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

Botha playing for his future at Irish

4 March 2018 0 comments

Believer: London Irish back rower Arno Botha HIGH-impact back rower Arno Botha believes London Irish can still pull off a miracle despite their parlous position […]

Harrison demands a repeat performance

4 March 2018 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Extended run: Tigers No.9 Sam Harrison LEICESTER’S historic victory over Saracens last week will count for nothing unless they back it up […]

Kingston urges fans to ‘park frustrations’

4 March 2018 0 comments

HARLEQUINS’ welcome Bath to the Stoop in the match rescheduled from Friday night due to the freezing conditions. Quins make six changes from last weekend’s […]

Falcons find slippery roads lead to the top

4 March 2018 0 comments

Driving force: Newcastle scrum-half Michael Young breaks clear to set up a try for Ally Hogg. PICTURES: Getty Images Bulldozer: Gloucester centre David Halaifonua dives […]

Gloucs: We let win slip away

4 March 2018 0 comments

DEAN Richards praised his Newcastle side’s character after they brought Gloucester’s unbeaten home record in the league to an end. This included the thumbs up […]

Diamond: Only a fool wouldn’t pick Denny for England

4 March 2018 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Hard yards: Jonathan Ross trucks it up for Sale. PICTURES: Getty Images Testing defence: Piers Francis looks for a way through DENNY […]

Gaffney slams missing North

4 March 2018 0 comments

GEORGE North came under fire from Saints boss Alan Gaffney for being unavailable yesterday. Gaffney questioned the Wales wing’s commitment to the club after he […]

Bakewell’s challenge to create new pack legacy at Leicester Tigers

1 March 2018 0 comments

The Kiwi forwards coach on leaving Bristol for Welford Road and the new generation he wants to foster

Batty: Plenty of life left in the old dog yet!

28 February 2018 0 comments

Batty seeking to rule the roost in the hooker department at the Rec

Irish remain defiant despite 16pt gap

25 February 2018 1 comment

Spencer, Cox, Arr, Hammond Back in the lineup: Johnny Williams ENGLAND midfield prospect Johnny Williams returns as London Irish aim to prolong their battle against […]

Nadolo gets behind bid for Pacific Islanders franchise

25 February 2018 1 comment

ISN’T it odd how things come full circle. Back in the supposedly bad old amateur days, the Super Ten competition was formed in 1993. Western […]

De Villiers may come calling for Ewers

25 February 2018 0 comments

Boss: Pieter De Villiers NEW Zimbabwe coach Pieter De Villiers, who led South Africa to a Lions and Tri-Nations success in 2009, has taken over […]

RUGBY MATTERS

25 February 2018 0 comments

Reducing penalty sanctions may resurrect old quick-tap BRENDAN GALLAGHER A new weekly look at the game’s other talking points Bag of tricks: Les Cusworth THERE’S […]

Action man Browne completes epic trans-Atlantic solo mission

25 February 2018 0 comments

POWERFUL Irish lock Damian Browne travelled the world playing rugby with long spells at Connacht, Northampton, Brive, Leinster and Oyonnax and now he is roaming […]

We’re scared of losing the title admits Baxter

25 February 2018 2 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Held up: Luke Cowan Dickie is stopped by the Northampton defence short of the try line PICTURES: Getty Images Run in: Harry […]

Olly burst changed it all says Dickens

25 February 2018 0 comments

ALAN Dickens, Saints’ interim coach, lamented: “For 70 minutes we were in control. Then Olly Woodburn makes a fantastic break. “That gets their tails up, […]

Falcons show they are really in this title challenge

25 February 2018 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Not to be denied: Sinoti Sinoti powers over for Falcons PICTURES: Getty Images Early hope: James Horwill scores for Quins after eight […]

Kingston: We have to get our pride back

25 February 2018 1 comment

HARLEQUINS boss John Kingston struggled for positives He said: “We defended manfully for long periods and it was fantastic to see Demetri Catrakilis back from […]

Gopperth’s pressure kick saves the day

25 February 2018 0 comments

By JAMES LLOYD Pack power: Gloucester celebrate their first try PICTURES: Getty Images In the thick of it: Wasps ace Jimmy Gopperth DAI Young heaped […]

Gloucs rue 34 missed tackles

25 February 2018 0 comments

GLOUCESTER head coach Johan Ackermann rued a frustrating secondhalf and wants to see his side make amends next week against Newcastle as the race for […]

Amazing Mr Wilson gives Bath last word

25 February 2018 1 comment

By ANDY BABER Shark attack: Denny Solomona scores Nervless: James Wilson kicks the winning points PICTURES: Getty Images MAKESHIFT fly-half James Wilson was the hero […]

We must be more clinical admits disappointed Diamond

25 February 2018 3 comments

STEVE Diamond, Sale Sharks’ director of rugby, admitted his team need to be more clinical when they get into winning positions. He said: “We lost […]

Spencer eager to capitalise on big chance to impress

25 February 2018 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Aiming for impact: Ben Spencer PICTURE: Getty Images POPULAR hooker Schalk Brits makes an eagerly-awaited return as Saracens prepare for a Leicester […]

Robson expecting more fireworks in repeat of last year’s final

18 February 2018 0 comments

DAN Robson says revenge is in the air as two of England’s most entertaining sides reprise last season’s Premiership final with vital league points at […]

TMOs only work with the right equipment

18 February 2018 1 comment

NICK CAIN WHAT the furore surrounding the disallowed Gareth Anscombe touchdown in last weekend’s England- Wales clash proved is that the TMO system has not […]

ET called back when Underhill launched that tackle

18 February 2018 1 comment

SAM Underhill said this season that he is not the fastest flanker on the block. Having watched replays of his brilliant try-saving tackle on Scott […]

Toomua class keeps Tigers in the hunt

18 February 2018 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Reaching out: Matt Toomua scores Tigers’ first try PICTURES: Getty Images Round the legs! Quins’ James Chisholm is tackled by Sam Harrison […]

Kingston: Penalty count was against us

18 February 2018 1 comment

HARLEQUINS rugby director John Kingston said his team had been hard done by: “We were the better team for first hour if not for the […]

Piers pulls the plug on Irish as North gives Wales boost

18 February 2018 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Flat out: Rob Horne scores Saints’ second try PICTURES: Getty Images Not enough: Alex Lewington scores his second try for London Irish […]

Francis: I’m after SA tour place

18 February 2018 1 comment

STAR man Piers Francis has set his sights on England’s summer tour. The Saints No.10 said: “I’ve had adjustments to make coming to a new […]

Jonny’s back to help Warriors claim survival

18 February 2018 1 comment

By ROGER PANTING Winning return: Jonny Arr scores No stopping him: Matt Scott scores Gloucester’s first try JONNY Arr made a dream return to Worcester’s […]

It’s a big lesson for us – Gloucs

18 February 2018 0 comments

GLOUCESTER’S head coach, Johan Ackermann, had no complaints about the result. He said: “We were not good enough and it’s another big lesson for us […]

We’re close to letting rip now warns Deano

18 February 2018 0 comments

By ALAN HEDLEY Fast start: Sinoti Sinoti goes over for Falcons’ first try after four minutes PICTURES: Getty Images Acrobatic finish: Cooper Vuna scores for […]

That was pathetic admits Bath boss

18 February 2018 2 comments

DIRECTOR of rugby Todd Blackadder’s succinct appraisal of his side’s performance was “pathetic” as he said sorry to Bath fans after his side’s error-strewn display […]

Liam takes honours – and a yellow card

18 February 2018 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Looking good: Liam Williams scores for Saracens PICTURES: Getty Images No way through: Sale’s Danny Solomona is held SARACENS, with a big […]

McCall: Defence was just brilliant

18 February 2018 1 comment

SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall was impressed by his team’s fight in the second half. He said: “Areas of our game could have been […]

It’s all systems go for Mullen after injury-wrecked Autumn

18 February 2018 0 comments

NEALE HARVEY talks to Wasps loosehead Matt Mullan, desperate to make up for lost time Buzzing again: Matt Mullan PICTURE: Getty Images Fit-again prop Matt […]

Sale Sharks twins will peak for England, says Dave Seymour

15 February 2018 0 comments

Dave Seymour announced his retirement from rugby last week and says the Sale back row is in good hands with the Curry twins

Time I pulled my weight admits 22-stone Will Skelton

15 February 2018 0 comments

Australian second row looking to play leadership role for Sarries with stars away on Six Nations duty

Leicester Tigers complete swoop for another Warrior

14 February 2018 0 comments

Tigers confirm signing of Scotland international David Denton, who joins Will Spencer in moving to Welford Road for next season

Judo horror injury will force Sam Jones to quit at 26

14 February 2018 0 comments

The Wasps flanker was injured at an England training camp in 2016 during a Judo session

VIDEO: Wasps centre Kyle Eastmond banned for six weeks for this hit on Marcus Smith

14 February 2018 0 comments

Citing commissioner deals out punishment to Eastmond after high hit on Marcus Smith and dangerous tackle on Ross Chisholm

Northampton sign North replacement from Waratahs

13 February 2018 0 comments

Saints add Fijian brawn to next season’s squad in the shape of Australian international Taqele Naiyaravoro

Deano: They still had bit of stardust

11 February 2018 1 comment

MARK McCall heaped praise on his Sarries stand-ins after they put pressure on Exeter Chiefs at the top of the table. The director of rugby […]

‘Berbatov of rugby’ resigns to give Quins a boost before big Wasps re-match

11 February 2018 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY HARLEQUINS captain Dave Ward has hailed Tim Visser’s re-signing as a “massive boost” before a match against Wasps they must win to […]

Warriors make history with victory at Exeter

11 February 2018 2 comments

By ROGER PANTING On target: Chris Pennell lands a penalty for Worcester PICTURES: Getty Images WORCESTER pulled off the shock of the season by becoming […]

Baxter: We didn’t deserve anything

11 February 2018 0 comments

EXETER’S director of rugby Rob Baxter admitted his side were second best. He said: “In the Premiership you get the result you deserve and today […]

Burns brilliance puts end to Saints revival

11 February 2018 2 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Final flourish: Hooker Ross Batty goes over for Bath’s third try FORGOTTEN England fly-half Freddie Burns produced a masterful display as Bath […]

We got kick up butt says Gaffney

11 February 2018 1 comment

NORTHAMPTON boss Alan Gaffney’s response in defeat was blunt. “That was a kick up the butt,” growled the Aussie. “We lost lineouts, didn’t handle restarts […]