{"id":290943,"date":"2023-10-13T09:39:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T09:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=290943"},"modified":"2023-10-13T09:39:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T09:39:12","slug":"mail-sports-guide-to-the-gallagher-premiership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/rugby-union\/mail-sports-guide-to-the-gallagher-premiership\/","title":{"rendered":"Mail Sport&apos;s guide to the Gallagher Premiership"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Bath have spent big in an attempt to finally fulfil their potential, it&#8217;s a transitional phase for Exeter, but can anyone stop Saracens? Mail Sport&#8217;s guide to the Gallagher Premiership as the new season gets underway tonight<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Gallagher Premiership gets underway on Friday as Bristol host Leicester<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span>Saracens are the reigning champions and will fancy winning the title again<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Other teams have strengthened heavily, but it&#8217;s looking bleak for Newcastle\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While the Rugby World Cup in France continues to entertain us as the nights close in, there is the small matter of Premiership Rugby returning this evening.<\/p>\n<p>Last season saw another enthralling campaign as Saracens won their sixth title after a 35-25 victory over Sale in the final at Twickenham.<\/p>\n<p>However, there was also plenty of drama as both Worcester Warriors and Wasps folded during the season amid financial turmoil, before London Irish followed the same fate in June in what are worrying signs for the sport.<\/p>\n<p>But it all begins again on Friday night as Bristol host Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.<\/p>\n<p>In light of that, Mail Sport&#8217;s ALEX BYWATER provides you with a guide to all 10 teams and raises the question of whether anyone can stop the Saracens juggernaut.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/13\/08\/76507865-12626487-image-a-1_1697181092942.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The Gallagher Premiership returns this weekend, with Saracens the reigning champions<\/p>\n<p><span>BATH<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Head coach<\/span>: Johann van Graan<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Ben Spencer<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Finn Russell<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: The Rec (cap: 14,509)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: 8th<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: They have spent big on bringing in Finn Russell from Racing 92. It\u2019s fascinating he is already in training with Bath after Scotland\u2019s World Cup exit. I\u2019m not sure that\u2019s a good look at a time when the sport is supposed to be looking after player welfare. Bath have criminally underachieved for years. It needs to start changing.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/13\/08\/76507871-12626487-image-a-2_1697181127391.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Bath have spent big on bringing in Scotland star Finn Russell, who is already in training<\/p>\n<p><span>BRISTOL BEARS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Director of rugby:<\/span> Pat Lam<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain:<\/span> Fitz Harding<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Virimi Vakatawa<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: Ashton Gate (27,000)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: 9th<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: Like rivals Bath, Bristol haven\u2019t seen a return on investment in recent years. Star props Kyle Sinckler and Ellis Genge will miss the start, but Vakatawa has the ability to light up the Premiership if he is truly over his heart issues.<\/p>\n<p><span>EXETER CHIEFS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>D<\/span><span><span>i<\/span>rector of rugby<\/span>: Rob Baxter<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Jack Yeandle<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Henry Slade<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: Sandy Park (15,600)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: 7th<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: In Joe Hawkins and Henry Slade, Exeter have a promising midfield combination. But the Chiefs are almost starting from scratch again under Rob Baxter after a host of departures.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/13\/08\/76508963-12626487-image-a-15_1697181452270.jpg\" height=\"399\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs are almost starting from scratch again under Rob Baxter after a host of departures<\/p>\n<p><span>GLOUCESTER<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Head coach<\/span>: George Skivington<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Lewis Ludlow<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Zach Mercer<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: Kingsholm (16,115)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: 10th<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: Decimated by injuries last season but surely won\u2019t be badly hit again. Mercer is a key signing but they face a tough task to trouble the best.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/13\/08\/76507889-12626487-image-a-3_1697181153556.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Zach Mercer is a key signing for Gloucester, but they will face a tough task to trouble the best<\/p>\n<p><span>HARLEQUINS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Director of rugby<\/span>: Billy Millard<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Stephan Lewies<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Alex Dombrandt<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: Twickenham Stoop (14,800)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: 6th<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: They\u2019re great to watch but missed out on last season\u2019s play-offs. Jarrod Evans is a like-for-like replacement for Marcus Smith while he is away with England but you wonder if they\u2019ve got the forward power required.<\/p>\n<p><span>LEICESTER TIGERS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Head<\/span> <span>coach<\/span>: Dan McKellar<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Julian Montoya<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Ollie Hassell-Collins<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: Mattioli Woods Welford Road (25,849)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: Semi-finals<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: It\u2019s a new era with McKellar in charge after the departures of Steve Borthwick and Richard Wigglesworth. Ollie Hassell-Collins should thrive, especially with McKellar looking to evolve their attacking game.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/13\/08\/76507895-12626487-image-a-4_1697181180602.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a new era for Leicester with Dan McKellar in charge after the departure of Steve Borthwick<\/p>\n<p><span>NEWCASTLE FALCONS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Head coach<\/span>: Alex Codling<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Callum Chick<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Adam Radwan<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: Kingston Park (10,200)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season:<\/span> 11th<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: Their squad resembles a Championship outfit and a long campaign could be on the horizon. The Falcons finished bottom last season, 10 points off Gloucester, and a repeat is likely.<\/p>\n<p><span>NORTHAMPTON SAINTS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Director of rugby:<\/span> Phil Dowson<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Lewis Ludlam<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Tom Pearson<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: Franklin\u2019s Gardens (15,200)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: Semi-finals<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: Having George Furbank, Tom Pearson, Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman in their squad to start the season bodes well. They visit Sale on the opening weekend but after that have a series of winnable fixtures.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/13\/08\/76507899-12626487-image-a-5_1697181211515.jpg\" height=\"417\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Lewis Ludlam&#8217;s Northampton side have a set of winnable fixtures after their clash with Sale<\/p>\n<p><span>SALE SHARKS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Director of rugby<\/span>: Alex Sanderson<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Ben Curry<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Luke Cowan-Dickie<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: AJ Bell Stadium (12,000)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: Runners-up<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: Alex Sanderson is doing a fine job in charge of the Sharks. They should be there or thereabouts once again.<\/p>\n<p><span>SARACENS<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Director of rugby<\/span>: Mark McCall<\/p>\n<p><span>Captain<\/span>: Owen Farrell<\/p>\n<p><span>Key man<\/span>: Alex Goode<\/p>\n<p><span>Stadium<\/span>: StoneX Stadium (10,500)<\/p>\n<p><span>Last season<\/span>: Champions<\/p>\n<p><span>Verdict<\/span>: All of their best players are with England so they may start slowly but they are the league\u2019s dominant force and are favourites to reclaim their title.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/13\/08\/76507869-12626487-image-a-6_1697181231940.jpg\" height=\"382\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Alex Goode, 35, is set to be Saracens key player yet again as they look to go back-to-back<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/rugbyunion\/article-12626487\/Bath-Exeter-Saracens-Gallagher-Premiership.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bath have spent big in an attempt to finally fulfil their potential, it&#8217;s a transitional phase for Exeter, but can<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":290942,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - 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