Premiership

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

Steenson: I said a prayer to my dad over kick

28 May 2017 2 comments

By NEALE HARVEY GARETH Steenson revealed he offered a prayer to his late father before kicking the vital conversion. Steenson’s heroics from the kicking tee […]

Exeter prove patience can be greatest virtue

28 May 2017 1 comment

BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT It was Leo Tolstoy – who doesn’t offer appear on the sports pages – who once remarked that the two most powerful […]

Exeter live the dream and rugby’s the winner

28 May 2017 0 comments

Wasps 20pts Tries: Gopperth 41, Daly 44 Conversions: Gopperth 41, 45 Penalties: Gopperth 18, 54 Exeter 23pts – After Extra Time Tries: Nowell 14, Dollman […]

NICK CAIN’S PLAYER WATCH…

28 May 2017 0 comments

WASPS 1. MATT MULLAN Hard day at the scrum but kept battling, and returned in extra-time to shore it up Rating: 6 out of 10 […]

How Wasps have fared since the club moved to Coventry

26 May 2017 0 comments

In 1999, professional rugby union outfit Wasps RFC changed their name to London Wasps to differentiate themselves from amateur side Wasps FC. It was the first in a series of changes that eventually saw the club relocated to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry in 2015.

Blackadder takes swipe at below-par Bath stars

25 May 2017 0 comments

Bath rugby director Todd Blackadder has put his star players on notice after admitting standards of professionalism had fallen below his expectations. Despite a promising […]

I can’t wait to get back to Leicester says Ford

24 May 2017 0 comments

George Ford is focused on another successful summer in white before returning to former club Leicester determined to win some silverware after a barren spell […]

Next week’s final promises to be an absolute cracker

21 May 2017 1 comment

BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT Go forward: Thomas Waldrom and Guy Thompson, celebrating with Thomas Young, got their teams on the front foot PICTURES: Getty Images SO […]

Slade missile sets up smash and grab raid

21 May 2017 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter 18pts Tries: Nowell 43, S Simmonds 79 Conversions: Steenson 43 Penalties: Steenson 26, 30 Saracens 16pts Tries: Wyles 57, Ellery 76 […]

McCall proud of his tired troops

21 May 2017 0 comments

MARK McCall admitted Saracens were ‘hanging on and looking tired’ after their European exertions. The Sarries director of rugby said: “What I’m most proud of […]

So sweet for Wasps as Bassett lands the final thrust

21 May 2017 0 comments

From NICK CAIN at Ricoh Arena Wasps 21pts Tries: Beale 7, Bassett 77 Conversions: Gopperth 8 Penalties: Gopperth 2, 23, 39 Leicester 20pts Tries: Betham […]

Big Joe was just immense says Dai

21 May 2017 0 comments

DAI YOUNG paid tribute to his side after their last ditch win. “I was very pleased with our composure –we never panicked but kept hammering […]

Hogan calls for franchise system to save the north

20 May 2017 0 comments

Newcastle managing director Mick Hogan believes club rugby in the north faces terminal decline unless the RFU act to reverse a trend that has seen […]

Steenson hoping for some Clermont pointers

14 May 2017 2 comments

By NICK VERDIER EXETER find Saracens on their path to Premiership glory once more but talisman Gareth Steenson reckons they could not be in a […]

Gopperth: Ending drought will prove selectors wrong

14 May 2017 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY WASPS will head into the play-offs fuelled by a burning sense of injustice over their international exclusions, according to newly crowned players’ […]

Kitchener confident Tigers can spring a surprise

14 May 2017 0 comments

Defiant: Leicester lock Graham Kitchener GRAHAM Kitchener reckons Leicester’s durability in adversity will enable them to ruin Wasps’ party and reach a first Premiership final […]

Rhodes now relishing life as colossus of Saracens

14 May 2017 0 comments

NICK VERDIER meets the black sheep who’s turned into a starring wolf for Saracens It can be a daunting prospect for a new, internationally unheralded […]

Woodburn refusing to give up on England dream

13 May 2017 0 comments

In-form Exeter wing Olly Woodburn reckons being snubbed by England has only fuelled his ambition to nail down a Premiership winner’s medal. Ten-try Woodburn is […]

Freddie Burns determined to leave Tigers with winning roar

12 May 2017 0 comments

Freddie Burns is out to prove Leicester were wrong to ditch him for George Ford by leading the club to an unexpected Premiership title triumph. […]

Quins go into Europe but Saints must wait

7 May 2017 2 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER HARLEQUINS lost the battle but won the war with a massive defensive shift at Franklin’s Gardens earning them a place in the […]

Mallinder: Picamoles is staying with us

7 May 2017 1 comment

HARLEQUINS boss John Kingston said defeat felt like a win given that it ensured European Champions rugby next season. “It’s an odd feeling when you […]

Tigers’ inspiring spirit carries them through

7 May 2017 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING No go zone: Worcester’s tryscorer Chris Pennell is tackled by Brendon O’Connor and Jack Roberts PICTURE: Getty Images AS THE bombshell news […]

We must improve from here – Gold

7 May 2017 0 comments

WORCESTER head coach Gary Gold lamented: “We could have won that game! “Our scrum needs to improve and silly errors cost us as we seem […]

Sale scrap it out thanks to cameo from Stringer

7 May 2017 0 comments

By COLIN NEWBOULT Red hot: Ben Curry of Sale Sharks scores a try PICTURES: Getty Images IT has certainly not been the easiest fortnight for […]

Blackadder: Work to do for top four

7 May 2017 0 comments

BATH director of rugby Todd Blackadder admits that they must improve their away form if they are to challenge the top-four next season. “I know […]

Agony as Newcastle miss play-off spot despite try bonus

7 May 2017 1 comment

Bristol 27pts Tries: Ford-Robinson 53, O’Connell 63, Tovey 76, Eadie 79 Conversions: Woodward 53, 63 Penalty: Henson 40 Newcastle 39pts Tries: Wilson 4, Goneva 20, […]

Prop star left with mixed emotions

7 May 2017 0 comments

NORTHAMPTON-bound Jamal Ford-Robinson was disappointed he could not sign off with a win for the Bristol fans. He will move to Franklin’s Gardens next season […]

Young’s hat-trick puts buzz back into Wasps

7 May 2017 0 comments

Wasps 35pts Tries: Young 20, 39, 78, Wade 59, Daly 71 Conversions: Gopperth 59, 71 Penalties: Gopperth 16, 35 Saracens 15pts Tries: Spencer 17, 63 […]

That 7’s not too bad is he says dad

7 May 2017 1 comment

WASPS rugby director Dai Young saluted his side, and his man-of-the-match openside flanker, son Thomas, for securing a home Premiership semifinal against Leicester. “I’m really […]

Chiefs earn home semi with record 8th bonus win on trot

7 May 2017 0 comments

Gloucester 20pts Tries: Ludlow 7 May 27, 59 Conversions: Laidlaw 7 Penalties: Laidlaw 19 Exeter 34pts Tries: Whitten 35 Moon 51 Short 55 Chudley 68 […]

We’ll get up for Stade – Laidlaw

7 May 2017 4 comments

GLOUCESTER’S Champions Cup qualification hopes now rest on Friday’s Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais. After finishing ninth for a third year out of four, […]

Tigers No.1 legacy safe with Genge says Ayerza

4 May 2017 0 comments

Leicester prop legend Marcos Ayerza has revealed how the joy of entrusting his beloved No.1 jersey to tyro loosehead Ellis Genge softened the blow of […]

De Koch, Brown take their final bow

30 April 2017 0 comments

RETIRING Saracens scrum-half Neil De Kock and flanker Kelly Brown were given rousing sendoffs after their final home appearances. De Kock said: “It feels weird […]

O’Connor: No-one wants to play us

30 April 2017 2 comments

MATT O’Connor was in upbeat mood after Leicester’s five try victory and insisted no-one would be relishing tangling with the Tigers should they make the […]

McCafferty cannot be allowed to cage Lions

30 April 2017 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK MARK McCafferty is making a serious mistake in trying to push the Lions into a five-week cage […]

Evans masterclass sends Wasps wobbling into season showdown

30 April 2017 0 comments

NICK Evans rolled back the years to give a command performance in his farewell match at the Stoop as Harlequins overwhelmed Premiership leaders Wasps 32-13 […]

Living legends ensure Cambridge will thrive

30 April 2017 1 comment

THE club with more Lions than any, Cambridge University RUFC, held their ‘Red Lion Legends’ dinner on Wednesday. In the process they not only sidestepped […]

Evans is Harlequins’ hero again in Stoop swansong

30 April 2017 0 comments

By NICK VERDIER NICK Evans, playing his last game at the Twickenham Stoop, guided Harlequins to yet another famous win as they stunned league leaders […]

Young: Big stars need to step up

30 April 2017 0 comments

DAI Young has called on his “big players” to deliver the goods next week and beat Saracens to secure a home semi-final after watching his […]

Sonatane’s late snipe steals win for Falcons

30 April 2017 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON IT WAS the Sonatane Takulua show at Kingston Park on Friday night with the Tongan star scoring all Newcastle’s points, including a […]

Gold: We paid for penalties

30 April 2017 0 comments

WORCESTER director of rugby Gary Gold was left ruing poor discipline as his side were denied at the death by Newcastle. Gold, who this week […]

PREVIEW… Bath v Gloucester

30 April 2017 1 comment

Today. Kick-off 3pm. The Rec THIS West Country derby promises to be particularly feisty with both teams’ season potentially riding on the result. Bath must […]

Trinder targetting big season finale

30 April 2017 2 comments

By NEALE HARVEY BATH’S decision to drop Jonathan Joseph has denied Henry Trinder the chance to pit his wits against the prospective British Lion, but […]

Derby day can inspire us says Matson

30 April 2017 1 comment

BATH’S European ambitions came crashing down last Sunday in Paris but they have to bounce back quickly if they are to make the Premiership semi-finals […]

Six-try Saints storm into Franklin’s finale

30 April 2017 0 comments

Northampton 49 Saracens 39 NORTHAMPTON Wanderers ran in six tries to see off Saracens in an 11-try thriller and set up a home A-League final […]

Protheroe magic sets up Randall for winner

30 April 2017 0 comments

Gloucester…40 Wasps…29 FLY-HALF Lloyd Evans was instrumental as Gloucester United overturned a 21-10 deficit against Wasps to book their place in the A League final. […]

Nowell’s spirit lights way for the Chiefs

30 April 2017 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR EXETER coach Ali Hepher believes Jack Nowell’s selection for the Lions tour has given the England winger and his Chiefs team-mates an […]

Big guns back for Saints’ Euro bid

30 April 2017 0 comments

NORTHAMPTON boss Jim Mallinder is hoping to have big guns George North, Louis Piccamoles and Courtney Lawes fit for Saturday’s winner-takes-all home clash with Quins […]