Every PREM Rugby club's 2026/27 transfer window (Ranked)

byCharlie Elliott

With the new PREM Rugby season one game in, clubs have officially reshaped their squads for another campaign.

From major international arrivals to shrewd additions and some notable departures, there has been plenty of movement across the league.

We have assessed every club’s transfer window, weighing up their recruitment, departures and overall squad-building before ranking all 10 from worst to best.

10 Harlequins

George Furbank is an excellent addition, but when compared with the other sides in the league, Harlequins have not made particularly significant improvements to their squad.

Having finished second from bottom last season, you would have expected a major rebuild to take place. Instead, there has been little evidence of a significant upgrade beyond the arrival of Furbank.

Sigauke is an exciting prospect and it will be fascinating to see how he adapts to PREM Rugby, but overall, Quins have not done enough to move significantly higher up these rankings.

Players in

James Dun from Bristol Bears
Sampie Swiegers from Pumas
George Furbank from Northampton Saints
Harry Johnson-Holmes from Western Force
Edward Sigauke from Varsity College

Players out

Stephan Lewies to Sharks
George Turner to Newcastle Red Bulls
Jack Doorey-Palmer to Leicester Tigers
Jamie Benson to Ulster
Joe Jones to Worcester Warriors
Jake Murray to Exeter Chiefs
Hayden Hyde to Ealing Trailfinders
Max Green to Oundle
Jarrod Evans to Cardiff
Jordan Els to Northampton Saints
Andrew Turner to Bristol Bears

9 Bath

Bath have lost more than they have gained this summer, leaving their squad looking slightly weaker than it did last season.

Dan du Preez and Jamie Bhatti are both strong additions on paper, although Du Preez has struggled with injuries in recent seasons.

The departure of Thomas du Toit is a particularly significant blow after he established himself as one of the league's best props last season.

Alfie Barbeary's influence, meanwhile, will also be difficult to replace both on the field and around the squad.

Bath still have plenty of quality and depth, but the number of departures means they appear to have taken a step backwards.

Players in

Dan du Preez from Sale Sharks
Jamie Bhatti from Glasgow Warriors
Will Roue promoted from Academy

Players out

Thomas du Toit to Sharks
Francois van Wyk to Connacht
Will Butt to Exeter Chiefs
Ethan Staddon to Bristol Bears
Alfie Barbeary to Saracens
Sam Harris to Exeter Chiefs
Chris Harris to Newcastle Red Bulls
Harvey Cuckson to Scarlets
Mikey Summerfield to Ealing Trailfinders

8 Exeter Chiefs

This was far from a poor transfer window for Exeter, although losing Len Ikitau is inevitably a major setback.

The centre is one of the best players in the world in his position and his return to Australia leaves a significant hole in the Chiefs backline.

There are also question marks over some of the incoming players, particularly Dallas McLeod and how quickly he can adapt to PREM Rugby. Meanwhile, the departures of Josh Hodge, Rus Tuima, Scott Sio and Christ Tshiunza remove plenty of quality from the squad.

However, Rob Baxter has retained the majority of the side that finished as runners-up last season, leaving Exeter with a strong foundation heading into the new campaign.

Players in

Nika Abuladze from Montpellier
Will Butt from Bath
Harry Wilson from Saracens
Dallas McLeod from Crusaders
Sam Wolstenholme from Bristol Bears
Sam Harris from Bath
Jake Murray from Harlequins
Obinna Nkwocha from Worcester Warriors
Archie McArthur from Gloucester
Charlie Poynton from South Sydney Rabbitohs

Players out

Len Ikitau to ACT Brumbies
Josh Hodge to Newcastle Red Bulls
Rusi Tuima to Newcastle Red Bulls
Will Rigg to Newcastle Red Bulls
Sol Moody to Bristol Bears
Louie Sinclair to Bristol Bears
Christ Tshiunza to Sale Sharks
Iwan Jenkins to Plymouth Albion
Scott Sio to Cardiff
Jack Forsythe to Cornish Pirates
Harry Ascherl to Cornish Pirates
Will Beconnsall to Cornish Pirates
Charlie Chapman to Worcester Warriors
Dan John to Ospreys
Alfie Bell to Rotherham Titans
Charlie Bell to Richmond
Tamati Tua to Black Rams Tokyo
Martin Moloney to Ulster

7 Leicester Tigers

Leicester have experienced a summer of significant change, with some major names arriving and departing Welford Road.

George Martin, Hanro Liebenberg and Nicky Smith all started regularly when fit last season and represent significant losses. Mako Vunipola is a quality replacement for Smith, while Aaron Wainwright provides excellent options in the back row.

The biggest concern is the departure of Martin. Leicester have added quality elsewhere, but there does not appear to be a direct replacement for the England lock, leaving a potentially important gap in their pack.

On paper, the Tigers look fairly similar to last season, although their options at lock appear weaker.

Players in

Aaron Wainwright from Dragons
Elliott Stooke from Red Hurricanes Osaka
Jack Doorey-Palmer from Harlequins
Joe Jenkins from Bristol Bears
Joel Sclavi from La Rochelle
Mako Vunipola from Vannes
Sam Moli from Moana Pasifika
Jack Bowen from NSW Waratahs

Players out

George Martin to Saracens
Nicky Smith to Sale Sharks
Hanro Liebenberg to Bulls
Cameron Miell to Worcester Warriors
Jack Kinder to Ampthill
Monty Loggenberg to Beziers
Tubuna Maka to Beziers
Izaia Perese to Queensland Reds
Tom Threlfall to Rotherham Titans
Tom Manz to Cardiff
Harry Wells to Oundle
James O'Connor to Western Force

6 Bristol Bears

Bristol have largely kept faith with the squad that finished last season, with Santiago Grondona representing the most significant departure.

The Bears were hit by a huge number of injuries last season, forcing several younger players to step up and gain valuable PREM Rugby experience. That has left them with greater depth heading into the new campaign and perhaps explains why there was little need for major recruitment.

Most importantly, Bristol have managed to keep hold of their key players. It may not be the most eye-catching window, but there is plenty to like about the continuity they have maintained.

Players in

Ethan Staddon from Bath
Khalik Kareem from Worcester Warriors
Tobi Wilson from Ealing Trailfinders
Sol Moody from Exeter Chiefs
Louie Sinclair from Exeter Chiefs
Josh Caulfield from Ealing Trailfinders
Oscar Lennon from New England Free Jacks
Harry Wells from Oundle, short-term deal
Max Clark from Newcastle Red Bulls, short-term deal
Andrew Turner from Harlequins
Ben Rogers from Taunton Titans

Players out

James Dun to Harlequins
Sam Wolstenholme to Exeter Chiefs
Joe Jenkins to Leicester Tigers
Benjamin Elizalde to Newcastle Red Bulls
Steele Barker to Cornish Pirates
Santiago Grondona to Pau
Sam Grahamslaw to Ealing Trailfinders
Raff Weston to Ampthill
Toby Baker to Ampthill
Kofi Cripps to Worcester Warriors

5 Northampton Saints

After winning the league fairly comfortably last season, Northampton had little reason to make wholesale changes.

Keeping hold of the majority of their title-winning squad is arguably their biggest success of the summer. George Furbank is the most notable departure, but the Saints have enough depth in the back three to absorb his loss.

There are also some intriguing additions, including Malik Faissal from Zebre Parma. Northampton have largely avoided unnecessary changes to a squad that already proved capable of winning the league.

Their aim will now be to go one better and retain the title.

Players in

Lefty Zigiriadis from Ealing Trailfinders
Josh Taylor from Ealing Trailfinders
Malik Faissal from Zebre Parma
Ben Alexander from Old Albanian
James Bennett from Loughborough Students RUFC
Thomas Rowe from Loughborough Students RUFC
Jordan Els from Harlequins
Ion Neculai from Zebre Parma

Players out

Elliot Millar Mills to Newcastle Red Bulls
Sam Graham to Newcastle Red Bulls
James Ramm to Western Force
Tom James to Saracens
George Furbank to Harlequins
Tom West to Newcastle Red Bulls
Archie Appleby to Edinburgh
Will Glister to Oundle
Emeka Atuanya to Ealing Trailfinders
Fyn Brown to Ealing Trailfinders
Marco Manfredi to Valorugby Emilia

4 Sale Sharks

Sale have overseen a significant rebuild this summer as they look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.

The departures of Rob and Dan du Preez, along with Raffi Quirke, leave some big holes to fill, but their recruitment has been extremely encouraging.

A number of players who struggled to establish themselves have moved on, while the club have brought in a combination of experience and exciting talent.

Courtney Lawes is a major addition, while Joe Marchant's return to England gives Sale another high-quality option. Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis also strengthen their front row considerably.

There is now plenty of quality throughout the squad, and after last season's struggles, there can be few excuses for Sale if they fail to perform this time around.

Players in

Joe Marchant from Stade Français
Nicky Smith from Leicester Tigers
Tomas Francis from Provence
Alex Lozowski from Saracens
Ponepati Loganimasi from Fijian Drua
Elia Canakaivata from Fijian Drua
Cebo Dlamini from Griquas
Christ Tshiunza from Exeter Chiefs
Courtney Lawes from Brive
David Opoku-Fordjour from Coventry
JJ Scheepers from Pumas
Xavier Roe from Chiefs

Players out

Rob du Preez to Bayonne
Raffi Quirke to Newcastle Red Bulls
James Harper to Newcastle Red Bulls
Dan du Preez to Bath
Obi Ene to Newcastle Red Bulls
Albert Bradshaw to Leeds Tykes
Hyron Andrews to Lions
Tumy Onasanya to Coventry

3 Saracens

Saracens have not been the busiest side in the transfer market, but they have strengthened in some key areas and appear to have improved their squad.

The departures of Tom Willis and Theo McFarland are significant, but the arrivals of Alfie Barbeary, George Martin and Tomos Williams help offset those losses.

Martin gives them another powerful option in the pack, Barbeary adds physicality to the back row and Williams brings valuable experience at scrum-half.

With a formidable pack, an experienced half-back option and several talented young backs already at the club, Sarries look well equipped for another strong campaign.

It could have been a different story had they lost more of their leading players, but overall this has been a very impressive window.

Players in

George Martin from Leicester Tigers
Tomos Williams from Gloucester
Alfie Barbeary from Bath
Tom James from Northampton Saints
Corné Weilbach from Stormers
Sione Va'enuku from Ampthill

Players out

Tom Willis to Bordeaux
Alex Lozowski to Sale Sharks
Brandon Jackson to Newcastle Red Bulls
Harry Wilson to Exeter Chiefs
Marco Riccioni to Perpignan
Samson Adejimi to Newcastle Red Bulls
Ivan van Zyl to Sharks
Louie Johnson to Ealing Trailfinders
Gareth Simpson to Ealing Trailfinders
Theo McFarland to La Rochelle

2 Newcastle Red Bulls

With 23 first-team signings, Newcastle Red Bulls have undergone a remarkable transformation following the arrival of significant investment.

There is plenty of quality among the new recruits, although the biggest question will be how quickly such a heavily rebuilt squad can gel. They will be going up against sides that have had years to develop their combinations and cohesion.

Almost every arrival represents an upgrade, and Newcastle have avoided simply throwing money at the biggest available names. Instead, they have assembled a squad containing a mixture of established professionals and exciting talent.

The one obvious criticism is the lack of a genuine marquee signing. However, that could come in future years if the project continues to develop.

Players in

Hoskins Sotutu from Blues
Josh Hodge from Exeter Chiefs
Franco Molina from Western Force
Rus Tuima from Exeter Chiefs
Elliot Millar Mills from Northampton Saints
Sam Graham from Northampton Saints
Raffi Quirke from Sale Sharks
Cam Jordan from Gloucester
Pouri Rakete-Stones from Hurricanes
Will Rigg from Exeter Chiefs
Max Hicks from Perpignan
Zack Henry from Stade Français
George Turner from Harlequins
Brandon Jackson from Saracens
James Harper from Sale Sharks
Obi Ene from Sale Sharks
Allan Ferrie from Coventry
Samson Adejimi from Saracens
Benjamin Elizalde from Bristol Bears
Tom West from Northampton Saints
Chris Harris from Bath
Werner Kok from Ulster
Zuriel Togiatama from Fijian Drua
Francisco Moreno from Tarucas

Players out

Callum Hancock to Doncaster Knights
Connor Hancock to Doncaster Knights
Fergus Lee-Warner to Grenoble
John Hawkins to Worcester Warriors
Eduardo Bello to Ulster
Jamie Clark to Cornish Pirates
Junior Newton to Darlington Mowden Park
Joel Grayson to Blackheath
Boeta Chamberlain to Lions
Max Clark to Bristol Bears

1 Gloucester

For the best transfer window, Gloucester take top spot.

The Cherry and Whites have recruited intelligently, adding genuine quality without making an unnecessarily large number of changes.

Jac Morgan is an outstanding signing for PREM Rugby and will join fellow Welsh international Dewi Lake at Kingsholm. Jean Kleyn adds considerable Springbok experience, while Dan Robson brings quality and experience at scrum-half.

Phil Cokanasiga is another excellent addition and gives Gloucester a powerful option in midfield.

The departure of Tomos Williams is arguably their biggest loss, but with the scrum-half having spent significant periods injured recently, Dan Robson should be capable of filling the void.

Gloucester have not simply chased quantity. Instead, they have targeted players who can make a genuine difference, and the result is a squad that looks significantly stronger heading into the new season.

Players in