Gallagher Prem returns: Leicester v Saracens headlines opening weekend

It’s that time of year again, we’re back with the Times’ guide to the Gallagher Prem. Taking advantage of the end of the cricket season and the yawning football international break, we’ve got a clear run where top-flight rugby can take centre stage until mid-October.

Opening weekend gets under way on Friday night with two concurrent games, before two more on Saturday and a final outing to go with your Sunday lunch.

Can Northampton get off to a good start in their title defence? Probably, yes, but can anyone challenge them? Will last year’s wallowers get their eye in early to kick on? We’ll soon find out.

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Red Bulls

The champions Northampton Saints begin the defence of their Prem title at home against the revamped Newcastle Red Bulls, who have made several signings as they look to lead an invasion from the north.

The brilliantly named Kiwi Hoskins Sotutu joined this summer and the 14-times All Black should provide plenty of both experience and heft. Keep an eye out too for the 18-year-old fly half Jake Dalziel.

The biggest piece of dotted-line action was, of course, the contract renewal for Henry Pollock, who, at least relative to other 21-year-olds in professional rugby, is going to be like Scrooge McDuck with a swimming pool of cash. His England and Saints team-mate Tommy Freeman has also agreed a renewal, as has Tom Pearson, the 26-year-old back-rower.

Phil Dowson reckons his side are better set to retain their title than they were a few years ago, citing the retention of big names like Freeman, Fin Smith, Fraser Dingwall and Alex Mitchell. No side has won back-to-back Prem titles since Saracens in 2018 and 2019.

Newcastle are set to be without their marquee scrum-half Raffi Quirke, who, as Will Kelleher reported in The Times this week, is set for another spell on the sidelines, this time with a knee ligament issue. Dan McFarland was coy about the extent of the problem, but confirmed the 25-year-old won’t be available for Friday evening.

Newcastle, Falcons or otherwise, haven’t beaten Northampton in the league since May 2021, and they’ll face an uphill battle to get anything as Franklin’s Gardens welcome home their heroes. Newcastle did run the Saints close last season, though, losing by a measly point in March. One encouraging sign for the visiting side: only once in the past four years have the reigning champions won the first game of the following season.

Positions last year

Saints Champions

Red Bulls 10th

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Red Bulls

Friday, 7.45pm

TV TNT Sports 1

Harlequins v Bath

Bath travel to southwest London in Friday evening’s other outing, as their hosts Harlequins look to put a torrid 2025-26 campaign firmly in their rear-view mirror.

Harlequins finished ninth last term, outside the European spots, with their third-worst league points-per-game record since the turn of the millennium (1.72 from 18 regular-season matches), so the only way is up for Jason Gilmore’s side.

George Furbank’s move to Harlequins from Saints is one of the most eye-catching transfers of the summer, as the England full back looks to put a tough, injury-plagued period behind him and kick-start his charge for the World Cup squad. He looks like he could dovetail nicely with Marcus Smith in the leafy environs of southwest London, but he’ll miss this one after being knocked out seconds in to his Harlequins debut last week.

Bath, whose defence of their first title in 29 years failed at the semi-final stage last season, are facing their first campaign without the talismanic prop Thomas du Toit (who has moved back to South Africa to play for Sharks). They’ve also lost their hirsute No8 Alfie Barbeary, who fancies a slice of capital life and has moved to Saracens.

As far as recent league form goes, Bath have had the better of it. They neared 50 points on both occasions against Harlequins last season, winning 47-31 at the Stoop and 48-15 at home. Quins last won at the Rec all the way back in December 2022, and they face a big task to get a result here.

Positions last year

Quins 9th

Bath 2nd in regular-season (lost in play-off semi-final to Exeter)

Harlequins v Bath

Friday, 7.45pm

TV TNT Sports 5

Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester

Saturday afternoon’s offering is the first West Country derby of the season, with last year’s runners-up Exeter Chiefs welcoming Gloucester to Sandy Park.

The Chiefs had a thoroughly impressive campaign last season, bouncing back from the worst top-flight campaign in their history in 2024-2025. They reached the Prem final for the first time since 2021, but lost to Northampton at Twickenham.

Despite his own contract renewal, Henry Slade has lost his centre partner Len Ikitau, who returned to Australia after his one-year deal in Devon. The addition of Dallas McLeod from Crusaders should soften the blow, though he is still playing in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship so won’t be available this weekend.

Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake have had their immunisation injections and visas approved to make the journey across the Severn Bridge from Ospreys to bolster Gloucester’s pack. Though they have plenty of international experience, they would be the first to admit they’re not in a massive habit of winning on the biggest stage, but they undoubtedly improve the Cherry & White squad. Lake has even been made captain. But as two Welshmen arrive at Kingsholm, another leaves — Tomos Williams, the Prem’s player of the season a couple of years ago, has upped sticks to Saracens.

As they rallied late in the day last season, Gloucester overcame the Chiefs 34-31 at home, though their record at Sandy Park leaves a lot to be desired. The Chiefs won 39-12 in this fixture last year, and Gloucester are without a league win in Devon since 2015, an 11-game run.

Positions last year

Exeter Runners-up (3rd in regular season)

Gloucester 8th

Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester

Saturday, 3.05pm

TV TNT Sports 1

Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears

On Saturday evening we have another team who will want to put a dreadful 2025-26 campaign firmly behind them as Sale Sharks welcome Bristol Bears to Salford.

Alex Sanderson has the unenviable task of beginning a Sale season without the indomitable Rob du Preez, who left the Sharks at the end of last term having spent eight years there. Alex Lozowski, the experienced former Saracen, looks set to fill Du Preez’s role as a versatile utility back. Courtney Lawes provides plenty of ballast and knowhow, too.

Having been one of the league’s sturdiest defences for years, Sale shipped 602 points last season. They conceded 33.4 points per game, by far their worst record since 2000. Sale do have some prolific tacklers in their squad, with Ernst van Rhyn, Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale all in the top five for tackles completed last season. Van Rhyn and Bamber also top the dominant-tackle table with 32 and 21, respectively.

On paper, Bristol are certainly a better side than their sixth-placed finish last season would suggest, with fully fledged internationals and young guns in nearly every department. Kalaveti Ravouvou scored 12 regular-season tries last term — only Freeman made more metres and line breaks, too — and Louis Rees-Zammit should be back up to full speed after his jaunt stateside.

The stats suggest that no team is happier to have ball in hand, with the Bears ranking second in carries, metres gained, line breaks and defenders beaten (all per game). They also kicked the least.

Sale fans often felt that last year’s style was too focused on the boot, particularly when such a talented playmaker as George Ford is calling the shots at ten. Considering Bristol are only too happy to take the ball in hand, Sale may look to keep it on the deck too.

Sale beat Bristol at home in the final round of the regular season in June, when both teams’ mid-table fates were already sealed. A burst of four tries in the opening 24 minutes put Sale well ahead and they wouldn’t be caught. The reverse fixture at Ashton Gate was a close-run thing, with Bristol winning 19-17.

The Bears haven’t left Salford with a win since January 2024 and Sale have won their past six opening-round games — no other team is enjoying a longer winning run.

Positions last year

Sale 7th

Bristol 6th

Sale Sharks v Bristol

Saturday, 5.30pm

TV TNT Sports 1

Leicester Tigers v Saracens

The headline fixture of the opening weekend comes on Sunday afternoon as Leicester Tigers welcome Saracens to Welford Road.

Leicester’s fly half Billy Searle was central to their play-off charge last term. The 30-year-old had been a bit of a journeyman before finally finding his groove last season, and his efforts have been rewarded with a new deal. Ollie Chessum, in to his second year as club captain, will lead from the front, while Mako Vunipola — who was talked out of retirement by the Leicester head coach Geoff Parling — could appear against his old club in what would be his 157th Prem appearance.

Saracens finished outside the play-offs for the second year running last season. Maro Itoje, fresh off a long break from England duty over the summer, should be raring to go as Sarries aim for their first title since 2023.

Alongside their vastly experienced collection of veteran internationals is the tyro Noah Caluori, who is no doubt ready to keep growing his profile, and, a year out from a World Cup, make an England case. He scored 18 regular-season tries last campaign, though ten of those came across two drubbings of Sale Sharks.

Leicester have won three of the past five league meetings between these two sides, and we can expect a close-run thing — the biggest points difference in any of those fixtures was eight.

Positions last year

Leicester 4th (lost in semi-final to Northampton)

Saracens 5th

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