How will each side fare in the Premiership?

Summarized by: Live Sports Direct
 
How will each side fare in the Premiership?

Leicester Tigers are reigning champions of England. They won their 11th Premiership title with a last-minute drop-goal in the final against Saracens in June.

Tigers are looking to win back-to-back titles for the first time since 2010. Leicester have made nine changes to their squad. Saracens and 2021 champions Harlequins have only made a few changes. Gloucester, Exeter, Bristol and London Irish are also looking for success. Worcester's financial problems remain a concern, but the club can play in the new season. Dean Richards left Newcastle Falcons after 10 years.

Bath finished bottom of the Premiership last season. Johann van Graan has brought in JP Ferreira and Joe Maddock as new coaches. Anthony Watson, Taulupe Faletau and Semesa Rokoduguni have left the club.

Bristol finished 10th last season after finishing top of the table the previous year. Director of rugby Pat Lam is confident that they have addressed the inconsistency that cost them so dearly. They shipped on average more than 32 points per game last year and coping when their internationals are away will be key if their title-winning ambitions are to be realised.

Exeter are celebrating their 150th anniversary this season. They were unlucky not to finish in the top four last season, but they were playing in a different league. The champions Leicester come to Sandy Park on the opening day.

Gloucester will look for continued improvement under George Skivington. Albert Tuisue replaces Ed Slater who retired after being diagnosed with MND. Jake Polledri could be a new talisman for Gloucester if he recovers from his knee injury. Captain Lewis Ludlow has already proved himself a leader by example.

Harlequins won the Premiership last season. They lost to Saracens in the semi-final. The squad is relatively unchanged this season and the club is on a great footing. Quins are aiming for a top-two finish and a World Cup place. They have a strong Champions Cup group with Racing 92 and South Africa's Sharks. Andy Rowley, BBC Radio London. He asks how will each side fare in this year's Premiership.

Leicester won the Premiership last season. Steve Borthwick's team were extraordinary. Ellis Genge and George Ford left the club this summer. Leicester have been savvy in recruiting players like Handre Pollard and Anthony Watson. They also have experienced players Jimmy Gopperth and James Cronin.

London Irish lit up the Premiership last season. They will be looking to build on that this season and win more fans. Augustin Creevy is a talent that will defy logic and is on the verge of playing in next year's World Cup with Argentina. Fly-half Paddy Jackson is the pendulum that keeps Irish ticking.

Dave Walder takes over as head coach at Newcastle Falcons. The most notable addition to the squad is fly-half Tian Schoeman from Bath. Newcastle lost several young players at the end of last season.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is a new signing for Queensland Reds.

Saints finished fourth last season. Chris Boyd has gone back to New Zealand. Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty are the new director of rugby and head coach respectively. They have added players to the squad, including Australians Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Scott-Young and James Ramm.

Last season marked the end of an era for Sale as they waved goodbye to the talismanic Faf de Klerk. De Klersk left to join Japanese side Yokohama Canon Eagles after the 2021-22 season. Lood de Jager, JP du Preez, Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, AJ MacGinty, Cameron Neild and Curtis Langdon also left the club. George Ford will replace deKlerks at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Sale finished sixth last season. They were third last year.

Saracens finished second in the Championship last season. They met with Leicester in a Premiership final. Mark McCall instructed everyone to have a break over the summer. The club will be looking to challenge again after the break. Nick Isiekwe's injury is a blow for the club. Phil Parry, BBC Radio London, asks how each side will fare in this season's Premiership.

Wasps have had financial problems in the run-up to the new Premiership season. Head coach Lee Blackett has recently lifted a player recruitment embargo. Francois Hougaard has been signed by Wasps. Several players have departed, including Jimmy Gopperth, James Gaskell, Thomas Young, Vaea Fifita, Marcus Watson and Malakai Fekitoa. WasPSG finished ninth last season in Premiership.

Worcester won the Premiership Cup in May. The club has been in financial trouble since August. Steve Diamond is the new manager. There is a winding-up petition from HMRC. There's no relegation. Most fans would prefer to see the club struggle and still support them in 2023-24. Trevor Owens is sports editor of BBC Hereford & Worcester.


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