Premiership

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

EXCLUSIVE: Wage bills will push clubs to the brink

26 April 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Leicester Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen warns Premiership finances could “fall off a cliff” unless a handbrake is applied to rocketing wage […]

Wigglesworth staying on for more trophy success

21 April 2017 0 comments

Influential Sarries scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth has revealed his devotion to winning persuaded him to turn down big money offers from France. Wigglesworth, capped 27 times […]

Diamond fumes at Foley’s late call

16 April 2017 0 comments

STEVE Diamond once again aimed his wrath in the direction of referee Tom Foley as his side lost 39-30 to Gloucester in a topsy-turvy nine-try […]

Worcester hit the Gold standard to near safety

16 April 2017 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY Tongue-twister: Francois Hougaard spins the ball out for Warriors Breakaway: Matt Banahan powers through to score BRAVE Worcester pulled off a sensational […]

Title bid is over agrees Matson

16 April 2017 0 comments

BATH head coach Tabai Matson conceded his side’s title hopes look over. He said: “I said after last week’s game against Leicester it’s about who […]

High-flying Chiefs cash in another win bonus

16 April 2017 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Double delight: Chiefs full-back Lachie Turner dives over for one of his scores PICTURES: Getty Images Veteran: Nick Evans breaks away to […]

Baxter: Home semi not a must

16 April 2017 0 comments

EXETER boss Rob Baxter, delighted with yet another bonus points win, isn’t overly bothered about his high flying Chiefs securing a home draw in next […]

Hartley fired up by bid for Euro place

16 April 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY In the thick of the battle: Saints’ Dylan Hartley PICTURE: Getty Images NORTHAMPTON are out of the running for a top four […]

Northampton v Saracens

16 April 2017 1 comment

PREVIEW… NORTHAMPTON are unlikely to make the semi-finals this year but they’re still in the hunt for a Champions Cup spot and one thing is […]

Saracens put Conlon back on path to top via Bedford

16 April 2017 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS back rower Joel Conlon says he is determined to seize the day against Northampton after spending two years waiting patiently in […]

Wasps form key to Daly’s bid for more central role

16 April 2017 0 comments

By NICK VERDIER Coming of age: Elliot Daly in the thick of it against Northampton PICTURE: Getty Images ELLIOT Daly will use the coming matches […]

Bristol v Wasps

16 April 2017 0 comments

PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 3pm BRISTOL are running out of time. The odds are stacked against them and they simply have to win today to have […]

Williams upbeat despite agony at Exeter

16 April 2017 0 comments

BRISTOL were “gutted” not to beat Exeter at Sandy Park last time out and scrum-half Rhodri Williams is calling for another good performance ahead of […]

Impressive Tigers go back to their basics

16 April 2017 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Try scorer: Leicester’s Ben Youngs scores with a fine solo run Try saver: Vereniki Goneva is tackled by Ben Youngs ELLIS Genge […]

O’Connor: Lions have to pick Youngs

16 April 2017 0 comments

RETURNING Leicester head coach Matt O’Connor said there is no way the Lions selectors can afford to leave Ben Youngs behind after the scrum-half welcomed […]

Humphreys hails fighting spirit after Gloucester close it out

16 April 2017 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Double trouble: Tom Marshall scores the opening try for Gloucester, the first of his pair PICTURES: Getty Images Shark attack: Byron McGuigan […]

Exeter thrive on defying the odds says Steenson

13 April 2017 0 comments

Exeter fly-half Gareth Steenson reckons Rob Baxter‘s ability to outwit big-spending Premiership rivals in the transfer market is underpinning their title charge. While West Country […]

Courtney Lawes – I’m just going to get better and better

12 April 2017 0 comments

Courtney Lawes may have looked back to his best during the Six Nations but the Saints man has warned his would-be summer opponents that he […]

Globetrotter Francis has eyes trained on England

11 April 2017 0 comments

Super Rugby star Piers Francis is determined to challenge for an England fly-half spot when he returns from New Zealand later this summer. Gravesend-born Francis, […]

Bath finally run hot with general Ford in command

9 April 2017 0 comments

Bath…27pts Tries: Joseph 21, Watson 67, 71 Conversions: Ford 22, 68 Penalties: Ford 27, 49, 68, 72 Leicester …21pts Tries: O’Connor 5, Veainu 12 Conversion: […]

Blackadder proud his boys passed the character test

9 April 2017 1 comment

BATH had to come from behind to beat Leicester yesterday and Director of rugby Todd Blackadder couldn’t have been happier. He said: “I am just […]

Fletcher’s lads off to flyer against Canada

9 April 2017 0 comments

ENGLAND U18s scored nine tries as they got their international series off to a winning start at Taffs Well RFC yesterday. Oli Morris, Nic Dolly, […]

Saracens start their long sprint for home

9 April 2017 1 comment

Saracens…40pts Tries: Ashton 16, Brits 23, Rhodes 73, Goode 77 Conversions: Farrell 17, 24, 73, 78 Penalties: Farrell 34, 42, 61, 68 Harlequins …19pts Tries: […]

Kingston: Now we need big response

9 April 2017 1 comment

DUNCAN Taylor claims Sarries are hitting their peak at the right time after they crushed Quins to clinch a playoff place. The centre said: “The […]

Slade’s slip-ups give Bristol hope of upset

9 April 2017 1 comment

Exeter…38pts Tries: Woodburn 1, Parling 40, Whitten 41, Waldrom 52, 77 Conversions: Slade 1, 40, 41, 52; Steenson 77 Penalties: Slade 21 Bristol…34pts Tries: Hurrell […]

Baxter: Mistakes gave us problems

9 April 2017 0 comments

EXETER head coach Rob Baxter, relieved that his side have twice hit back from 14 points down to take ten points in successive home matches […]

Scrum boys give Joel his shot at redemption

9 April 2017 1 comment

By JOHN RILEY Newcastle …16pts Tries: Socino 22 Conversions: Delany 24 Penalties: Hodgson 46, 65, 81 Gloucester …14pts Tries: May 37, Marshall 48 Conversions: Twelvetrees […]

European Cup bid still alive – Deano

9 April 2017 0 comments

NEWCASTLE boss Dean Richards insists Champions Cup rugby is still there for the taking after this dramatic victory closed the gap on the top six […]

Gap widens on Bristol as Sharks edge 9-try spectacular

9 April 2017 0 comments

By COLIN NEWBOULT Sale Sharks…36pts Tries: James 7, 28, Haley 39, McGuigan 64, B Curry 77 Conversions: MacGinty 8, 29, 40, 78 Penalties: MacGinty 75 […]

Soft tries getting annoying – Gold

9 April 2017 1 comment

GARY Gold was frustrated by his team’s display and refused to believe that they are safe from relegation. “Mathematically, it’s not enough and I would […]

Gopperth demands a big reaction to Dublin fiasco

9 April 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY PREVIEW… Wasps v Northampton Today. Kick-off 3pm. Ricoh Arena FRUSTRATED Wasps centre Jimmy Gopperth is desperate to exorcise the ghosts of last […]

Play-off bid still alive insists Dickens

9 April 2017 0 comments

BACKS coach Allan Dickens insists Northampton can still reach the Premiership semi-finals but they must win all their games to do so. With only four […]

‘I was close to being an LA drop-out’

8 April 2017 0 comments

Monster hooker Joe Taufete’e has been a massive hit at Sixways but it was not so long ago that the huge American with Samoan heritage […]

Cohen comes out fighting in defence of Mauger axe

7 April 2017 0 comments

Leicester chief executive Simon Cohen has defended the sackings of Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger, claiming both decisions were “robust” and revealing that players had […]

Frustrated Fisher tells Gloucester to get real

4 April 2017 0 comments

Laurie Fisher says Gloucester have a long way to go before they can be considered a powerhouse of English rugby after revealing his deep disappointment […]

Pressure almost led me to suicide admits Leicester star

30 March 2017 0 comments

Leicester scrum-half Jono Kitto is spearheading a campaign aimed at persuading players to open up about mental health issues after revealing how his quest for […]

In-form Worcester aiming to shock Wasps

26 March 2017 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON WORCESTER went a long way to securing their Premiership safety last time out but flanker Sam Lewis insists there is no chance […]

Wasps v Worcester

26 March 2017 1 comment

Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Ricoh Arena PREVIEW… WASPS had been favourites to reach the semi-finals before the season even started given their stellar squad – and […]

Tigers find a Mauger performance at last

26 March 2017 0 comments

By NICK CAIN LEICESTER said they were determined to send Aaron Mauger into the sunset on a winning note. And they delivered thanks to a […]

Williams: This one was for Aaron

26 March 2017 1 comment

MATCH-WINNING marksman Owen Williams said Leicester wanted to give departing coach Aaron Mauger a winning send-off. “He’s a lovely bloke and a great coach, and […]

Robshaw’s back and firing for his Lions selection

26 March 2017 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins 53pts Tries: Buchanan 14, Brown 21, Marchant 40, Yarde 42, Luamanu 48, Care 55, Swiel 77 Conversions: Evans 15, 22, 40, […]

Deano: Yes, put Chris on the plane

26 March 2017 0 comments

RIVAL coaches John Kingston and Dean Richards were united in respectfully suggesting Warren Gatland seriously considers Chris Robshaw for the Lions tour to New Zealand […]

We wanted it too easy, Baxter raps his Chiefs

26 March 2017 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter 30pts Tries: Horstmann 25, Cowan-Dickie 38, Woodburn 46, Armand 67 Conversions: Slade 38, 67 4Penalties: Slade 50, 76 Sale Sharks 25pts […]

Diamond let down after fine first half

26 March 2017 0 comments

SALE boss Steve Diamond reckoned his side could have won after going 19-5 up in the first half. He admitted: “I’m a bit disappointed by […]

Time running out as Bristol let chance slip

26 March 2017 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bristol 14pts Tries: Crumpton 78 Penalties: Searle 11, 39, 53 Gloucester 32pts Tries: Sharples 13, Burns 56, Ludlow 69, May 80 Conversions: […]

Gloucs’ effort satisfies boss Bell

26 March 2017 1 comment

IN HIS first match in charge of Gloucester, following the departure of Laurie Fisher, head coach Jonny Bell, said: “We showed a huge amount of […]

Rhodes welcomes back heavy brigade

26 March 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY WITH their England contingent back and showing no ill-effects from last week’s Grand Slam defeat in Ireland, back rower Michael Rhodes reckons […]

Ton-up Louw hopes to do a number on Sarries

26 March 2017 2 comments

BATH are challenging strongly for a return to the Premiership play-offs and Francois Louw has urged his teammates not to let such an opportunity slip […]

Saracens v Bath

26 March 2017 1 comment

Today. Kick-off 3pm. Allianz Park PREVIEW… SARACENS are poised for yet another Premiership semi-final but they’ll be desperate to see off Exeter for second place […]