out of a rut which is threatening the club’s bid for another top four […]

Yarde hat-trick keeps Sale up with leaders

23 February 2020 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL On a charge: Sale’s Luke James PICTURES: Getty Images MARLAND Yarde’s deadly hat-trick illuminated a thumping bonuspoint win for a Sale side […]

Diamond promises three top signings

23 February 2020 4 comments

STEVE Diamond revealed more big-name signings are set to be announced after Sale maintained their title charge. For the first time in over a decade, […]

It’s a rout as Wasps come alive in the lights

23 February 2020 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING First blood: Jack Willis has scored for Wasps THE Ricoh Arena’s first night match in Wasps’ history was celebrated in style as […]

McCall: Where do you start assessing where it all went wrong?

23 February 2020 0 comments

Harsh lesson: Mark McCall SARACENS’ director of rugby Mark McCall accepted that there was nothing his side could take from a miserable night. He said: […]

Harrison hungry to get one over rival Simmonds

23 February 2020 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Stalwart: Ian Whitten NORTHAMPTON No.8 Teimana Harrison is adamant he still has a Test future and aims to prove it against one […]

Bath flanker Francois Louw eyes last hurrah in MLR

20 February 2020 0 comments

World Cup-winner Francois Louw talks Bath, Major League Rugby interests, and how he also retired as a Springbok

Wasps seek to rekindle old flames in search for new DoR

19 February 2020 0 comments

Joe Worsley and Dave Walder in the frame to be Wasps’ new coaching figureheads

Bristol Bears move quick to sign Henry Purdy to new deal

19 February 2020 0 comments

It has taken Purdy two games to persuade Pat Lam to offer a substantial extension

Dai Young leaves Wasps after nine years as director of rugby

18 February 2020 0 comments

Dai Young explains why the time felt right to leave Wasps

England prop Harry Williams anticipates damaging impact on second two

18 February 2020 0 comments

The Exeter Chiefs prop speaks out about how cuts to the second tier ‘are not ideal’

Penalties cost us laments Solomons

16 February 2020 0 comments

WORCESTER boss Alan Solomons lamented his side’s soft penalties. “Penalties were the key and they played a massive role in us losing that game. We […]

Championship should go legal in this bloody battle

16 February 2020 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE only conclusion that can be drawn from the cynical slashing of Championship funding by Bill Sweeney, […]

Hogg holds tight to add finishing touch

16 February 2020 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING No mistakes: Stuart Hogg holds on tight to score for Exeter PICTURES: Getty Images TEAMS GLOUCESTER: Banahan 6, Marshall 5, Twelvetrees 5, […]

We have to keep the faith, say Glos

16 February 2020 2 comments

GLOUCESTER head coach Johan Ackermann accepted that his side were their own worst enemies. “The stats will show that we had a lot of territory […]

Young gun Coles aims to make a statement against experienced Bristol pack

16 February 2020 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY TYRO lock Alex Coles is relishing his chance to shine against a gnarly Bristol pack as Northampton aim to atone for their […]

Exiles back up Saints win with Stoop bonus

16 February 2020 0 comments

By ADAM ELLIS Powerplay: Oli Hoskins crashes over for the Exiles’ bonus point try PICTURES: Getty Images Consolation: Cadan Murley scores for Quins TEAMS HARLEQUINS: […]

Gustard: Crucial areas let us down

16 February 2020 0 comments

HARLEQUINS boss Paul Gustard acknowledged his side had come off second best in two key areas. “The long and the short of it is their […]

White’s diving tackle saves day for Tigers

16 February 2020 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Breakaway: Telusa Veainu sprints in to score Leicester’s second try PICTURES: Getty Images AN 80-METRE dash by full-back Telusa Veainu sealed this […]

Blackett: I won’t blame the ref

16 February 2020 0 comments

LEE BLACKETT, Wasps’ interim head coach, refused to blame referee Karl Dickson for failing to penalise the flying Leicester scrum-half Ben White at a crucial […]

Sale find there’s still life in these committed Saracens

16 February 2020 2 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Fast start: Rhys Carre scores Saracens’ opening try after a minute PICTURES: Getty Images Late hope: Rob du Preez scores for Sale […]

McCall: Young gun Manu done great

16 February 2020 0 comments

SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall praised young guns Manu Vunipola and Joel Kpoku after watching them overturn Sale. England U20 fly-half Vunipola scored 13 […]