Ugo Monye backs returning Louis Rees-Zammit and Christian Wade for stand-out PREM seasons

From team rebrands to returning stars there has been no shortage of headlines since Bath lifted the coveted trophy for their first league title triumph in 29 years back in May.

A pair of electric wingers will be returning to our screens this season with Christian Wade making the swap back to Union from League in December and “Lightning” Louis Rees-Zammit bringing his craft back to Britain from the United States.

At the TNT sports launch party for the new season, I sat down with former British and Irish Lion and current TNT sports presenter and pundit, Ugo Monye, on his thoughts for the season and which wingers to watch out for.

You can watch all 146 games live from the Gallagher Prem, Premiership Women’s Rugby and the Quilter Nations Series this season on TNT sports and its streaming platform Discovery+.

Upon speaking to Ugo about these returning stars, the former Harlequin revealed and just how big of an impact they will have to their new teams.

“Louis Rees-Zammit will have a massive impact, you see the way he likes to play the game is the same as the way Bristol Bears like to play the game. Him on one wing, Ibitoye on the other wing, it’s a dangerous combo. I hope he scores loads of tries. They’re already a brilliant side and they’ve gone and added a world class player”.

Before his trip to the states “LRZ” had over 70 tries to his name in just over 100 appearances for club and country. The Welshman was a firm favourite at Gloucester before he transitioned into NFL and now he’s back in the Gallagher Prem he’s sure to light up Ashton Gate just like he did Kingsholm.

Rees-Zammit wasn’t the only winger Monye was full of praise for. His good friend Christian Wade is just nine tries off of Chris Ashton’s all time Premiership try scoring record and with “Wadey” back in the Premiership from December Ugo was full of praise for the nippy winger.

“I do hope he’ll get it, he’s so motivated to become the all-time Prem top try scorer, he needs nine to break the record. He’s a top talent; he has always had an unbelievable knack of scoring tries. Hopefully the way Newcastle are going to want to play on their 4G pitch, they’ll provide him with plenty of opportunities”.

There hasn’t just been players transferring in from other sports that are ready to set the try scoring tables alight, many players have switched sides or even continents to put their names in the stars at some of Rugby Union’s most established sides. One such player is Len Ikitau. The Aussie superstar switched Canberra for Exeter this offseason bringing his try scoring talents to sunny Devon.

Ugo listed Ikitau as his most impactful signing from a team outside the Gallagher Premiership praising his “lovely hands, powerful running and superb finishing”. The Aussie comes into the season off a superb performance against The Lions this summer and is sure to light up the south coast after a torrid 12 months for The Chiefs.

The Prem’s powerhouse teams haven’t just been pitching players from abroad, many of the big names have swapped their colours for the new season. Argentinian fullback/fly half Santi Carreras switched the Cherry and White of Gloucester for arch rivals Bath Rugby in a move that shocked many on the West coast.

The playmaker is one of the most talented and sought after players in the world and Ugo was full of praise when asked about him. “I think he’s the best full back in the nation, hands down. The combination of him and Finn Russell means that Bath have only gotten better”.

Monye had just under 100 tries in his professional career so he has a keen eye for who will get into the end zone the most. Last season was a tie between Gabriel Ibitoye and Ollie Hassell-Collins and with last season seeing more tries than any season previous in the professional era it is surely anybody’s game when it comes to topping the coveted try scoring list.

One winger who fell off of people’s radars last season due to injury was Gloucester’s Ollie Thorley. A fully fit Thorley according to Ugo will “elevate” this Gloucester side.

“His brunt physicality, and partner a fully fit Ollie Thorley with the way Gloucester are going to play, he’s going to be dynamite”.

With the style of the Premiership being more and more free flowing and fast paced it really leans into the next batch of superstars being flying wingers and full backs, whether that’s the Rees-Zammit’s of the world or the Tommy Freeman’s. Fast explosive rugby is the way forward to attract the crowds, produce lifelong fans and drive success.

The league this season is closer than ever with Oval Insights giving just one team, reigning champions Bath, over 50% chance of making the playoffs. With each team having it’s own style of play and with the historic rivalries in the Premiership no game is an easy win.

“Bath are there; Bath are definitely there. Sale have been the most consistent side in the premiership over the past few years. It’s hard to say Saracens won’t be there. Genuinely who knows, Leicester, Saints, Chiefs will be a lot better than last year, Gloucester will be a lot

better, you can even mention Bristol. If I had to choose a fourth place team, I genuinely don’t know it is that close.” Said Ugo.

The state of the English game has never been in a better place with every team in with a shot of the playoffs, every game is vital.

The 2025/2026 season starts on Thursday the 25th of September as Sale Sharks host Gloucester Rugby.

With drama, big hits and superhuman tries guaranteed every game you will not want to miss one second of the action this season.