With 5 weeks in the books and the first block of PREM fixtures over, we are starting to get a clearer picture of who are true title contenders, who will be in the mix towards the end of the year, and who will need to really pull their socks up to make the top 4.
We’ve seen teenage sensations, surprise packages, underwhelming showings and some teams that have simply had all their plans go up in flames as injuries come like London buses. Some things don’t change too much though and last season’s champs are still the team to beat. But with everything we’ve seen so far, how do the 10 teams currently stack up?
In addition to the 1-10 rankings, we’ve also picked out a player to watch for on each team as we prepare for the PREM’s return on 28th November.
1 Bath
The champions last season, Bath haven’t skipped a beat to start this year, a narrow defeat at Welford Road the only blemish on an otherwise spotless blotter. Despite that loss there were times in that first half where you could really feel the might of this Bath side. Their team is stacked with talent at every level and in a league that puts so much emphasis on the fly half position, in Finn Russell they have the world’s best. This is one of the best Prem sides we’ve seen in while and it will take a serious outfit to stop them going back-to-back.
Player to Watch: Santi Carreras – The Argentinian utility back has swapped Gloucester for Bath this season and it just seems somewhat unfair. Oh how the rich get richer. One of the most exciting players in the global game, Carreras has been tearing up the PREM for a few years now. Put him in a dominant team like this Bath side you can expect fireworks.
2 Saracens
No longer the team dominating the headlines but this club has never stopped being one of the best run in England. The return of Farrell from his Parisien sabbatical is far more significant than most people realise. He’s the DNA of this club and one of the greatest players of the professional era. On paper this Sarries squad are right up there with Bath as the most talented outfit in the league, with playmakers across the board. 5 games in and they’ve outscored opponents by a league best 88 points. They’re serious and I very much expect them to be playing at Twickenham in June.
Player to Watch: Tom Willis – Recently announced to be departing North London for the vineyards of Bordeaux next season, the younger Willis brother will want to leave the PREM with a title. In my personal opinion, he’s been the best number 8 in the PREM for the last year and bit, and I would go as far as to say he should have been starting at the back of the scrum for the Lions in Australia this summer. Perhaps that tour just came a year too soon, but he’s a quality player and his all-court game is going to be huge for Saracens as they bid to reclaim the title.
3 Northampton
Top of the table and unbeaten through 5 weeks. You would expect to feel better about Saints given that record, however allowing two big comebacks in the first two games and two of their victories coming against winless opposition, it’s hard to gauge exactly where this side are. The good news for them is that they’ve started the season strong despite their Lions contingent being largely absent. As Leinster will attest, this is a dangerous side when fully firing and they’re the kind of side you don’t want to go up against in a playoff game. Their round 5 win against Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens was a statement to the rest of the league that this team are very much title contenders.
Player to watch: Henry Pollock – arguably the biggest storyline of last season’s PREM was the breakthrough of a cocky, blonde 20-year-old, who took the league by storm with a swagger and panache that annoyed some and excited others. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to watch it. Last year he was a surprise package, this year he’s a man with a target on his back. Henry Pollock, what has act 2 got in store for us?
4 Leicester
Last year’s finalists, and with a new coach at the helm, Leicester have started with three home victories and two away defeats. Whilst their starting XV has the talent to matchup with the best, I worry their depth is lacking compared to the top sides. This is an elite club though and you can never count them out. Welford Road is one of the toughest places to play and if they take some away scalps they will right in the race for the top 4 once more.
Player to Watch: Nicky Smith – This may not be the sexiest pick, depending on what you’re into, but there are few players that can influence a game like the PREM’s best scrummager. In his first season and a bit, the Wales international has been one of Leicester’s key players with his dominant scrummaging whilst also adding a carrying option, particularly close to the try line. In their victory against Bath in round 4, it was Smith’s scrum penalties that kept Leicester in the game for much of the first half.
5 Sale Sharks
Sale seem to have been knocking on the door for their first PREM title for a while now. Perhaps not the most talked about, this is strong side that have a formidable home ground, winning 10 of their last 11 PREM matches in Manchester. So far however, three losses from three on the road this season. If they can start winning away, they’ll be well in the mix for top 4 once more. Built around a strong defence and one of the classiest fly-halves in the game, this George Ford led side are a tough matchup for anyone. I’m not convinced right now that they’re a real title contender, although they are very much in the mix for top 4.
Player to watch: Tom Roebuck – after breaking into the England side last season, Roebuck will now want to kick on and nail down a starting jersey with the Red Roses. He’s a classy winger who just does everything well. Excellent in kick chase, reliable defensively and good with ball in hand. His game is actually incredibly well suited to the international arena and at PREM level he’s one of the best wingers in the league.
6 Exeter
After a period of excellence, capped off with two PREM titles and a Champions Cup victory, their rebuild initially seemed more of a reload. However last season the reality of going younger hit them hard, in what was a tough season. This year they have started strongly and look to be back to a more competitive footing. There is plenty of talent in this Chiefs team and their summer signings of Australians Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper look genius, after both were standouts for the Wallabies against the Lions and in the Rugby Championship. Will the influx of southern hemisphere talent be enough to catapult them back into the top 4? I’m erring on the side of no, but you never know in this league. They currently sit 3rd in the table and have looked mighty impressive. However their wins have come against my 3 lowest ranked teams. My concern for Exeter is at halfback. Whilst almost every other team spends big to secure top-end international talent at fly-half, the Chiefs have opted for big signings in other positions. It remains to be seen whether that formula can lead to success.
Player to watch: Len Ikitau – The Australian inside centre is so good at rugby. He just does everything so well and is a true gamer. He has been one of Australia’s standout players over the past couple seasons and is one of the best 12s in the world. If he and Henry Slade can develop a chemistry, this could be the best centre duo in the league.
7 Bristol Bears
Oh my injuries… Pat Lam’s side just can’t seem to catch a break so far. Whilst they would have entered the season with title ambitions, injuries have meant their focus right now is survival. Their backline has been decimated. McGinty won’t return this season but their other key injured stars; Randall, Ibitoye, Rees-Zammit, Jenkins and Lane all figure to come back at some point, whilst Tom Jordan will return from suspension post-Autumn Internationals. Fortunately for the Bears they’ve already logged 3 wins. If they can weather this storm and stay in the race for the top 4 whilst they heal up, then come the latter stages of the season they could fly up these power rankings and mount a title challenge. Until then it’s just about staying in the fight.
Player to watch: Louis Rees-Zammit – perhaps the biggest storyline at the start of this season was the return of the Welsh speedster. Whilst Zammit has spent the last 18 months wearing a helmet and pads stateside, I’d almost forgotten just how good he was at rugby. Before he left there were many games for both Wales and Gloucester where moments of magic from LRZ were the difference between winning and losing. The idea that he’s returned to rugby bigger, stronger and faster is a frightening prospect for opposing defences.
8 Harlequins
Just the 2 wins from 5 is not the start to the season Harlequins were after, and being held scoreless by Exeter is far from ideal. They’ve put themselves on the backfoot with a slow start to this season and are going to need to log some wins over the next few rounds to get a foothold on this season. At their best they’re a deadly attacking team with an exciting backline and brand of rugby. Although to really challenge the top teams they need to get tougher up front. Bringing Toby Booth into their coaching staff could be an excellent hire as he, in his previous role at the Ospreys, turned around that region and nurtured one of the toughest, most rugged packs in the URC. Provided Harlequins can keep their attacking identity, that could be just the sort of change this team needs.
Player to watch: Chandler Cunningham-South – could this be the season that it all comes together for the England backrower? A supreme physical talent, Cunningham-South has a massive frame at 6’5”, with the athleticism to go with it. Still only 22 years old, this is the sort of time you would expect a player like him to elevate their game to the next level. If he can do that, Quins could have one of the most destructive ball carriers in the PREM.
9 Gloucester
Another team that has caught the injury bug, but unlike their West Country rivals Bristol, they are still winless and so face an uphill battle to make the top 4. They have a talented team and play some of the most exciting rugby in the league however I’m not sure their squad is quite good enough to compete with the best teams consistently. They are actually the most financially responsible team in the PREM, posting the smallest losses of any team last year (not the best flex). This comes with some challenges however when putting together a title worthy squad, as shown when they couldn’t afford to keep star player Santi Carreras from defecting to high rollers Bath this offseason. Led by reigning PREM player of the season, Tomos Williams, Gloucester have the ability to score from anywhere and are a dangerous team to face. They need to start logging some wins though.
Player to watch: Seb Atkinson – is he the future for England at 12? It’s no secret England have struggled to find a solution at inside centre since Farrell vacated the jersey, opting to play specialist 13s there through lack of alternative options. Atkinson has been excellent for Gloucester the past season or so, earning an opportunity with England this summer in Argentina. Sadly for all involved, Atkinson will have to wait before he dons the white jersey again as he recovers from a knee injury that looks to keep him out until December. When fit and firing though, he’s one of the best 12s in the PREM, carrying, creating and scoring.
10 Newcastle Red Bulls
Newcastle’s acquisition by Red Bull was one of the stories of the summer and will no doubt be hugely beneficial for this club for years to come. Red Bull are a great company with a proven track record of winning across the board in elite sport. However by the time the Red Bull cash had landed in Northumbria, the transfer market had already shifted to the 2026/27 season. Whilst they were able to make some signings just before the start of the season, this is still by some way the least talented squad in the PREM. Years of operating on a significantly lower budget than their PREM rivals has left Newcastle Red Bulls understrength throughout the squad and this appears likely to be a tough season ahead. This is a stronger squad than they had last season and there are better vibes since the new owners came in, so I do anticipate them notching a couple wins this season. However they still seem set to inhabit last place once more, before a new influx of talent next year will hope to see them return to the competitive fold.
Player to watch: Amanaki Mafi – the veteran Japanese number 8 was one of the late signings made after Red Bull finalised their acquisition of the club. The powerful ball carrier provides some much needed experience and assurance from the base of the scrum. If Red Bull are to pull off some upsets this season, then who better to have leading the charge than the man who assisted the winning score in Japan’s Brighton miracle victory over South Africa.