Premiership

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

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 […]

Sarries awake from siesta in nick of time

30 April 2017 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS spent the early part of the week sunning themselves in Barcelona and it took a full 45 minutes for them to […]

Burns hits 19 points but how Tigers miss Ayerza grunt

30 April 2017 0 comments

By NICK CAIN FREDDIE Burns is headed for Bath this summer, but he probably put paid to his new club’s chances of a play-off place […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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