With a swag of big name signings the Premiership is set for a rich infusion of talent for the 2018/19 season, that should make games more competitive and the style of rugby more entertaining.
But who will win and who will be taking the dreaded drop to the Championship?
We take a look at all 12 clubs chances ahead of the new season which kicks off this Friday at Ashton Gate as newly promoted Bristol Bears take on local rivals Bath in the southwest derby.
BATH
Position last year: 6th
Director of Rugby: Todd Blackadder
Captain: Matt Garvey
One to watch: Jamie Roberts has arrived from Harlequins with a desire to push for one last Rugby World Cup campaign with Wales. He will form a good combination with fellow Red Dragon Rhys Priestland.
Outlook: The arrival of Roberts will make a difference but the loss of Matt Banahan, and injuries to Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph will see them struggle, especially in the opening months.
Prediction: 8th
BRISTOL BEARS
Position last year: Promoted
Director of Rugby: Pat Lam
Captain: Jordan Crane
One to watch: Bristol broke the bank bringing Charles Piutau to Ashton Gate on a £1 million (Dh 4.8m) per year deal. The former All Blacks flyer will no doubt repay them with some devastating running – when he gets on the park. The Bears are sweating over a pre-season shoulder injury that could put him out for months.
Outlook: The ambitious Bears have gone big in the transfer market with Piutau, John Afoa and Wallabies legend George Smith being brought in among others. Steven Luatua ain’t bad either. They ran away with the Championship last season, hard to see them going straight back down.
Prediction: 10th
EXETER CHIEFS
Position last year: Runner-up
Director of Rugby: Rob Baxter
Captain: Jack Yeandle
One to watch: England speedster Jack Nowell had a disappointing season by his own lofty standards last term and he will be desperate to bounce back with some big games for club and country in 2018/19
Outlook: The Chiefs will still be disappointed they didn’t go back to back, losing to Saracens in last year’s decider, but with Wales winger Alex Cuthbert adding some pace and power out wide they will again be hard to beat.
Prediction: 5th
GLOUCESTER
Position last year: 7th
Coach: Johan Ackermann
Captain: Willi Heinz
One to watch: Franco Mostert was one of the form locks in Super Rugby, and the Bok second rower is sure to make an impact in his first year in the Premiership. A source of good ball in the lineout, the 27-year-old is also good in the loose and very mobile.
Outlook: The arrival of a pride of Lions – Jaco Kriel, Mostert and Ruan Dreyer – from Ackermann’s former South African team will add some real bite in the pack. The question is can Danny Cipriani can stay on the rails long enough to exploit it?
Prediction: Semi-finallists
HARLEQUINS
Position last year: 10th
Director of Rugby: Paul Gustard
Captain: James Horwill and Chris Robshaw
One to watch: Scrumhalf Danny Care was given a break from England’s tour to South Africa and the livewire No9 is jumping out of his skin for the new season. Fireworks can be expected as he tries to lift Quins out of their recent slump.
Outlook: Arriving boss Paul Gustard turned down a new contract with Eddie Jones’ England and is already shaking up The Stoop with his unconventional approach. He’ll make a difference but with a lack of new signings it may not be enough – this year.
Prediction: 7th
The Premiership Rugby coaches and Directors of Rugby
LEICESTER TIGERS
Position last year: 5th
Coach: Matt O’Connor
Captain: Tom Youngs
One to watch: Winger Jonny May was one of the few bright spots on England’s tour of South Africa and big things can be expected of him again this season. New arrival David Denton gives the forwards some much needed oomph.
Outlook: They missed the playoffs for the first time in 14 years last season, and with Ben Youngs, George Ford, May and Telusa Veainu they have the backs to take any team apart – the forwards now just need to lay the platform.
Prediction: 6th
NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Position last year: Semi-finallists
Director of Rugby: Dean Richards
Captain: Will Welch
One to watch: The “Samoan beast” Logovi’i Mulipola has arrived from Leicester and the Falcons will be hoping he can get back to his rampaging best to get the pack going forward. Veteran flyhalf Toby Flood will also need to pull the strings expertly.
Outlook: Tough for Newcastle to reproduce the fairy-tale form of last year and much will depend on how key players like Niki Goneva and Sinoti Sinoti back up. They look light on genuine quality and much could depend on the Matavesi brothers – Josh and Joel.
Prediction: 11th
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Position last year: 9th
Director of Rugby: Chris Boyd
Captain: Dylan Hartley and Alex Waller
One to watch: On his day Wales playmaker, and new signing, Dan Biggar is one of the best fly-halfs on the planet. He scored a staggering 2,161 points in his decade at Ospreys, expect a lot more for the Saints.
Outlook: The arrival of Hurricanes miracle-maker Boyd has begun a new era at Franklin Gardens and with new signings like Biggar, James Haskell, Ben Franks and NSW Waratahs flyer Taqele Naiyaravoro they will go further than many people expect.
Prediction: Semi-finallists.
SALE SHARKS
Position last year: 8th
Director of Rugby: Steve Diamond
Captain: Jono Ross
One to watch: Former England star Chris Ashton broke the Top 14 try-scoring record at Toulon last season and the Manchester faithful will be hoping for more of the same at the AJ Bell Stadium. If he can stay out of trouble.
Outlook: All-action scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was one of the stars of the Sharks revival last season and with Ashton and James O’Connor outside him they will score plenty of points. But do the pack have the grunt to be true competitors consistently over the season.
Prediction: 9th
SARACENS
Position last year: Champions
Director of Rugby: Mark McCall
Captain: Brad Barritt
One to watch: On his day Wales flyer Liam Williams is one of the most exciting ball runners in world rugby. He was finding his feet at Sarries last season, expect him to be devastating this term. Opposition defences beware.
Outlook: With a squad weighed down by exhausted Lions and dispirited England stars last term, Sarries somehow managed to rally themselves from a mid-season slump last season to reclaim their crown from upstarts Exeter. Brutal forwards and speedy backs. Hard to beat.
Prediction: Champions
WASPS
Position last year: Semi-Finals
Director of Rugby: Dai Young
Captain: Joe Launchbury
One to watch: Highlanders flyhalf Lima Sopoaga ranks right up alongside Charles Piutau as the most exciting signing of the new season, along with ‘Canes captain Brad Shields he is a huge coup for Young and Wasps.
Outlook: The thought of Sopoaga linking up with Bok magician Willie le Roux and England star Elliot Daly has rightly got Wasps fans in a frenzy. If Joe Launchbury and co can do the job upfront Ricoh Arena should be a grave yard for visiting teams.
Prediction: Runners up
WORCESTER WARRIORS
Position last year: 11th
Director of Rugby: Alan Solomons
Captain: GJ van Velze
One to watch: Stylish Cheetahs centre Francois Venter will add some starch and creativity to the Warriors midfield and his combination with Te’o should be exciting when Big Ben is fit again.
Outlook: Avoided relegation dog-fight last year simply because London Irish were so poor. “Solly” will have his hands full especially with Ben Te’o once again injured and a squad lacking depth and quality.
Prediction: Relegated