Premiership

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

stdClass Object ( [id] => 1 [league_id] => 1 [season_name] => Premiership Regular Season [season_slug] => premiership-regular-season [season_start] => 2022 [season_end] => 2023 [wp_league_id] => 77 [status] => 1 )

Roebuck out to impress England

5 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale’s Tom Roebuck is a man on a mission as he looks to use the final weeks of the Premiership season to […]

RFU’s still killing the dreams of investors

5 May 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The RFU’s indecision is final. It does not know what to do about promotion-relegation – or, if […]

Don’t put Dickson in that position

5 May 2024 0 comments

If the Karl Dickson furore in the Harlequins v Northampton clash last weekend at Twickenham tells us anything, it is that if a former pro […]

Without referees, there is no game

5 May 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at the pressures on the men and women in the middle and asks what can be done to help them Who would […]

We had belief in our ability

5 May 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens talks to Exeter Chiefs legend Gareth Steenson as he embarks on a new chapter away from Sandy Park IN THE heart of Exeter, […]

University pathway to top of the game

5 May 2024 0 comments

By WILLIAM GUPWELL Being named in an England Students squad is among the highest honours that can be bestowed upon a university rugby student in […]

The ringfence which is encouraging open play

5 May 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME THERE have been a few articles written about how the Premiership has started to play a […]

Itoje avoids ban for Barbeary tackle

1 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens second row Maro Itoje has avoided a ban for the last two games of the regular season of the Premiership for his tackle on […]

Series 3, Episode 36: Ruan Ackermann on Prem weekend, residency rules and EPCR semis

30 April 2024 0 comments

Following a pivotal weekend of Gallagher Premiership action – not without its controversies – Ollie Little, Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain are joined by Gloucester […]

Baxter: “We are overachieving” this season

29 April 2024 0 comments

Rob Baxter praised his young side’s competitive edge and their ability to learn from mistakes after their comfortable victory against Gloucester. “We probably are overachieving […]

Vunipola arrested and tasered twice in Majorca incident

29 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens and former England number eight Billy Vunipola has been arrested following a violent incident in a bar in Majorca. According to reports in The […]

Chiefs boost top-four hopes with five-try win at Kingsholm

28 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Gloucester…………………………………………..17 Tries: May 29, Clement 40, Clark 50 Conversions: Atkinson 52 Exeter Chiefs……………………………………….38 Tries: Vermeulen 14, 60; John 18, Woodburn 36, Feyi-Waboso […]

Battle for top four reaching climax

28 April 2024 0 comments

The battle for the Premiership play-off places heated up yesterday with leaders Northampton losing to Harlequins and a revitalised Bristol Bears launching a stunning comeback […]

I’ll never stop looking for hidden gems – Lam

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam says he will never stop plundering the rugby mine of the Championship and the leagues below it as he searches […]

Saracens know how to win – Tompkins

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With the Premiership run-in hotting up, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins claims ‘experience matters’ in these blockbuster end-of-season contests and says his side […]

Leicester in discussions to hire new attack coach

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Dan McKellar has told Leicester fans to buckle up for the ride next season as the club closes in on appointing an […]

Langdon is quick to make his point

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton have placed an emphasis this season on putting pace in the legs of their players and that suits Curtis Langdon, a […]

Falcons face battle to break their duck

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Time is running out for Newcastle as they seek to avoid joining Rotherham and London Welsh as clubs who finished a Premiership […]

Porter delivers as Quins stay in hunt

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ……………………41pts Tries: Northmore 1, 26; Lewies 33, Murley 45, Porter 67, 73 Conversions: Smith 27, 34, 46; Evans 74 Penalties: Evans […]

‘For us today, it was do or die’

28 April 2024 0 comments

Quins skipper Alex Dombrandt was delighted after the Londoners’ crucial victory over Northampton. “We make it tough for ourselves sometimes,” he said. “But we’re very […]

Leicester stunned by Bristol late show

28 April 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester Tigers ………….19pts Tries: Ollie Hassell-Collins 17, 48; van Wyk 63 Conversions: Pollard 18, 63 Bristol Bears ………………..21pts Tries: Lahiff 68, 74; Bradbury […]

Thacker made the difference, says Lam

28 April 2024 0 comments

Bristol boss Pat Lam lauded substitute Harry Thacker after his team had overturned a 19-0 deficit to beat Leicester. “This game is always the one […]

Saracens take advantage in battle for top two spot

28 April 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bath……………………………………. 12pts Tries: du Toit 57, Redpath 62 Conversions: Spencer 62 Saracens……………………………15pts Tries: Parton 12, Segun 40 Conversions: Farrell 40 Penalties: Farrell […]

We managed to rediscover our energy, says McCall

28 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall hopes his side’s improved display at Bath will be a springboard for the rest of the season. “Even though […]

Sharks look to have edge in Diamond derby

28 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingston Park SALE boss Alex Sanderson has thanked Steve Diamond, his opposite number […]

Diamond still confident he can make a big difference

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Starting: Guy Pepper LAST season’s beaten Premiership finalists would not seem the ideal opponents after conceding a record number of points in […]

Vermeulen: It’s payback time for the Chiefs

28 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm BRUISING back rower Jacques Vermeulen wants Exeter to put their foot on the […]

Skivington looking for players to prove themselves

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Dasher: Josh Hathaway GEORGE Skivington has told his players ahead of today’s clash with Exeter at Kingsholm that they may have nothing […]

Steve Diamond - Sale Sharks - Premiership

The day Sir John picked up the bill

28 April 2024 0 comments

Steve Diamond always had a way with words – some of his stories concerning Danny Cipriani during the wayward outside-half ’s time on the Sale […]

Young Guns: Harlequins & England U20 centre Sean Kerr

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Sean Kerr revealed kicking in front of a vibrant, hostile crowd in France during England U20s Six Nations title decider in Pau […]

Kata banned for three games after Dingwall tackle

25 April 2024 0 comments

Solomone Kata has received a three-match ban for his tackle on Fraser Dingwall that saw him red carded in the East Midlands derby last weekend, […]

Grace to stay at Bath until at least the end of next season

24 April 2024 0 comments

Former St Helens rugby league star Regan Grace is to stay at Bath until at least the end of the 2024/25 season after impressing coach […]

Sharks battle past Quins to keep play-off hopes alive

21 April 2024 0 comments

Sale Sharks…………………………37 Tries: Curry 3, Dugdale 7, Reed 40+2, 64; Quirke 59 Conversions: Ford 4, 40+4 Penalties: Ford 16, 44 Harlequins………………………….31 Tries: Lynagh 24, 35; […]

Quins duo tipped to power up England

21 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Will Collier and Fin Baxter could galvanise the England scrum with their technique and power, according to World Cup-winning scrum coach Phil […]

Be quick! McKellar’s lowdown on Leinster

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton had the chance last night to quiz Dan McKellar about their Champions Cup semi-final opponents Leinster but, before the East Midlands […]

Call to give support for Worcester revival

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Worcester Warriors’ Supporters Trust chairman Marcus Mulcahy is frustrated at the lack of empathy and support shown by the rugby community towards […]

Furbank: We were spoonfed too much

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Furbank feels Northampton’s rise this season is down to a pre-season meeting when the players resolved to take more responsibility. The […]

Exeter forward Davis shocked by cancer diagnosis

21 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Such is the nature of rugby union, players often tend to think lumps and bumps are part and parcel of the modern-day […]

Malins keen to get back into England contention

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Malins will use the closing weeks of the season to give the England selectors a nudge ahead of the summer Tests […]

Johann has brought us true belief, says Bayliss

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath have turned themselves from also-rans to title contenders in less than two years under Johann van Graan and to Josh Bayliss […]

We knew we had to swing the bat – Porter

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Few gave Harlequins a chance at Bordeaux-Begles last weekend, but where there was a Will Porter there was a way. The 25-year […]

Sorrell pleased to see English clubs stand up

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite their fierce London rivalry with Harlequins, Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell is pleased two Premiership sides reached the last four of […]

McKellar: Red card was a bit strong

21 April 2024 0 comments

Leicester boss Dan McKellar claimed that centre Solomone Kata should have been shown a yellow rather than red for his high challenge on Fraser Dingwall […]

Tigers demolished by Saints fireworks

21 April 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Northampton Saints….. 40pts Tries: Langdon 42, Penalty 47, R Smith 64, Hendy 68, James 74 Conversions: Furbank 64, 68 Penalties: Furbank 13, […]

Barbeary leads the revenge mission

21 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter Chiefs ……………….14pts Tries: Woodburn 46, Townsend 71 Conversions: Slade 47, 72 Bath ……………………………… 26pts Tries: Barbeary 28, Spencer 40, Ojomoh 49, Reid […]

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter

Baxter: Bath got under our skin

21 April 2024 0 comments

Exeter boss Rob Baxter believes his side need to win all of their remaining Premiership games to stand any chance of making the play-offs. “I […]

Saracens get back in the old routine

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens …………………….. 46pts Tries: Parton 7, 12, 20; McFarland 41, Willis 56, Hartley 62, Cinti 65 Conversions: Farrell 8, 13; Manu Vunipola […]

We need to be more consistent for longer, says McCall

21 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens DoR Mark McCall was satisfied overall but frustrated with the final 10 minutes against Gloucester. He said: “I’m pleased with five points and there […]

Sanderson: We can’t fall in closing stages

21 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Sale Sharks v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, AJ Bell Stadium SUCCESSFUL Grand National punter Alex Sanderson knows victory against Harlequins today […]