The PREM Rugby enters the 2025/26 season with renewed energy and no shortage of intrigue. Bath, Northampton, and Saracens headline the Preseason Power Rankings, but rising clubs like Bristol, Gloucester, and Exeter add unpredictability to the mix. 

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With Newcastle’s Red Bull-powered transformation and Leicester’s rebuild, the league is brimming with storylines. Every weekend will bring rivalries, shocks, and high drama as English rugby’s clubs push for domestic glory and European relevance.

1. Bath Rugby 

Completing a triple title-winning season in 2024/25, Bath Rugby are the heavy favourites to defend their Premiership title in 2026. More importantly, Johann van Graan’s side will know that to be considered a real player on the wider stage, success in the Champions Cup is non-negotiable. Dominating Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup was a good next step, and with Finn Russell pulling the strings, plus several top-quality signings, most notably Santiago Carreras, Bath have the quality to go toe-to-toe with just about anyone.

2. Northampton Saints 

Pulling off the upset of the season when they dumped Leinster out of the Champions Cup with a masterful semifinal performance, the Saints are back and should be even better this season. Adding Italian international Danilo Fischetti to their front row and giant South African lock JJ van der Mescht to their secondrow instantly makes the Saints back a more formidable beast. In the backline, highly touted French playmaker Anthony Belleau joins as the backup to Fin Smith in what could yet be a masterstroke as the Saints look to manage the game time of their star playmaker. When fully fit and firing, the Saints' attacking game is as good as any side on this list.

3. Saracens 

Back in a familiar pasture, the return of Owen Farrell to Saracens was the biggest offseason move heading into this season. Whilst he may be on the receiving end of Jackie Lorenzetti's curses, not even the Racing 92 owner can deny that his club was not the right place for Farrell. In returning their kingpin playmaker, the Saracens feel set to return to their clinical and physical roots, having dabbled in a more expansive approach last season. Similar to La Rochelle, Saracens will be out for revenge this season.

4. Sale Sharks 

Three top-three finishes on the bounce, but no title to show for it. Alex Sanderson’s Sale Sharks are both an exceptional club and remain a notch behind the true contenders in both the Champions Cup and Premiership. Hallmarked by their no-nonsense, physical approach, the Manchester side had the second-best defence in the league behind only the Leicester Tigers last season. Yet, when it boiled down to the nitty-gritty of knockout rugby, it was their inability to counter the Tigers' attack that ultimately cost them another narrow semifinal loss. Watching some significant experience walk out the door in the form of Jonny Hill, Josh Beaumont, Jean-Luc du Preez, and Ross Harmon opens up opportunities for several of Sale’s young guns to take a step forward this season. In terms of imports, the signing of South African centre Marius Louw gives the Sharks a powerful ball-carrying option outside George Ford. Of their young players, prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour is one of the best young prospects in world rugby.

5. Bristol Bears

Smashing their offseason recruitment, the big-spending Bears' signing of Tom Jordan and Louis Rees-Zammit were two of the flashier moves by any Premiership club. Still chasing that elusive first title under Pat Lam, now really is the time for the Bears to take the next step from the great entertainers to genuine contenders. Seemingly always in the running before an extended slow patch, the Bears will be hoping that Jordan can bring a hard edge to their game management with Rees-Zammit adding another layer of pace to an already electric backline.

6. Gloucester Rugby 

Another club that has done some clever business this offseason, with Irish international fly-half Ross Byrne being their biggest addition. Taking major strides forward last season, the Cherry and Whites are capable of pushing towards a semifinal in the Premiership this season. With this being said, until they put together a full season together, it is hard to fully back them as true title contenders. Among their young talent, prop Afolabi Fasogbon has already made a name for himself as a powerhouse scrummager and dynamic ball carrier.

7. Harlequins 

Similar to the side one spot ahead of them, Harlequins are a side that can rip open a match at a moment’s notice. Rarely, however, do they compete for a full season; when they do, they inevitably win Prem titles! Certainly, among the most fun teams to watch as a neutral, the Londoners have added a few intriguing pieces this offseason that should add to their ability to compete physically. Starting in the secondrow with Irish international lock Kieran Treadwell and Los Pumas star Guido Petti, this duo immediately makes the Quins pack tougher. As does the signing of Harry Williams from Pau. Of their signings, the most intriguing is that of young Argentine hooker Boris Wenger, who earned his first test cap in July against the British and Irish Lions. Overall, the Quins remain an ultra-exciting squad; whether they have the substance to back it up remains their biggest question heading into the season.

8. Exeter Chiefs – PREM Rugby

Set to be our biggest improvers this offseason, the former European and Premiership champions tasted what it was like to be a bottom-of-the-table club and didn’t like it. Responding in kind with a raft of big-time signings in Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba, Wallabies Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau, Italian internationals Stephen Varney and Andrea Zambonin and Georgian international prop Bachuki Tchumbadze. The Chiefs instantly upgraded their squad in a major way. Reclaiming the full control of the club, Director of Rugby Rob Baxter will no doubt look to return the Chiefs to their clinical power game.

9. Leicester Tigers 

Watching Michael Cheika, Handre Pollard, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, James Cronin, Ben Volavola and Dan Kelly all depart this offseason puts a huge dent in the Tigers' ranks heading into this season. Adding the highly touted Wallabies assistant coach and former England lock, Geoff Parling, as their next head coach is an exciting but untested move. On the pitch, the additions of Wallabies flyhalf James O’Connor will offset Pollard’s move somewhat, whilst the addition of USA Eagles powerhouse Tonga Kofe and exciting young flyhalf Orlando Bailey are both interesting moves. It is hard to see the Tigers being quite as competitive this season as last.

10. Newcastle Red Bulls

Red Bull gives you wings! Or at least they give you a significantly increased budget! In the biggest piece of club rugby news this offseason, the global energy drinks leader’s move into rugby was met with intrigue. Going from the brink of disaster to a very bright future almost overnight, the Red Bulls (formerly Falcons) are at the start of an exciting journey. Immediately adding proven performers to their squad, Newcastle have gone from plucky underdogs to a side that should win at least 50% of their matches this season. Whilst that statement does not set the world alight, it would be a massive step forward.

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