Premiership

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

The French farce could have ended so much earlier

26 March 2017 1 comment

THE farce that unfolded in Paris last Saturday, culminating in almost 20 minutes of added time was a perfect storm. It combined skulduggery by coaches […]

Cipriani: We can match glory days

26 March 2017 1 comment

On the move: Danny Cipriani knows when to kick or run PICTURE: Getty Images By NICK VERDIER DELIVERING Wasps’ first trophy in nine years will […]

Worcester rejuvenated after Gold makeover

24 March 2017 0 comments

Gary Gold has revealed he discovered a Worcester squad training poorly and unprepared for the physical intensity of the Premiership when he was parachuted into […]

Beale determined to deliver the goods at Wasps before departing

22 March 2017 0 comments

Kurtley Beale reckons the addition of Springbok superstar Willie Le Roux to an already electrifying backline has given Wasps the extra edge they need to […]

Top clubs vie to lure Brown from Harlequins

7 March 2017 0 comments

Harlequins face the prospect of losing star full-back Mike Brown in the summer. And Brown’s fellow England international, scrum-half Danny Care, is also said to […]

PREVIEW… Worcester v Bristol

5 March 2017 0 comments

Today. Sixways, kick-off 3pm As much as both sides want to downplay the importance of this match, it is a must-win for both Worcester and […]

Mathewson is on alert over old foe Hougaard

5 March 2017 2 comments

By NICK VERDIER THEY are used to locking horns in Super Rugby but today scrum-halves Alby Mathewson and Francois Hougaard will take on each other […]

Olivier backs Warriors to win their ‘Test’

5 March 2017 2 comments

THE Six Nations might be on a break this weekend but Worcester’s World Cupwinning centre Wynand Olivier reckons there will be a Test match feeling […]

PREVIEW… Newcastle v Saracens

5 March 2017 0 comments

Today. Kick-off 2pm NEWCASTLE are within touching distance of booking a place in the Champions Cup for next season and beating Saracens for the first […]

Brilliant Beale keeps Wasps buzzing on top

5 March 2017 1 comment

By NICK CAIN Bamboozled: Wasps’ star man Kurtley Beale terrorises the Bath defence PICTURE: Getty Images KURTLEY Beale may have cost Wasps a king’s ransom, […]

Sarries in Falcons’ sights as they eye Top Six

5 March 2017 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Falcon soars: Calum Green wins a lineout for Newcastle against Wasps PICTURE: Getty Images CALUM GREEN is confident Newcastle can mark his […]

CLOSE-UP

5 March 2017 0 comments

ANTHONY WATSON CHRISTIAN WADE Wasps wing Wasps wing Watson was released from England camp to get much-needed match practice but it was Wade who stole […]

Taylor thrilled to be on the long road back

5 March 2017 0 comments

By CHRIS JONES A YEAR ago Saracens centre Duncan Taylor was putting together a string of outstanding performances for Scotland that earned him inclusion in […]

Young: We want Kurtley to stay

5 March 2017 2 comments

WASPS two-try hero Kurtley Beale paid tribute to his teammates after their emphatic win at the Rec. “Full credit to our boys for putting in […]

Lang puts boot in to complete Gloucester collapse

5 March 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY HARLEQUINS supremo John Kingston saluted his side’s character after James Lang’s last gasp penalty completed a remarkable late comeback. Trailing 27-15 with […]

CLOSE-UP

5 March 2017 0 comments

MATT SCOTT Gloucester outside-centre JOE MARCHANT Quins outside-centre Marchant showed his England potential with an excellent first half in which his footwork and ball skills […]

Anger over 8 minutes of chaos

5 March 2017 1 comment

GLOUCESTER director of rugby David Humphreys slammed his side after their late capitulation. “It’s almost impossible to sum up that last eight minutes – chaos, […]

Tigers’ revival hope is scalped by the Chiefs

5 March 2017 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER EXETER Chiefs’ march to the play-offs – possibly even topping the table – continued apace with this comprehensive dismantling of a Tigers […]

CLOSE-UP

5 March 2017 0 comments

TOM CROFT Leicester blindside DON ARMAND Exeter blindside While it was great to see Croft making only his second Premiership start this season the England […]

Baxter: Now we want to win title

5 March 2017 1 comment

EXETER Chiefs coach Rob Baxter said: “We are still a relatively new Premiership club but if you finish second as we did and you are […]

Myler magic keeps Saints marching on

5 March 2017 1 comment

By COLIN NEWBOULT Barreling over: Northampton hooker Mikey Haywood powers his way over to score. PICTURES: Getty Images JUDGED on this performance, you wonder why […]

CLOSE-UP

5 March 2017 0 comments

JOSH BEAUMONT TEIMANA HARRISON Sale No.8 Northampton No.8 Beaumont did not play badly and was a presence in the loose, but Northampton controlled the breakdown […]

Diamond: They put their cues in the rack

5 March 2017 1 comment

SALE boss Steve Diamond was angry with his side’s performance and criticised some of their lacklustre individuals. “That may be a problem with three or […]

Dai Young on coaching his son at Wasps

3 March 2017 0 comments

The raw emotion Olly Robinson expressed when his father Andy was sacked as Bristol director of rugby earlier this season revealed just how complicated rugby […]

Dom Waldouck weighing up the option of sabbatical

2 March 2017 0 comments

Eco-friendly centre Dominic Waldouck is unsure what role he will play for new-age Newcastle next season, if any, but appearing in the Varsity Match while […]

Patience paid for them – Deano

26 February 2017 0 comments

FALCONS’ boss, Dean Richards, paid tribute to Exeter and said: “They are very good side, who are incredibly patient, as they wait for a chink […]

Read leads fight against rise of the machines

26 February 2017 2 comments

Kieran Read stands out in a land of giants for a reason other than his status as leader of the best team on the planet. […]

Where was tribute to Grand Slam commander Gwilliam?

26 February 2017 1 comment

JOHN Gwilliam has been unique among Wales captains for the last 65 years and he will remain so for as long as it takes someone […]

Put the fire back into Edinburgh, Cockers, but try to avoid any nose rubbing

26 February 2017 0 comments

IN the pecking order for the PRO12 title, Edinburgh are in an all too familiar position. They are nowhere – but then it’s been a […]

Champions kick-start their bid for top spot

26 February 2017 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD MARK McCall breathed a huge sigh of relief after his champions rediscovered the art of winning by sweeping Sharks aside at Allianz […]

CLOSE-UP

26 February 2017 1 comment

NATHAN EARLE DENNY SOLOMONA Denny Solomona has been the talk of the Premiership of late for varying reasons, but mainly due to his skilful running […]

Diamond: We just weren’t up to it

26 February 2017 0 comments

STEVE Diamond was in a light-hearted, smiling mood for once despite the defeat. Having spent a rare match perched in a seat away from his […]

It’ll be furious from the start as derby fervour

26 February 2017 0 comments

By NICK VERDIER NICK FENTON-WELLS has no doubt Bristol can avoid relegation but time is running out and he knows a return to winning ways […]

their teeth to tear apart Quins’ proud home record

26 February 2017 0 comments

Tigers show By NICK VERDIER LEICESTER, despite all their troubles this season, are again in contention for the playoffs after forcing Quins to surrender their […]

Kingston: It’s just top six left for us

26 February 2017 0 comments

HARLEQUINS boss John Kingston is adamant his side are out of the race for the Premiership playoffs. With only six games to go, Quins are […]

We’ve got to get it right in contact area to stop Gloucester says Gaskell

26 February 2017 0 comments

By NICK VERDIER WASPS have no match when it comes to scoring points in the Premiership but James Gaskell would like to see the same […]

Short’s double puts Chiefs a point off top

26 February 2017 1 comment

By ROGER PANTING JAMES Short moved to the top of the Premiership try-scoring chart with another two as Exeter maintained the pressure on Wasps at […]

Bath reap benefits from Cheika snub with Ben Tapuai

23 February 2017 0 comments

Ben Tapuai admits leaving Australia left him “scared” but says a fresh start was necessary after being snubbed by Wallabies boss Michael Cheika. Talented Tapuai, […]

EXCLUSIVE: Why Maxime Mermoz left French rugby behind

22 February 2017 0 comments

The sea, the sun, the trophies, Maxime Mermoz appeared to have it all. But underneath all that glitter it was a different story and he […]

McCall: Vunipola ready for Italy call

19 February 2017 1 comment

SARACENS boss Mark McCall believes prop Mako Vunipola will play some part in the Italy game for England on Sunday after a going well for […]

O’Driscoll is on the case to find any Kiwi flaws

19 February 2017 0 comments

When it comes to the lengths New Zealand will go to turn over the Lions there are none with better first-hand knowledge than Brian O’Driscoll. […]

Quins suffer mauling as Bath begin to flow

19 February 2017 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER BATH maintained their push for a playoff place by pulling away from a dogged and resilient Harlequins side in the final quarter […]

Kingston: One little mistake was costly

19 February 2017 0 comments

HARLEQUINS coach John Kingston is still mystified how his side managed to leave the Rec empty handed last night. “I am absolutely gutted given the […]

Enforcer Latu raring to be let off the leash

19 February 2017 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingston Park Newcastle v Northampton HAVING fought back from a career-threatening knee injury, Newcastle’s back row enforcer Nili […]

JP sentences Bristol to an eight-try lashing

19 February 2017 2 comments

Going over: Pat Cilliers scores Leicester’s first try PICTURES: Getty Images Well done, pal: Owen Williams congratulates Brendon O’Connor, left, after he scores Leicester’s sixth […]

after seven-month injury lay-off

19 February 2017 2 comments

Until making his seasonal bow off the bench against Bath in the Anglo- Welsh Cup a fortnight ago, followed by another half an hour against […]

Tainton’s rap after collapse to Tigers

19 February 2017 2 comments

BRISTOL head coach Mark Tainton ordered his strugglers to have “hard look at ourselves” after this thumping. Bristol have not won since New Year’s Day […]

Worcester suffer Short circuit after yellow card for Faosiliva

19 February 2017 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING JAMES Short scored an explosive hat-trick to maintain Exeter’s unbeaten record over Worcester in the Premiership. It was a tenth consecutive success […]

Problem areas are all fixable says Gold

19 February 2017 0 comments

ROB Baxter was delighted with an 80-minute effort from his Chiefs. “We maintained our intensity throughout and there was a momentum change even before the […]

Addison backs prolific Solomona to shine if

19 February 2017 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE STAND-IN Sale captain Will Addison has backed Denny Solomona to take his prolific try-scoring form to the next level if England or […]

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