PREM Rugby: RUCK's 2026/27 Season Preview - EVERY Club's Star Signing and Biggest Depature

PREM Rugby will return to England on Friday, September 27th, as Northampton Saints begin their title defence at home to Newcastle Red Bulls under the lights of Franklin's Gardens.

However, before the opening whistle sounds in the East Midlands, RUCK has assembled a full club by club guide, to get you fully up to speed with all the off-season moves ahead of a fresh campaign. RUCK's Ben Sheard has assessed all the transfer action from the Summer, for this extensive run-down ahead of the opening weekend.

Last Year: 2nd in league, lost in the semi-final

Bath Rugby unfortunately didn’t live to the heights they reached in 2024/25 as they completed an unprecedented treble, however, under Johann van Graan, life in blue, black and white has given Bath fans something to sing about on the terraces at The Rec.

Bath has some serious fire power up front with many internationals in their forward pack. The likes Guy Pepper and Ted Hill in the back row as well as Beno Obano and Will Stuart in the front row brings plenty of England experience in blue, black and white. However, a main catalyst to the recent success of Bath is Sam Underhill. A bruising back rower who doesn’t take any nonsense and can really swing the momentum pendulum with a huge defensive effort.

Everyone knows what Finn Russell can do. But Bath doesn’t click without Ben Spencer at scrum half. Everything goes through Spencer, from exits to the ability to pounce. Spencer knows when to pull the trigger and keep a lid on things without being mercurial. The entire back-line at Bath has something different to offer other than the halves, whether that’s the speed of Henry Arundell, the power of Ollie Lawrence or the playmaker ability of Santiago Carreras.

Business in the Roman Spa city hasn’t seen the most in-comings this Summer, but the signing of Dan du Preez from Sale will add some real ballast to the back row, with his abrasive nature and dynamic ball carrying. The only caveat to that signing is keeping the big South African fit as his injury record is not the most ideal.

The departure board at The Rec is quite lengthy. Fans favourites Alfie Barbeary and Thomas du Toit are both monumental losses in the Bath ranks. Barbeary has had a like for like replacement with the signing of du Preez whereas du Toit hasn’t got that same replacement for prop who's incredible strike rate in the PREM records 8 tries in 16 appearances last season.

Last Year: 6th

It was topsy-turvy season for Bristol last year, with very strange results in the context of the overall season. The lost to a poor Harlequins side at their big event at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, and were also torn to shreds 94-33 against the eventual winners Northampton Saints.

However, Bristol also came up with some clutch results against local rivals Bath and Gloucester, as well as put on their own showcase in a Champions Cup thriller away to the Vodacom Bulls, winning 61-49 at the revered Loftus Versfeld.

Notorious for expansive open rugby, the main star power is littering the backline. However, the old adage says, "forwards win you games, backs determine the points." So, going off that mantra, look no further than the man who wears the 1 jersey, Ellis Genge. Nicknamed ‘The Baby Rhino’, with 83 England caps to his name, Genge is a stalwart in the Bears pack and one of the first names on the team sheet for Pat Lam.

Yes, there is the pace of Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit in the wide channels, or power of newly-minted England international Benhard Janse Van Rensburg at 12, however, without Scotland’s Tom Jordan pulling the strings, the Bears attack wouldn’t function. Not only does Jordan offer flair having been Finn Russell’s understudy on the international scene, but he offers a bit of versatility across the backline. Look out for some magic from the Flying Scotsman.

Bears business hasn’t really been about recruitment going into this campaign, it was more about retention. However, one main incoming is Ethan Staddon from just down the M4 in Bath. The versatile loose forward can cover second row or back row, so expect him to be making shots in BS3.

No notable departure from BS3, however, a longstanding servant of the club Rich Lane has confirmed his exit from Ashton Gate. The outside back has been at the club since 2022, he has played 65 times for the club with 13 tries to his name, Lane has been a solid club man who has never let Pat Lam down.

Last Year Finished 3rd in the League, runner up in the PREM Final

2024/25 was abysmal for the Chiefs recording a whopping 79-17 loss to Gloucester, things had to change down in Devon. Change happened in 2025/26 reaching a PREM Final after shocking reigning champions Bath at The Rec in the semis.

Look no further than club captain Dafydd Jenkins. The Welshman records some serious numbers across the park, whether that’s being a defensive beast with his tackle stats, or being a shrewd operator in the lineout. Let’s not forget his partner Andrea Zambonin either, as when the Italian and the Welshman walk into Exeter, it may sound like the start of a joke, but the punchline is that they’re a dynamic, destructible partnership.

Henry Slade probably gets this slot every year, but focus on the man outside him - Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. A winger with 16 test caps for England, Feyi-Waboso has insane acceleration and explosive power, a knack for knowing where the try-line is and the agility to step his way out of a telephone box!

Georgian props are known across the world of rugby for being absolute behomoths when it comes to scrum time. Nika Abuladze is no exception. Having had a previous stint in the South West of England with Rob Baxter’s men, back in 2024, Abuladze won the Challenge Cup with Montpellier last season, but he now returns to make Devon his home.

The departure list at Chiefs is quite large with some significant names leaving. Wallabies’ duo Scott Sio and Len Ikitau both left for new adventures, with Ikitau going back home to Canberra to play for the Brumbies and Sio across the River Severn Cardiff. However, the most notable for Chiefs’ fans is the departure of Christ Tshiunza to Sale Sharks. The second row/back row hybrid came through the academy at Exeter, and was put on the international honours board for Wales in November of 2021 when he debuted against Fiji.

Last Year: 8th

From narrowly missing out on play-offs in 2024/25 to scraping in to the Europe’s elite rugby competition by the skin of their teeth, the Gloucester fall off has been relatively significant.

Afolabi Fasogbon is famous for that incident with Ellis Genge, where he seemed to have the Bristol and England prop in his back pocket and waved him off the pitch when things got tasty. But Fasogbon also breaks the mould of a standard prop, standing at 6 foot 4 inches, he is a big piece of kit. Opposition props take a gulp at when dealing with the tight-head at scrum time.

The quality of Seb Atkinson in the Gloucester back-line is phenomenal. The young centre has dragged George Skivington’s men out of the trenches multiple at times this past season. He has also earned himself England appearances in the Six Nations, and the Nations Championship Southern Series, from the back of his cherry and white performances.

There has been solid recruitment from the higher-ups at Gloucester. Whether that’s World Cup winning Springbok Jean Kleyn from Munster, or Wales co-captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake. The pair both coming from the Ospreys to play in the PREM is a huge statement as to how Gloucester want to play their rugby next year. Lake will 100% sure up the line-out and Morgan will be allowed to play to his strengths. The only question around the Welsh pair is keeping them fit as their injury record is not the best.

When he won Player of the Year in his debut season, Gloucester fans were so excited to boast about how they had the best player in the league. Who knows what went wrong at the club, but seeing someone of Tomos Williams' quality depart hurt the Shed faithful, with the Welsh international scrum half swapping the cherry and white of Gloucester for the black and red of Saracens.

Last Year 9th

A disappointing campaign for Quins last year, saw them finish outside of the Champions Cup places. With a back-line that can compete with any team, Quins really need to muscle up in the engine room and have to be able to compete with the best physically if they want to return to the heights they were once routinely hitting.

Alex Dombrandt is your typical eighth man. A big dynamic ball carrier who can guide a dominant scrum, but can also hit a line, whilst having delicate hands. A good season this year can put him in for England contention with a Rugby World Cu at the end of it. With England crying out for a specialist number 8 following Tom Willis' departure for France, it's his chance to take.

What a shock, it’s Marcus Smith! The maverick fly half has been an ever present in the quarters since breaking into the Quins first team. Additionally, the 27 year old has recently become England’s youngest player to hit 50 caps for his country.

Signing a player who has won the Premiership in the previous season is a huge statement signing. Signing the PREM winning captain is a different kettle of fish. George Furbank is a full back that will complement the expansive style of rugby Quins love to play, with his low centre of gravity and eye for space, Furbank at his best is one of, if not the best full-back option for England.

Losing someone of Stephan Lewies’ calibre is huge. The giant of a second row is albeit entering the twilight of his career, but is still a force to be reckoned with. Since joining the club in 2019, Lewies was a monumental key figure, who took a starring role in the 2020/21 title winning side.

Last Year 4th and lost in the semi-finals

Leicester Tigers under Geoff Parling is such a hit of nostalgia. They are back. The once dominant force of domestic English rugby became a sleeping giant for a good few years, but now that giant has awoken. Not only are they playing the power game everyone associates with the club, but also, they have the backs who can unlock defences at the swivel of the hips.

Leicester Tigers are built upon old-school grit up front. With the names they’ve had over the years like Martin Johnson, Lewis Moody, Neil Back, Julian White, Martin Castrogiovanni and Dan Cole, it is hard to not move away from bullying other teams. The true character of a Leicester Tigers forward is current club captain Ollie Chessum.

With 38 England caps to his name, the big second row is a true enforcer and one of Steve Borthwick’s first names on the team sheet when it comes to international selection, with the ability to play on the flank too. Let’s not forget the work that Joe Heyes does as well. The tight-head prop goes through some serious shifts and forced his way into that starting three jersey on the international circuit, Heyes has since become England’s player of the year for the 2025/26 season.

When you have someone who marshals the air better than Heathrow air traffic control, you aren’t going to concede a lot of ball. Freddie Steward is one of the best in the world under the high ball. Standing at 6 foot 5 inches and with 44 England caps to his name, Steward may not have the agility of George Furbank or the speed of Joe Carpenter, but he has got the presence and the command needed to be a top quality back-field operator.

When you lose a prop of Nicky Smith’s quality, the replacement has to be top notch. Signing a veteran prop in Mako Vunipola is an enormous signing, with 79 England caps and three times a Lions tourist. He is a destructive ball carrier, lethal at scrum time and a set of shoulders that you don’t want to run at.

George Martin is a huge loss for Leicester Tigers. A real modern day enforcer and losing him to a PREM rival in Saracens is going to be monumental to any side. The only thing that goes against Martin is his durability; his injury record isn’t the most pristine.

Last Year 10th

A full rebrand and a massive transfer list that couldn’t properly gel together, and with another 30 incomings and 29 departures, could the Kingston Park faithful expect another season like the one that has just gone by?

A hooker who can do it all is George McGuigan. Returned to the club last season after the relegation and was rarther unfairly overlooked by England, McGuigan knows how to score a try or two being the club's top try scorer in the 2022 season.

The hero of the emphatic shock win against Sale Sharks last year, Alex Hearle. A winger-centre hybrid player who dragged the Red Bulls from the trenches. Standing at 6 foot 1 inches, the rangy outside back has made Tyneside his home and is loved by the Kingston Park faithful.

The significance of signing a scrum half like Raffi Quirke is out of this world. The young scrum half has had a torrid time with injury since breaking into the first team set up at Sale Sharks but if the Red Bulls can keep him fit, Quirke learnt his trade under the effervescent Springbok scrum half Faf de Klerk and has a dangerous running threat. One for England’s future definitely.

Freddie Clarke is a player who you know what you’re getting. He may not be flash, he may not be knocking seven bells out of people, but he is consistent. Always a 7 out 10 performances, week in, week out. A loss that may initially go under the radar but every team needs a player who is willing to do the dirty work, willing to not stand out yet do the hard work.

Last Year: Winners

What Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty have done at Franklin’s Gardens is huge. They have shown love and promise to the academy set up, they have invested where they have needed to and now, they have a formula to win games, and more importantly, championships. The next step for the Saints is becoming a dominant force in Europe with the youngest average squad in England, they have the recipe for a decade of dominance to compete with the best in the continent.

Everyone expects to see Henry Pollock in this category. With the hype he gets, backing it up with the performances he does, there's no surprise. However, Pollock gets the plaudits, yet there's no looking beyond the tireless work of the rest of his pack. Alex Coles is the true heartbeat of the Saints front five. Durable, dynamic and a shrewd operator at the lineout, Coles does all the dogged work so Pollock can shine.

When there are international caps all across the backs, that’s a true luxury to have. Players like George Hendy will soon get the international recognition he deserves. Fin Smith is starting to cement the 10 jersey for England and make it an all-Northampton partnership in the halves with Alex Mitchell inside him.

Tommy Freeman in the midfield or out wide is making his claim to be one of the best multi-tooled men in world rugby. But the real glue in the backs at the Gardens is Fraser Dingwall. Newly appointed club captain, Dingwall is one of the most consistent centres in the league with the ability to carry hard but also to be able to play the passes if and when they are on.

Ion Neculai is a prop who does all the dogged work. Suring up the Saints scrum in an area that isn’t necessarily renowned for at the club, he will help the Shoe Army go from domestic success into continental dominance, as there is a real trajectory for the Saints to go one better and achieve continental success next season. The Italian will help, especially with the exit of Elliot Millar Mills.

Losing your title winning captain isn’t a statement many clubs want to say, especially ones with service record like George Furbank who has come through the club’s academy. However, despite this, Furbank missed out on some serious game time through injury in the past couple of years, and with George Hendy established, Ollie Sleightholme fit, and Tommy Freeman amongst the world’s best, there is nothing to worry about in the Gardens' back three.

Last Year 7th

A disappointing campaign last year for Alex Sanderson’s Sale Sharks, not making the playoffs in only the second time in his tenure at the helm. However, with some savvy recruitment across the park, Sale should be the Northern Force once again.

Having England international players like Tom Curry and Asher Opoku-Fordjour at your disposal, Sale have one of the strongest packs on paper and with the signings they have made including Welsh props Tomas Francis and Nicky Smith, Sale’s blueprint of a strong dominant pack will return to Salford.

England’s Bevan Rodd when fit, is one of the most solid props in the league and with club captain Ernst van Rhyn behind him, who is one of the most consistent stat performers in the league topping the tackle charts the last two seasons and also making his carries too, van Rhyn is an ever present since joining the Mancunian side.

When George Ford is directing your team round the park the opportunities for tries will emerge. The ability out wide the Sharks have at their disposal is jaw dropping. All under the age of 27, Tom Roebuck, Joe Carpenter and Arron Reed are one of the most dangerous back three units in the league. Reed’s electrifying pace, with Carpenter’s vision and Roebuck’s ariel threat that back three when works is one of the best.

The astronomical signing of Courtney Lawes is a huge asset to an already huge pack. Having someone of Lawes’ magnitude join the club is a real statement in the journey of Sale Sharks. Granted, Lawes isn’t at the peak of his powers at 37 years young, but the experience he brings joining a loose five of the likes of Ernst van Rhyn, Ben Bamber, Jacques Vermeulen, Ben and Tom Curry, Sam Dugdale, Seb Kelly and new signing Christ Tshuinza, all those players will learn so much from him.

Losing someone who has been so pivotal in his time at the club in Rob du Preez. Not only was he versatile wearing 10,13 and 15 on his back during his time in Manchester but, he has the record for most consecutive PREM appearances in a whopping 85! Always gave 110% to the Sale jersey and is now taking up new pastures in France.

Last Year 5th

Like Bristol, a topsy-turvy season for the North London side and with a new head coach at the helm, with Mark McCall stepping away from coaching and up to the board at the club, Saracens are in a bit of rebuild phase.

Mr Reliable, Ben Earl is one of England’s best players at the moment. A difficult campaign in the white jersey but always made his efforts noticed. A huge carrying machine and when at his destructive best is one of the best in the world let alone the PREM. Watch out for the now trademarked thumbs up when he scores.

The future of Saracens in the 150th anniversary is Charlie Bracken and Noah Caluori. Both are phenomenal young players who offer one thing, speed. Bracken, the son of former England 2003 World Cup winner Kyran, is one of the most effervescent scrum halves in the league.

Not only is he quick, but he also has an incredible engine as well as an incredible passing game. Caluori topped the try scoring charts last season scoring 10 tries against Sale over two games, 18 in the course of the season, as well as getting on the score-sheet upon on his England debut against Fiji.

The business of Saracens ahead of this season is utter perfection. Losing one player and immediately replacing them with a like for like swap. Out goes Ivan van Zyl and in comes Tomos Williams from Gloucester. Out goes Tom Willis and in comes Alfie Barbeary from Bath. Both very savvy pieces of business.

Tom Willis is going to be a huge loss for Sarries. Not just the boys in North London mind you but also for England as he jets off for reigning Champions Cup champions, Bordeaux. A huge ball carrying eight who when at his best should have more England caps than he has.