Premiership players to watch XV: Who's been the best signing?!

Premiership players to watch XV: Who’s been the best signing?!

A lot of new players have come to the Aviva Premiership this summer with some teams recovering from disastrous seasons.

Some are looking to replace club legends and others are looking to compete for the crown.

Our 15  players to watch this season are:

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Fullback: Liam Williams (Saracens)

The 25-year-old showed he can play full-back or wing during the Lions tour to New Zealand and has 38 caps for Wales, as well as 100 Scarlets appearances.


Wing: Napolioni Nalaga (London Irish)

The Exiles have announced a raft of major new signings for next season – led by Fijian flyer Napolioni Nalaga.

The 31-year-old scored 105 tries in 165 games for French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne, playing in the 2013 European Cup final against Toulon, before joining Lyon last season.


Centre: Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)

He made his England debut during their two-match tour of Argentina, showing a lot of promise.

Francis is an exciting rugby player, both in attack and defence.

The 26-year-old moved to New Zealand in 2009 after three years in Saracens’ development academy.


Centre: Francis Saili (Harlequins)

Quins made one of the biggest signings of the summer with the former All Black centre moving to The Stoop.

The 26-year-old joins from Pro12 side Munster, having spent two seasons in Ireland after three years playing for the Blues in Super Rugby.

Saili has been capped twice by the All Blacks and was also part of the victorious New Zealand side that won the 2011 U20s Junior World Championship.


Wing: DTH van der Merwe (Newcastle Falcons)

The 30-year-old qualified fire-fighter has dotted down 23 tries in his 42 international matches, and has been similarly prolific at club level.

A Pro 12 title winner with Glasgow in 2015, Van der Merwe has plundered 45 tries in his 98 outings in the competition as well as a further 12 in 30 European Champions Cup games.


Fly-half: George Ford (Leicester Tigers)

The England playmaker will rejoin Leicester from Bath next season – with Freddie Burns heading in the opposite direction.

Ford moved to Bath in 2013, when his father Mike was head coach, and helped the club reach the 2014 European Challenge Cup final and Aviva Premiership showpiece a year later.


Scrum-half: Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks)

The 25-year-old  Springbok has signed a three-year deal and is the replacement for the departing international No 9s Mike Phillips and Peter Stringer.


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