The Gallagher PREM might have a defending champion, but it does not have an obvious favorite.
Northampton Saints return after winning the 2025-26 championship. Bath Rugby had the league’s best point differential. Exeter Chiefs reached the final. Leicester Tigers won 12 matches. Saracens had numbers that looked much better than a fifth-place finish.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Rugby All Season Long
- What's Streaming On FloRugby? Take A Look At The Schedule
- The Best Rugby Players In The World 2026
And Sale Sharks spent the offseason assembling a roster capable of turning last year’s disappointment into this year’s biggest jump.
The result should be a crowded playoff race. Our prediction begins with Bath finishing first — and ends with somebody else lifting the trophy.
FloRugby's 2026-27 Gallagher PREM Predictions
- Bath Rugby — Playoffs
- Northampton Saints — Playoffs
- Saracens F.C. — Playoffs
- Sale Sharks— Playoffs
- Leicester Tigers
- Exeter Chiefs
- Bristol Bears
- Harlequin F.C.
- Gloucester Rugby
- Newcastle Red Bulls
Why Bath Rugby Finishes First
Bath finished second last season with 69 points, but its league-best plus-222 point differential provides the strongest argument for putting it first now.
The combination of Ben Spencer and Finn Russell remains the control room of an attack that scored 646 points. Bath can manage territory through Spencer, let Russell attack when opportunities emerge and unleash Henry Arundell and Santiago Carreras when defenses fracture.
There are vulnerabilities. Thomas du Toit is gone, Alfie Barbeary moved to Saracens and Bath must prove its scrum remains an elite weapon without du Toit.
- Who Are Rugby's Highest-Paid Stars? Here Are The Biggest Contracts In The Sport
- When Are The Biggest Gallagher PREM Rivalry Matches? Derby Dates For The 2026-27 Season
- The Complete Gallagher PREM Schedule 2026-27: Fixtures, Key Dates, Holiday Matches & Playoffs
But over 18 matches, Bath has the best combination of game management, attacking talent and depth. That's enough to edge defending champion Northampton.
Saints remain terrifying. Their 104 regular-season tries set a PREM record, and Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Tommy Freeman and Henry Pollock remain the core of an attack capable of overwhelming almost anyone. But George Furbank's departure removes a captain and versatile playmaker, while a defense that conceded 536 points gives Bath just enough separation.
Saracens Rebound, And Sale Sharks Make The Leap
Saracens might be the most dangerous third-place team imaginable.
They finished fifth last season but posted a plus-179 point differential, second only to Bath, while scoring 628 points. Brendan Venter now takes over as director of rugby, and Tomos Williams, George Martin and Barbeary join a roster still featuring Maro Itoje, Ben Earl and Owen Farrell.
Fifth place looked more like an inability to consistently convert good performances into wins than evidence of a broken roster. We're betting that changes.
Sale went 5-13, won once away from home and went 0-10 against the final top five. A defense that conceded 602 points and 90 tries has no business being casually projected into the playoffs.
But this isn't the same roster.
Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant, Alex Lozowski, Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis, Xavier Roe and Christ Tshiunza headline a major recruitment class around George Ford, Tom Curry, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Roebuck and Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
The pack could be among the league's deepest. Marchant and Lozowski give Ford more options behind it. Mike Forshaw's task is clear: make Sale's defense worthy of the talent around it.
That's the gamble. We're taking Sale fourth.
Leicester Tigers And Exeter Chiefs Just Miss
Leicester is the toughest omission. The Tigers went 12-6, posted a plus-178 differential, went 8-1 at home and won the PREM Rugby Cup. But a 4-5 away record and major forward turnover — including the departures of Hanro Liebenberg and George Martin — leave them barely behind Sale.
Exeter falling from finalist to sixth is an even bigger call.
The Chiefs conceded a league-low 367 points and proved their knockout toughness by going to Bath and winning a semifinal. But their regular-season dominance was heavily concentrated at Sandy Park, while Len Ikitau and Scott Sio are significant departures. Sixth would say more about the depth of this playoff race than Exeter suddenly becoming mediocre.
- Top 50 Rugby Union Prospects 2026: No. 10-1
- Top 50 Rugby Union Prospects 2026: No. 20-11
- Top 50 Rugby Union Prospects 2026: No. 35-21
- Top 50 Rugby Union Prospects 2026: No. 50-36
Bristol follows at seventh. The Bears have spectacular attacking talent and were formidable at Ashton Gate, but their defensive volatility and away performances make them difficult to trust above this group.
Harlequins should improve with George Furbank joining Marcus Smith, but climbing directly from ninth into this playoff field asks too much after conceding 589 points. Gloucester's additions of Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Jean Kleyn should make the pack substantially better, but a 5-13 starting point is difficult to overcome immediately.
Newcastle Red Bulls could be dramatically improved after an enormous roster overhaul. We still have them 10th because turning roughly two dozen newcomers into a coherent PREM team — particularly defensively — could take longer than one season.
Gallagher PREM Semifinal: Bath Rugby vs. Sale Sharks
Prediction: Bath Rugby
This could become uncomfortable for Bath. Sale's reconstructed front row and enormous forward depth are exactly what you would design to attack uncertainty created by du Toit's departure.
But the semifinal would be at the Rec, where Bath went 8-1 last season. Spencer and Russell also provide the control needed when a playoff match tightens.
Sale makes the jump. Bath ends the run.
Gallagher PREM Semifinal: Northampton Saints vs. Saracens
Prediction: Saracens
Here's the upset.
Northampton possesses the more explosive attack, but Saracens looks constructed for this particular type of match. An Itoje-Martin second row backed by Earl, Juan Martín González and Barbeary can challenge Northampton physically and at the breakdown.
Then comes the halfback contrast: Williams can accelerate against a disorganized defense, while Farrell can slow the match, play territory and apply scoreboard pressure.
Against a Northampton defense that was far less dominant than its attack last season, that's enough for Saracens to steal the road semifinal.
Gallagher PREM Final: Bath Rugby vs. Saracens
Prediction: Saracens wins the 2026-27 Gallagher PREM championship.
Bath is the safer team across 18 matches. Saracens is our pick for one championship match.
There is risk. Saracens' tighthead depth is a legitimate concern after Marco Riccioni's departure and the canceled Jermain Ainsley move, and Bath has the personnel to attack it.
But Saracens can counter with Itoje and Martin, Earl's speed, González's versatility, Barbeary's carrying, Williams' tempo and Farrell's control. They can make a final physical, territorial and uncomfortable — or accelerate when Williams sees an opening.
Bath is FloRugby's pick to finish first.
Saracens is FloRugby's pick to finish last — as the last team standing.
How To Watch The Gallagher PREM 2026-2027 Season In The United States
Every Gallagher PREM match streams live in the United States on FloRugby and the FloSports app, giving subscribers access to every regular-season match, the playoffs and the Gallagher PREM Final throughout the 2026-27 campaign.
The Gallagher PREM Holiday Matches Are Stacked
The holiday schedule once again delivers one of the busiest and most entertaining stretches of the Gallagher PREM calendar. Round 7 begins the week before Christmas with Northampton Saints hosting Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers welcoming Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears taking on Harlequins before all 10 clubs return to action on Boxing Day weekend.
Round 8 features traditional festive clashes, including Bath Rugby versus Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks against Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs hosting Saracens before the spotlight turns to Monday, Dec. 28. For the first time, Harlequins' famous Big Game moves to a Monday evening as the champions, Northampton Saints, visit Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Just days later, Round 9 opens the new year with another full slate highlighted by Saracens against Bath Rugby, Leicester Tigers versus Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints hosting Sale Sharks.
When Do The 2027 PREM Playoffs Start?
The 2027 Gallagher PREM Playoffs begin on June 12, 2027, with two semifinal matches determining which clubs advance to the league championship match one week later.
When Is The Gallagher PREM Final?
The 2027 Gallagher PREM Final will be played on June 19, 2027, at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, where the league champion will be crowned following the conclusion of the playoff semifinals.
Gallagher PREM Round 1
Friday, Sept. 25
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Harlequins vs. Bath Rugby, Twickenham Stoop
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Northampton Saints vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Franklin's Gardens
Saturday, Sept. 26
- 10:05 a.m. ET — Exeter Chiefs vs. Gloucester Rugby, Sandy Park
- 12:30 p.m. ET — Sale Sharks vs. Bristol Bears, CorpAcq Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 27
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Leicester Tigers vs. Saracens, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Gallagher PREM Round 2
Friday, Oct. 2
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Bath Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, The Rec
Saturday, Oct. 3
- 10:05 a.m. ET — Bristol Bears vs. Northampton Saints, Ashton Gate
- 12:30 p.m. ET — Gloucester Rugby vs. Harlequins, Kingsholm
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Leicester Tigers, Kingston Park
Sunday, Oct. 4
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Saracens vs. Sale Sharks, StoneX Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 3
Friday, Oct. 9
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Leicester Tigers vs. Gloucester Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Saturday, Oct. 10
- 10:05 a.m. ET — Northampton Saints vs. Bath Rugby, Franklin's Gardens
- 12:30 p.m. ET — Saracens vs. Bristol Bears, StoneX Stadium
Sunday, Oct. 11
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Sale Sharks vs. Harlequins, CorpAcq Stadium
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Exeter Chiefs vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Sandy Park
Gallagher PREM Round 4
Friday, Oct. 23
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Gloucester Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Kingsholm
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Sale Sharks, Kingston Park
Saturday, Oct. 24
- 10:05 a.m. ET — Leicester Tigers vs. Northampton Saints, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- 12:30 p.m. ET — Bristol Bears vs. Exeter Chiefs, Ashton Gate
Sunday, Oct. 25
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Harlequins vs. Saracens, Twickenham Stoop
Gallagher PREM Round 5
Friday, Oct. 30
- 3:45 p.m. ET — Bristol Bears vs. Leicester Tigers, Ashton Gate
Saturday, Oct. 31
- 11:00 a.m. ET — Exeter Chiefs vs. Harlequins, Sandy Park
- 11:00 a.m. ET — Saracens vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, StoneX Stadium
- 11:05 a.m. ET — Bath Rugby vs. Sale Sharks, The Rec
- 1:30 p.m. ET — Northampton Saints vs. Gloucester Rugby, Franklin's Gardens
Gallagher PREM Round 6
Friday, Dec. 4
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Bath Rugby vs. Bristol Bears, The Rec
Saturday, Dec. 5
- 11:00 a.m. ET — Gloucester Rugby vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Kingsholm
- 11:05 a.m. ET — Harlequins vs. Leicester Tigers, Twickenham Stoop
- 1:30 p.m. ET — Saracens vs. Northampton Saints, StoneX Stadium
Sunday, Dec. 6
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Sale Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs, CorpAcq Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 7
Friday, Dec. 18
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Bath Rugby, Kingston Park
Saturday, Dec. 19
- 11:00 a.m. ET — Gloucester Rugby vs. Saracens, Kingsholm
- 11:05 a.m. ET — Leicester Tigers vs. Sale Sharks, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- 1:30 p.m. ET — Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs, Franklin's Gardens
Sunday, Dec. 20
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Bristol Bears vs. Harlequins, Ashton Gate
Gallagher PREM Round 8
Saturday, Dec. 26
- 11:00 a.m. ET — Bristol Bears vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Ashton Gate
- 11:05 a.m. ET — Bath Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers, The Rec
- 1:30 p.m. ET — Sale Sharks vs. Gloucester Rugby, CorpAcq Stadium
Sunday, Dec. 27
- 11:05 a.m. ET — Exeter Chiefs vs. Saracens, Sandy Park
Monday, Dec. 28
- 12:00 p.m. ET — Harlequins vs. Northampton Saints, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Gallagher PREM Round 9
Friday, Jan. 1
- 2:45 p.m. ET — Gloucester Rugby vs. Bristol Bears, Kingsholm
Saturday, Jan. 2
- 11:05 a.m. ET — Saracens vs. Bath Rugby, StoneX Stadium
- 1:30 p.m. ET — Leicester Tigers vs. Exeter Chiefs, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- 1:30 p.m. ET — Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Harlequins, Kingston Park
Sunday, Jan. 3
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Northampton Saints vs. Sale Sharks, Franklin's Gardens
Gallagher PREM Round 10
Weekend of Jan. 23, 2027
- Bath Rugby vs. Northampton Saints, The Rec
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Bristol Bears, Sandy Park
- Harlequins vs. Gloucester Rugby, Twickenham Stoop
- Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Saracens, Kingston Park
- Sale Sharks vs. Leicester Tigers, CorpAcq Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 11
Weekend of March 20, 2027
- Bath Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, The Rec
- Bristol Bears vs. Sale Sharks, Ashton Gate
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Northampton Saints, Sandy Park
- Leicester Tigers vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Saracens vs. Harlequins, StoneX Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 12
Weekend of March 27, 2027
- Gloucester Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers, Villa Park
- Harlequins vs. Exeter Chiefs, Twickenham Stoop
- Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Kingston Park
- Northampton Saints vs. Saracens, Franklin's Gardens
- Sale Sharks vs. Bath Rugby, CorpAcq Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 13
Weekend of April 17, 2027
- Bath Rugby vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, The Rec
- Bristol Bears vs. Gloucester Rugby, Principality Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Sale Sharks, Sandy Park
- Northampton Saints vs. Harlequins, Franklin's Gardens
- Saracens vs. Leicester Tigers, StoneX Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 14
Weekend of April 24, 2027
- Gloucester Rugby vs. Northampton Saints, Kingsholm
- Harlequins vs. Bristol Bears, Twickenham Stoop
- Leicester Tigers vs. Bath Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Exeter Chiefs, Kingston Park
- Sale Sharks vs. Saracens, CorpAcq Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 15
Weekend of May 8, 2027
- Bristol Bears vs. Saracens, Ashton Gate
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Bath Rugby, Sandy Park
- Gloucester Rugby vs. Sale Sharks, Kingsholm
- Harlequins vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
- Northampton Saints vs. Leicester Tigers, Franklin's Gardens
Gallagher PREM Round 16
Weekend of May 15, 2027
- Bath Rugby vs. Harlequins, The Rec
- Leicester Tigers vs. Bristol Bears, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Gloucester Rugby, Kingston Park
- Sale Sharks vs. Northampton Saints, CorpAcq Stadium
- Saracens vs. Exeter Chiefs, StoneX Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 17
Weekend of May 29, 2027
- Bristol Bears vs. Bath Rugby, Ashton Gate
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Leicester Tigers, Sandy Park
- Harlequins vs. Sale Sharks, Twickenham Stoop
- Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Kingston Park
- Saracens vs. Gloucester Rugby, StoneX Stadium
Gallagher PREM Round 18
Saturday, June 5, 2027
- 2:00 p.m. – Bath Rugby vs. Saracens, The Rec
- 2:00 p.m. – Gloucester Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Kingsholm
- 2:00 p.m. – Leicester Tigers vs. Harlequins, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- 2:00 p.m. – Northampton Saints vs. Bristol Bears, Franklin's Gardens
- 2:00 p.m. – Sale Sharks vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, CorpAcq Stadium
All dates, kickoff times and venues are based on the 2026-27 Gallagher PREM fixture release. Broadcast selections beyond the opening rounds are subject to change.
How To Watch FloRugby
FloRugby is available through a FloSports subscription. Subscribers can watch live rugby matches, full-match replays, highlights, original programming and exclusive coverage across multiple competitions. Stream on your computer at FloRugby.com or through the FloSports app on supported mobile devices and connected TVs.
Can You Watch Replays On FloRugby?
Yes. FloRugby subscribers can watch full-match replays after live events conclude, along with match highlights, interviews and other on-demand content. Replays allow fans to catch up on matches they missed or revisit key moments throughout the season.
Can You Watch FloRugby On TV?
Yes. FloRugby is available on many popular streaming platforms through the FloSports app, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. You also can cast from a compatible mobile device to supported televisions using Chromecast or AirPlay.
Can You Watch FloRugby On Mobile?
Yes. The FloSports app is available for iOS and Android devices, allowing subscribers to stream live matches, watch replays and follow rugby coverage from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.
What Rugby Competitions Are On FloRugby?
FloRugby streams a wide range of rugby competitions throughout the year, including major domestic leagues, international matches, European club competitions and select age-grade and collegiate events. Available competitions vary by region and broadcast rights, so check the FloRugby schedule for the latest listings.
Where Can I Find Rugby News, Schedules And Results?
FloRugby provides year-round rugby coverage, including breaking news, match previews, lineups, rankings, transfer news, schedules, results and standings.