Premiership Rugby 2021-22 team-by-team guide ahead of the big kick-off

The new Premiership Rugby season kicks off on Friday with Saracens taking on Bristol Bears. Harlequins begin their defence of their title against Newcastle Falcons on Sunday. Exeter Chiefs start their campaign at Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

Bath have a new coach, Stuart Hooper, and have stars in Danny Cipriani, Tom Whiteley and Henry Thomas. Bristol have new rugby director Pat Lam. They were relegated last season and finished 4th.

Josh Iosefa-Scott and Sean O’Brien are new signings for Exeter. Tomas Francis, Alex Cuthbert and Elvis Taione are out. Exet have been in the last six years and are expected to finish third.

Gloucesters have signed Adam Hastings from Glasgow. Danny Cipriani, Willi Heinz, Matt Garvey, Tom Hudson are out. Harlequins have Tommaso Allan from Benetton and Huw Jones from Glasgow. Mike Brown, Nathan Earle, Scott Baldwin, Ben Tapuai and James Lang are not in.

Leicester are the new head coach and have signed Freddie Burns and Juan Pablo Socino. Marcel Van Der Merwe, Ben White and Rory Jennings are new players at London Irish. Brentford have a new director Declan Kidney.

The new season starts on September 11th. Newcastle signed Mike Brown and Nathan Earle. Northampton signed Frank Lomani, Juarno Augustus and Chris Cook. Saracens signed Ivan Van Zyl and Ethan Lewis. Dan Biggar is back at the helm after a bruising Lions tour. The team-by-team guide is available on sale.

WASPS have a new coach, Lee Blackett, and have signed Francois Hougaard, Elliott Stooke, Ali Crossdale, Nizaam Carr, Vaea Fifita, Scott Baldwin, Owen Williams, Willi Heinz, Matt Garvey, Christian Judge, Cornell Du Preez. Worcester have new head coach Jonathan Thomas, they have players from Edinburgh, Harlequins, Gloucester, Bath and New Zealand.