PREM Rugby Preview: Round 1 - New Season begins in the English top flight

Bath come into the league as defending PREM Rugby champions, as the blue, black and whites ended an ardous 29-wait to bring the pinnacle piece of English club silverware to the hallowed halls of the Rec. Bath had a season to remember throughout 2024/25, as Johann van Graan steered his side to an unforgettable tremble of the Premiership Rugby Cup, the EPCR Challenge Cup and of course, the league triumph itself.

Bath ousted Leicester Tigers in last season's showpiece match, as the East Midlands heavyweights were undone by a masterful performance from the Somerset side. The final score read 23-21 at Twickenham after a nail-biting final, in a match that marked the end of an era for Leicester and England legends Dan Cole, Ben Youngs and Mike Brown.

We move onto a new era, as Newcastle and Sale Sharks have embraced the winds of change. The former Falcons now play under the name Newcastle Red Bulls, following a complete takeover from the energy drink giant that has brought a litany of international talents to Kingston Park. Sale's Salford Community Stadium is now known as the CorpAcq Stadium, with a fresh lick of paint plastered upon the Manchester fortress for the upcoming campaign.

Sale Sharks vs Gloucester Rugby - 19:45 KO, CorpAcq Stadium

Sale kick off the Premiership season at home against a free-flowing Gloucester side, in a fixture that promises intensity and attacking flair from the get go. Alex Sanderson’s Sharks have become regular Play-Off contenders, finishing in the top four, in four of the past five seasons, yet the Premiership title has remained elusive up in the North West.

With the summer departures of Jonny Hill and Jean-Luc du Preez, alongside the retirements of stalwarts Ross Harrison, Tommy Taylor, and Josh Beaumont, Sale have had to trust a younger core to step up. Emerging stars Joe Carpenter, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Rikeiti Ma’asi-White, and Raffi Quirke are all entering pivotal roles, while the addition of Jacques Vermeulen strengthens the back row, and Ernst van Rhyn takes up the club captaincy.

New head coach Marco Bortolami brings a winning mindset, while new attack coach Joe Ford will orchestrate the back line, providing fresh ideas in the playbook and a renewed sense of Northern grit.

Gloucester, meanwhile, face a transitional season after losing key back-line figures Santiago Carreras (Bath) and Gareth Anscombe (Aviron Bayonnais) this Summer. Ross Byrne arrives from Leinster to guide the 10 channel, while Will Joseph and Ben Redshaw bring fresh attacking options. Under George Skivington, the Cherry & Whites aim to maintain last season’s expansive style, averaging 32 points per game, but the challenge will be integrating the new recruits quickly enough to secure a Play-Off spot.

A new era is dawning at Harlequins this season, with significant changes in both the coaching set-up and playing squad. The departure of club legend Danny Care, who featured in all 16 previous Big Games at Twickenham Stadium, marks the end of an era at scrum-half, with Will Porter stepping into nine shirt.

Meanwhile, Jason Gilmore’s promotion to director of rugby ensures some continuity, supported by assistant coaches Nick Evans, Adam Jones, and Gerard Mullen. The arrival of Toby Booth as forwards consultant, along with key signings like Argentinian lock Guido Petti and former Scotland hooker George Turner, adds experience and strength in the pack. Young talent Lucas Friday is expected to feature once fully recovered from a knee injury, alongside new recruit Stu Townsend in the halfback ranks.

Bath, by contrast, are the reigning champions, having ended a 29-year wait for the title last season. Johann van Graan has transformed the club into a formidable force, blending youth and experience across the squad. New recruits Santiago Carreras and Henry Arundell are ready to showcase their talents in blue, black and white, as Ollie Lawrence returns from a lengthy injury lay-off to strengthen a backline, spearheaded by Scotland and Lions talisman Finn Russell.

Hooker Kepu Tuipulotu could also emerge as a breakthrough talent this season, with an England Test debut on the cards this Autumn. Harlequins will aim to rediscover the attacking flair that took them to the European semi-finals, while Bath look to defend their crown and continue this era of dominance upon English rugby.

Newcastle Red Bulls begin their season with a high-profile home clash against Saracens, a fixture that promises plenty of intrigue. After years near the foot of the table, Newcastle are entering a new era under Red Bull ownership, and the early signs are promising through recent PREM Cup victories.

The squad has been strengthened with a mix of international experience and young talent, including Tom Christie, Simon Benitez Cruz, Amanaka Mafi, and Stefan Coetzee, while Christian Wade is set to arrive in December. Young back Oli Spencer has already impressed in the Prem Cup, signalling a potential breakout season for the 21-year-old fullback.

Saracens, meanwhile, are buoyed to bring home the experience of Owen Farrell, as the former England captain returns to the PREM following a season with Racing 92. Farrell is fresh from a historic fourth British & Irish Lions tour, with experienced England fullback Max Malins also returning to the StoneX.

Saracens captain Maro Itoje is set to continue to provide leadership in the pack, having skippered the British & Irish Lions to a 2-1 Test series win over Australia this past Summer. Director of Rugby Mark McCall is focused on consistency and integrating the club’s academy cohort, ensuring that despite recent retirements and injuries, Saracens remain a top-tier force. Friday night at Kingston Park promises an electric atmosphere, as Newcastle look to build on their momentum while Saracens aim to set the standard early in the season.

Northampton Saints enter the new season with optimism after a campaign that saw domestic inconsistency but European brilliance. Eighth in the league last term was underwhelming for a squad of such quality. However, the Saints' European run saw them top Pool 3, defeat Clermont, Castres and Leinster before ultimately falling in the final to Bordeaux-Begles. Saints DoR Phil Dowson now aims to translate that form back into the PREM, with a home crowd at Franklin’s Gardens ready to play their part.

The Saints boast a backline capable of supplying the majority of England’s 9-15, with Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, and back row Henry Pollock all returning from British & Irish Lions duty. In the pack, Tom Pearson and Newcastle newcomer Callum Chick will push for international recognition alongside Pollock, while Italian prop Danilo Fischetti offers fresh dynamism and turnover potential. Dowson’s men have the tools, depth, and experience to certainly challenge for the title.

Exeter Chiefs, by contrast, endured a starkly different 2024/25, finishing ninth and suffering record defeats at Sandy Park. Rob Baxter’s return as day-to-day DoR marks a reset, with signings like Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau, plus returning players such as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, adding quality to the Devon line-up. Henry Slade remains the veteran leader, determined to see the Chiefs back among the league’s elite.

Saints can beat anyone on their day, and if they recapture their European form domestically, Franklin’s Gardens could once again become a PREM Rugby fortress. Exeter, with a reset and key internationals, will be tougher, but the visitors remain underdogs for their opening round match-up.

Bristol Bears will be looking to build on last season’s breakthrough form, having reached the Play-Offs for the first time since 2021. Pat Lam’s side fell short against local rivals Bath in a thrilling 34-20 semi-final, but the foundations of an exciting, high-paced backline remain intact. Louis Rees-Zammit makes a headline return after his brief NFL stint, bringing blistering speed and finishing ability to a wing already featuring Gabriel Ibitoye and Kalaveti Ravouvou.

Scrum-half Harry Randall continues to orchestrate the attack, his 19 try involvements last season make him one of the Premiership’s most creative halfbacks. New recruit in Scotland play-maker Tom Jordan adds versatility and flair across fly-half, centre, and full-back, while young tight-head Sam Scott represents a promising long-term addition to the front row. Bristol will hope to turn last season’s near misses into a genuine push for the top four.

Leicester Tigers arrive at Ashton Gate in transition. The departures of head coach Michael Chieka and veterans Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Julian Montoya, and Handre Pollard leave big shoes to fill. However, Geoff Parling’s appointment as head coach brings experience and familiarity with the club’s no-nonsense culture as a PREM Rugby staple.

Australian arrival James O’Connor provides international class at fly-half, while Emeka Ilione’s physicality gives the Tigers a dynamic back-row option that will soon garner Steve Borthwick's attention. With returning internationals Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward, and newly-minted club captain Ollie Chessum, Leicester have the talent to remain competitive, though patience may be needed as Parling shapes his new era.