Premiership

English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

“Year long slog left me in dip,” says Mako Vunipola

Mako Vunipola has revealed how post-Lions fatigue caused his form to dip dramatically.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Anthony Watson will be star for England says Nick Abendanon

Nick Abendanon admits that Anthony Watson’s emergence proved a decisive factor in taking the plunge with European giants Clermont.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Size no problem for elusive Kyle Eastmond

Kyle Eastmond is confident size will not count against him as he targets a place in England’s increasingly congested midfield.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Apprentice Maro Itoje ready to replace the grand master

Maro Itoje could barely pluck up the courage to speak to Steve Borthwick when the pair first met at Saracens four...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Top ten hit Owen Farrell has climbed up to No.3

Owen Farrell can be bracketed among the world’s top three fly-halves alongside Dan Carter and Jonny Sexton, according to Wasps and...

By The Rugby Paper Team
Champions Cup
/ 12 years ago

Exeter aim to be Euro champs in five years

Matt Jess insists there are “no limits” to what Exeter Chiefs can achieve.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Bath want Gavin Henson to fight for his place

Bath head coach Mike Ford has revealed his desire to keep Gavin Henson as he looks to build one of Premiership...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Jim Mallinder staying to finish his Leicester hunt

Jim Mallinder has revealed how the desire to break Leicester Tigers’ hegemony and establish Northampton as domestic rugby’s leading force persuaded...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Jacques Burger: Rugby’s brutal so don’t play if you can’t take the pain

Jacques Burger, arguably Premiership Rugby’s toughest tackler, admits to being concerned over the long-term effects of professional rugby’s relentless brutality.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Championship
/ 12 years ago

RFU face legal action over league restructure

The Rugby Football Union faces court action by lower league clubs unless controversial plans to restructure the National Leagues are dropped.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Newcastle sign second row

Newcastle have bolstered their second-row options with the signing of former Saracens and Plymouth Albion man Harry Spencer until the end...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Worcester Warriors are right for me says Sam Smith

Sam Smith has denied he was forced out of Harlequins to make room for Marland Yarde, revealing he turned down a...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Let’s copy the NFL to help black coaches up the ladder

Collin Osborne, as skills chief at Harlequins the only black coach operating at the top end of English rugby, believes more...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Axe cap or risk losing out on TV bonanza, says Nigel Wray

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray believes greater success in Europe is critical if Premiership clubs are to maximise future TV revenue.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Sam Burgess will shake up centre play, says Henry Paul

Henry Paul believes the signing of Rugby League star Sam Burgess will take centre play in England onto a new level...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Stephen Jones helps Joe Simpson put family heartbreak behind him

Joe Simpson is ready to put personal tragedy behind him and fight for a place on England’s summer tour to New...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Who ate all the pies? Not new-look James Johnston!

James Johnston admits that adapting to life at Saracens has been anything but smooth.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Electric Kyle Eastmond can put the frighteners on

Former England Sevens captain Rob Vickerman believes Kyle Eastmond can follow in the footsteps of Jason Robinson and “revolutionise” back play...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Alex Waller was spurred on by England omissions

Snubbed by England through the age-groups, Alex Waller’s chance to pull on the Red Rose jersey was a long time coming.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Sale Sharks still expect bite from lock of ages Nathan Hines

Nathan Hines will be 39 by the time his newly-signed Sale contract finishes, but retirement is still far from the mind...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Marlan Yarde would be top signing says Tom Williams

Tom Williams says speculation linking Marland Yarde with a move to Harlequins is a positive sign of ambition and would welcome...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Worcester snap-up Gloucester duo

As revealed in The Rugby Paper last Sunday, Worcester have signed Matt Cox and Ryan Mills from Gloucester.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Saracens bait Adam ‘Hair Bear’Jones with £300k

Saracens have entered the bidding war for Wales and Lions star Adam Jones offering him £300,000 a season

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Owen Williams ready to fight for Toby Flood’s No.10 shirt

Freddie Burns’ expected arrival at Welford Road has Tigers fans purring but he should not expect to walk into the No.10...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

No excuses for failure at Warriors blasts Richard Hill

Worcester should be achieving far better results than they have managed under Dean Ryan, says former Sixways boss Richard Hill.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Sorry, but I’m happy on the wing says George North

George North is not planning on making his switch to the centres permanent any time soon – even if life on...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Sporting all-rounder Hayden Smith back ‘home’ at Saracens

He grew up playing basketball in Australia and discovered rugby in the USA. And now Hayden Smith has returned from a...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Freddie Burns will replace Toby Flood at Leicester Tigers next season

Freddie Burns will be playing for Leicester next season as the Tigers’ goal-kicking successor to Toby Flood.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Welsh will be safe from Aviva Premiership relegation

The Welsh regions have struck a deal guaranteeing three of their four teams immunity from relegation as a condition of joining...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Gamble on Leicester Tigers exit has paid off says George Ford

It is hard to avoid drawing comparisons between George Ford and Owen Farrell – two of the brightest young things in...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

‘Class act’ James O’Connor can inspire Irish return to top

Mick Crossan, leader of the consortium who own London Irish, wants Australian star James O’Connor to be the talisman for a...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Steve Meehan fears for Bath after Gary Gold’s shock exit

Former Bath head coach Steve Meehan fears the club could be in danger of being “sent off the rails” unless its...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Freddie Burns: Doubt over my future is getting to me

Freddie Burns has revealed the full extent of the emotional turmoil he is enduring as he grapples with deciding whether to...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

I can change Saracens’ luck at 13 says Marcelo Bosch

Argentina’s Marcelo Bosch aims to be the perfect replacement for Joel Tomkins at Saracens after the England centre was sidelined with...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Now Welsh regions can join the Aviva Premiership says Nigel Wray

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray claims that the embattled Welsh regions want to join the English Premiership as a move towards long-term...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Dave Attwood has done it all himself, says Danny Grewcock

As a bruising second row with a CV that features one or two misdemeanours, Dave Attwood has often been compared to...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Francois Louw: I’m happy to split Bath with Springboks

Just seven days after playing for the Springboks in a pulsating Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand, Francois Louw was not...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Jacques Burger gives the credit to Billy Vunipola for flying start

He has been called the best ‘signing’ of the summer after putting two years of injury hell behind him – but...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Dave Ewers follows David Pocock in beating pain of exile

At first glance, Exeter’s powerhouse No.8 Dave Ewers does not appear to have much in common with Australia’s David Pocock. But...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

New coffee-shop owner Chris Robshaw determined not to become a has-bean

For Chris Robshaw, the coffee entrepreneur, it’s a case of better latte than never.

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Nick Wood to know his fate tomorrow

Nick Wood will appear in front of a RFU hearing panel tomorrow (Wednesday) following his sending off against Saracens on Sunday....

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

“I had to quit Irish to stay in the picture with England” – Jonathan Joseph

Jonathan Joseph believes any hopes he had of cementing his England spot were on a hiding to nothing as long as...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Referees in quit threat over RFU’s ‘Big Brother’ plan

Premiership Rugby’s desire to exert increasing influence over referees was behind Ed Morrison’s shock decision to quit his post as head...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Henry Thomas got his shot in the dark now he’s ready to shine for Sale

Henry Thomas, as one of the few beacons of light in a dark season for Sale, has been forced to learn...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

“… and I’m after your club shirt,” warns Luke Wallace

Luke Wallace has promised to repay Stuart Lancaster‘s faith in him – by ousting England captain Chris Robshaw from the Harlequins...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Ambitious Nick Kennedy has Stooped to conquer

Turning your back on the superstar lifestyle at galactico-laden Toulon might appear to be mad. But Nick Kennedy insists he is...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Craig Mitchell: Shame of my ‘Lions’ punch-up

Craig Mitchell has spoken candidly about the horrific long-haul flight home from Australia in June when he feared his rugby career...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Nigel Melville in talks over US-based Premiership games

England‘s Premiership clubs are to hold imminent talks with American power-brokers aimed at ‘opening up’ the trans-Atlantic market. USA Rugby’s top...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Shane Geraghty: London Irish can confound runaways and bid for Top6

Shane Geraghty admits to understanding why a string of top players opted to quit London Irish. But the bullish Exiles playmaker...

By The Rugby Paper Team
English Gallagher Premiership
/ 12 years ago

Alex King hopes to turn his new Northampton Saints into kings

George North‘s unveiling at Northampton was close to rock star status – but the man who could prove to be Saints’...

By The Rugby Paper Team