Can Bath Defend Their Title, Or Will Red Bull Come Charging In?

Not long now. The new season of England’s Gallagher Prem will soon be underway, and one thing we can say is it will definitely be different from past editions.

For one thing, there’s the name, shorn of the ‘iership’ to give the competition a more youthful feel, a reflection of a greater connection to the fabled land of sports fans under-20.

There is certainly an air of optimism around the competition, with crowds up, television audiences up, a strengthening link with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and the boost that a major international brand buying one of its clubs brings. It is a long way from the post-covid struggles when London Irish, Wasps and Worcester Warriors went to the wall.

Newcastle Falcons rebirth as Newcastle Red Bull is probably the tournament’s most significant change since it began. It’s recognition that it is worth investing in the Prem. Their investment has already had a galvanising effect on the rugby in England’s north-east, and their first home match after they took over attracted over 9,000 fans for a PREM Cup match that would normally be doing well to attract a third of that total.

Winger Christian Wade is their marquee signing, but he won’t be joining up until 1 December, once the rugby league season with Wigan Warriors, and his post-season holiday, are over. Wade may add the shine, but it is newly-arrived captain George McGuigan, Amanaki Mafi, Jamie Hodgson, Tom Christie and Fergus Lee-Warner in the forwards who will be the key to ensuring that Newcastle Red Bull are looking upwards in a way they haven’t for many a season.

Champions Bath appear to be in a healthy position. Santiago Carreras will provide international quality and a powerful boot at either flyhalf or fullback, and Harry Arundell will bring his jet heels back from Racing 92, but it will be interesting to see how the function without backs coach Lee Blackett, and who replaces him.

BYE BYE BLACKETT

Northampton will start with confidence high, not least from Lions tourists Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, and Henry Pollack. Freeman has already spoken about moving off his wing to outside centre, which could have a significant impact for club and country if it comes off.

Saints have gone some way to finally replacing Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Waller, who all left after their 2024 Premiership triumph, and whose absence in the pack was felt last season. Callum Chick replaces Juarno Augustus in the backrow, Danilo Fischetti in the front row, and much is expected of South African second row JJ Van Der Mescht, who fills Callum Hunter-Hill’s boots.

Their East Midlands rivals and 2025 runners-up Leicester Tigers, have a new coach in ex-Lions and England second row Geoff Parling, who knows the club well and will ensure the basics in the pack live up to type. The Tigers have lost over 600 test caps of experience when they waved goodbye to Juan Montoya and Handre Pollard, and sent Dan Coles and Ben Youngs into retirement, which means expectation falls on the likes of Jack van Poortvliet and Freddie Steward to deliver. Watch out too for how Orlando Bailey fares now he is out from behind Finn Russell’s shadow after joining from Bath.

Bristol Bears are likely to be the great entertainers again, especially with Louis Rees-Zammit on the end of their backline moves. Tom Jordan is likely to be first choice flyhalf, but they could do with reinforcements in the pack, with their drop off on occasions last season due to their lack of like for like replacements.

Saracens made the highest profile signing in Owen Farrell. Fergus Burke made a good start to life as his replacement, so Farrell may well fill the 12 shirt, especially with Nick Tomkins’ drop off in form. Max Malins returns from Bristol Bears and will inherit Alex Goode’s 15 jersey, while in the pack it should be the season that Theo Dan makes his case to be first-choice hooker, after sharing the responsibilities with Jamie George almost 50-50 last season.

DOUBLE THE FORD, DOUBLE THE FUN?

For Sale Sharks, there were more players through the exit than entrance over the summer, and while Jacques Vermeulen will replace Jonny Hill, who is off to Racing 92, it is the addition of Joe Ford to Alex Sanderson’s coaching staff that catches the attention. He and brother George have worked together well before; will it be enough to give them the extra shove?

Gloucester narrowly missed the playoffs last season, and while their fans are unlikely to forgive Carreras or Rees-Zammit for joining local rivals, Ross Byrne provides an experienced understudy for Charlie Atkinson, who like namesake Seb, will be aiming to build on his breakthrough year, while Josh Basham will have plenty to prove after spending two years in Japan.

Harlequins have been hit with the departure of coach Danny Wilson to Wales, and they will miss Danny Care’s experience even though Will Porter and Lucas Friday were looking like the heirs apparent last season. It will be indicative to see where Marcus Smith is deployed after a frustrating Lions tour during which he rarely played in his favoured fly-half role.

That leaves Exeter Chiefs with the most to lose from Newcastle Red Bull’s new-found riches. Last season they lacked identity, but Australia international Tom Hooper will give their pack some thrust, and Stephen Varney, at 24, should give them the direction they’ve lost with Stu Townsend’s departure to Harlequins.

CHIEFS CHALLENGE?

Hoopers’ Wallaby teammate Len Ikitau will give their backline some direction, but they have yet to replace Joe Simmonds at flyhalf, and pressing Henry Slade into action wastes his talents at outside centre. Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has shown he is willing to wield the axe off the pitch when he has to, now it needs to make the required impact on it.

It will take the Premiership a while to gather some momentum, and it won’t really be until Christmas, and after the November internationals, that we’ll have some early indication of who will be challenging at the top.

There are still questions over promotion and relegation, with Worcester Warriors now in the Champ there is at least one team who have the set-up to fit in. Until there is another team ready to go, then it may be a few seasons more before the Prem thinks about expanding, though it is in their best interests to do so.

For now, though, just rejoice the Prem is back.