Premiership

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

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Dominant Chiefs set up shot at the semis

12 May 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter Chiefs ……………… 58pts Tries: Slade 20, Feyi-Waboso 33, 65, John 40, Skinner 43, 71, Jenkins 77 Conversions: Slade 21, 33, 40, […]

Baxter: We must recharge quickly

12 May 2024 0 comments

EXETER DoR Rob Baxter says his team will have to recharge quickly in their quest to reach the top four with their remaining fixture away […]

Superior Saints go on 14-try rampage

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton………………..90pts Tries: Furbank 1, Dingwall 12, Sleightholme 21, 56, 66; Langdon 27, 35; Mitchell 39, Waller 47, Matavesi 50, 78; Iyogun 53, […]

We had a job to do and we went out and did it, says Dowson

12 May 2024 0 comments

NORTHAMPTON director of rugby Phil Dowson felt sympathy for Gloucester after their 14-try drubbing but said his side had a job to do to secure […]

Russell masterclass has Bath in top gear

12 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle……………………. 17pts Tries: Blamire 30, 40+2, Stuart 63 Conversions: Connon 64 Bath ……………………………… 28pts Tries: du Toit 4, Spencer 13, Cokanasiga 27, […]

Diamond calls for 80-minute showing

12 May 2024 0 comments

NEWCASTLE boss Steve Diamond told his players and staff “to stop feeling sorry for themselves” after Falcons’ suffered a 20th league defeat on the spin. […]

James at his best as Sale keep in the race

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Sale ……………………………….31pts Tries: Warr 8, Taylor 13, James 34, O’Flaherty 43 Conversions: Ford 9, 14, 35, 44 Penalties: Ford 57 Leicester …………………….. […]

‘I’m going to stick with this motley lot’

12 May 2024 0 comments

ON an evening of final home appearances for some big names, Sale coach Alex Sanderson announced live to the home crowd after the game that […]

Northampton swoop to sign England U20s fly-half

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton have signed England U20s fly-half George Makepeace-Cubitt. Having endured the hardship of London Irish folding, the tyro playmaker showed grit and […]

Don’t only blame RFU for lack of confidence

12 May 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME IT WAS interesting to read last week’s comments by Simon Halliday in The Rugby Paper and […]

Premiership previews: Round 17

10 May 2024 0 comments

Heading into the penultimate round of the Premiership season seven teams still stand a chance of reaching the play-offs, with each of them in contention […]

Vunipola warned again by RFU over drunken arrest

9 May 2024 0 comments

Billy Vunipola has received a formal warning from the RFU for the second time in just over five years, on this occasion in relation to […]

Chessum out till next season in England and Tigers injury blow

9 May 2024 0 comments

Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum will miss the rest of this domestic season and England’s summer tour to Japan and New Zealand after shoulder surgery. […]

Care extends Quins stay into 19th season

8 May 2024 0 comments

Harlequins and former England scrum-half Danny Care has signed a new contract to spend a 19th season at the London club. The 37-year-old has accumulated […]

Ford loving dramatic end to the season

8 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL EDDISON George Ford is relishing the ‘do-or-die’ nature of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby run-in as his Sale Sharks side look to seal a […]

Eight-year PGP deal expected next month

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES The ground-breaking new agreement between Twickenham and the Premiership clubs is expected to be announced after next month’s play-off final. The eight-year […]

Smith: I’m better at handling mistakes

5 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Fin Smith credits his superb form this season to a mental mind-shift that enables him to now take the rough with the […]

Murley admits he’d be tempted to try out league

5 May 2024 0 comments

By STEFAN FROST Cadan Murley has revealed he could cross over codes once he has fulfilled his trophy-winning ambitions at Harlequins. The wing, preparing for […]

Skivington’s banking on experience next time out

5 May 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS George Skivington expects to see significant improvements within his Gloucester squad next season after a campaign he readily admits has failed to […]

Fit-again Ewels enjoying new life under Johann

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES When Charlie Ewels suffered knee ligament damage on England’s 2022 tour to Australia, his club Bath were at rock bottom. They had […]

Return to Sixways still on agenda

5 May 2024 0 comments

Worcester Warriors Supporters Trust have welcomed news that the firm which owns the club has been sold. The new consortium, led by Wasps owner Chris […]

Roebuck out to impress England

5 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale’s Tom Roebuck is a man on a mission as he looks to use the final weeks of the Premiership season to […]

RFU’s still killing the dreams of investors

5 May 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The RFU’s indecision is final. It does not know what to do about promotion-relegation – or, if […]

Don’t put Dickson in that position

5 May 2024 0 comments

If the Karl Dickson furore in the Harlequins v Northampton clash last weekend at Twickenham tells us anything, it is that if a former pro […]

Without referees, there is no game

5 May 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at the pressures on the men and women in the middle and asks what can be done to help them Who would […]

We had belief in our ability

5 May 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens talks to Exeter Chiefs legend Gareth Steenson as he embarks on a new chapter away from Sandy Park IN THE heart of Exeter, […]

University pathway to top of the game

5 May 2024 0 comments

By WILLIAM GUPWELL Being named in an England Students squad is among the highest honours that can be bestowed upon a university rugby student in […]

The ringfence which is encouraging open play

5 May 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME THERE have been a few articles written about how the Premiership has started to play a […]

Itoje avoids ban for Barbeary tackle

1 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens second row Maro Itoje has avoided a ban for the last two games of the regular season of the Premiership for his tackle on […]

Series 3, Episode 36: Ruan Ackermann on Prem weekend, residency rules and EPCR semis

30 April 2024 0 comments

Following a pivotal weekend of Gallagher Premiership action – not without its controversies – Ollie Little, Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain are joined by Gloucester […]

Baxter: “We are overachieving” this season

29 April 2024 0 comments

Rob Baxter praised his young side’s competitive edge and their ability to learn from mistakes after their comfortable victory against Gloucester. “We probably are overachieving […]

Vunipola arrested and tasered twice in Majorca incident

29 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens and former England number eight Billy Vunipola has been arrested following a violent incident in a bar in Majorca. According to reports in The […]

Chiefs boost top-four hopes with five-try win at Kingsholm

28 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Gloucester…………………………………………..17 Tries: May 29, Clement 40, Clark 50 Conversions: Atkinson 52 Exeter Chiefs……………………………………….38 Tries: Vermeulen 14, 60; John 18, Woodburn 36, Feyi-Waboso […]

Battle for top four reaching climax

28 April 2024 0 comments

The battle for the Premiership play-off places heated up yesterday with leaders Northampton losing to Harlequins and a revitalised Bristol Bears launching a stunning comeback […]

I’ll never stop looking for hidden gems – Lam

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam says he will never stop plundering the rugby mine of the Championship and the leagues below it as he searches […]

Saracens know how to win – Tompkins

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With the Premiership run-in hotting up, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins claims ‘experience matters’ in these blockbuster end-of-season contests and says his side […]

Leicester in discussions to hire new attack coach

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Dan McKellar has told Leicester fans to buckle up for the ride next season as the club closes in on appointing an […]

Langdon is quick to make his point

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton have placed an emphasis this season on putting pace in the legs of their players and that suits Curtis Langdon, a […]

Falcons face battle to break their duck

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Time is running out for Newcastle as they seek to avoid joining Rotherham and London Welsh as clubs who finished a Premiership […]

Porter delivers as Quins stay in hunt

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ……………………41pts Tries: Northmore 1, 26; Lewies 33, Murley 45, Porter 67, 73 Conversions: Smith 27, 34, 46; Evans 74 Penalties: Evans […]

‘For us today, it was do or die’

28 April 2024 0 comments

Quins skipper Alex Dombrandt was delighted after the Londoners’ crucial victory over Northampton. “We make it tough for ourselves sometimes,” he said. “But we’re very […]

Leicester stunned by Bristol late show

28 April 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester Tigers ………….19pts Tries: Ollie Hassell-Collins 17, 48; van Wyk 63 Conversions: Pollard 18, 63 Bristol Bears ………………..21pts Tries: Lahiff 68, 74; Bradbury […]

Thacker made the difference, says Lam

28 April 2024 0 comments

Bristol boss Pat Lam lauded substitute Harry Thacker after his team had overturned a 19-0 deficit to beat Leicester. “This game is always the one […]

Saracens take advantage in battle for top two spot

28 April 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bath……………………………………. 12pts Tries: du Toit 57, Redpath 62 Conversions: Spencer 62 Saracens……………………………15pts Tries: Parton 12, Segun 40 Conversions: Farrell 40 Penalties: Farrell […]

We managed to rediscover our energy, says McCall

28 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall hopes his side’s improved display at Bath will be a springboard for the rest of the season. “Even though […]

Sharks look to have edge in Diamond derby

28 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingston Park SALE boss Alex Sanderson has thanked Steve Diamond, his opposite number […]

Diamond still confident he can make a big difference

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Starting: Guy Pepper LAST season’s beaten Premiership finalists would not seem the ideal opponents after conceding a record number of points in […]

Vermeulen: It’s payback time for the Chiefs

28 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm BRUISING back rower Jacques Vermeulen wants Exeter to put their foot on the […]

Skivington looking for players to prove themselves

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Dasher: Josh Hathaway GEORGE Skivington has told his players ahead of today’s clash with Exeter at Kingsholm that they may have nothing […]