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Premiership Rugby returns with a blockbuster round 12 which has been fittingly named 'Derby Weekend - The Rematch' as five rivalries reignite.
Premiership Rugby returns with a blockbuster round 12 which has been fittingly named 'Derby Weekend - The Rematch' as five rivalries reignite.
Here are our rankings of the five derby matches taking place this weekend:
5. Newcastle Falcons vs Sale Sharks
Distance is a problem here given its north east versus north west and there are 145 miles in between the two teams. Newcastle and Sale have two of the league's smallest fan bases meaning very few travelling fans will make the journey cross country. Northern bragging rights are at stake but given the contrast in fortunes between the two teams in recent seasons, this fixture remains bottom of our list.
4. Bristol Bears vs Exeter Chiefs
Devonians will often argue that Bristol can't be considered to be West Country given the 78 miles in between the two. Bristol's biggest rivalry is of course with neighbours Bath, who enjoy the pleasure of being disliked by two teams they share close proximity with.
However, this fixture has thrown up huge drama over the years. In 2010, Exeter broke Bristolian hearts to earn promotion up to the topflight for the first time in their history, while Bristol faced another season languishing in the second tier.
3. Bath vs Gloucester
Now this is where it gets difficult. These two share one of the oldest rugby rivalries in the Premiership, dating back to the first fixture in 1882. The games are known for their passion, intensity, and the meaning they hold for fans of both clubs, regardless of league position or what's at stake.
Given the glory years of Bath in the 1990s and how Gloucester have never hoisted a Premiership title, it may surprise you that it's the Cherry and Whites who have largely dominated this fixture, winning 140 of their 247 meetings to Bath's 84. You know what they say, form goes out the window on derby day.
2. Saracens vs Harlequins
Hatred isn't a word you associate with rugby rivalries but you might make the exception when it comes to this fixture in recent years. Saracens have dominated the match over the last four years, going on an eight-match unbeaten run. Harlequins haven't been able to buy a win at the Stone X and endured a gut-wrenching play-off semi-final loss in 2023 where tempers repeatedly boiled over, especially off the back of Sarries' infamous salary cap scandal.
Quins ended their miserable run back in October and the scenes showed how important that triumph was over their arch-nemesis. Ex-England teammates but enemies in this fixture Danny Care and Jamie George have each spoken out about how the rivalry is as close to hatred as rugby can get.
1. Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers
If you attend an East Midlands derby you can expect a full stadium, a cacophony of noise from the stands and a high chance of violence on the pitch. The rivalry dates back to 1880 when the teams played out a 0-0 draw.
This fiery encounter enjoyed its peak between 2011-14 when the pair enjoyed a brutal, controversial play-off trilogy.
In 2011, an attritional semi-final was won by Leicester after a bulldozing Alesana Tuilagi try but it was brother Manu who took the headlines with a haymaker to Chris Ashton's temple.
Two years later, Leicester beat Northampton again, this time in the Premiership final but the match was overshadowed by Saints captain Dylan Hartley being sent off for allegedly calling referee Wayne Barnes a 'f***ing cheat'.
While in 2014, Northampton inflicted revenge on their foes as Tom Wood’s 78th-minute try gave them a 21-20 semi-final win. However, Salesi Ma’afu’s punch on Leicester’s Tom Youngs, which earned the Saints prop a red card, is just as memorable.
