2025–26 Premiership Rugby

The 2025–26 Premiership Rugby season is the 39th season of the top flight English domestic rugby union competition. The competition is being broadcast by TNT Sports for the thirteenth consecutive year and the second year of their current broadcast deal.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

2025–26 Premiership Rugby

The reigning champions entering the season are Bath, who claimed their seventh league title after winning the 2025 final. No team was promoted from the 2024–25 RFU Championship, as the champions, Ealing Trailfinders, were not able to satisfy the eligibility criteria required to enter the league.

Teams

2025–26 Premiership Rugby

The competition features the same 10 teams from the 2024–25 season, including Newcastle Falcons, who will play under their new name of Newcastle Red Bulls for the first time, after the club was taken over by Red Bull. For the fourth consecutive season, the top team in the Championship was ineligible for promotion to the Premiership, after 2024–25 Championship winners Ealing Trailfinders failed to meet the minimum standards criteria to join the competition.

Stadiums and locations

<table><thead><tr><th>Club</th><th>Director of Rugby / Head Coach</th><th>Captain</th><th>Stadium</th><th>Capacity</th><th>City/Area</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bath</td><td>Johann van Graan</td><td>Ben Spencer</td><td>The Recreation Ground</td><td>14,509</td><td>Bath, Somerset</td></tr><tr><td>Bristol Bears</td><td>Pat Lam</td><td>Fitz Harding</td><td>Ashton Gate</td><td>27,000</td><td>Bristol</td></tr><tr><td>Exeter Chiefs</td><td>Rob Baxter</td><td>Jack Yeandle</td><td>Sandy Park</td><td>15,600</td><td>Exeter, Devon</td></tr><tr><td>Gloucester</td><td>George Skivington</td><td>Tomos Williams</td><td>Kingsholm</td><td>16,115</td><td>Gloucester, Gloucestershire</td></tr><tr><td>Harlequins</td><td>Jason Gilmore</td><td>Alex Dombrandt</td><td>Twickenham Stoop</td><td>14,800</td><td>Twickenham, Greater London</td></tr><tr><td>Leicester Tigers</td><td>Geoff Parling</td><td>Ollie Chessum</td><td>Welford Road</td><td>25,849</td><td>Leicester, Leicestershire</td></tr><tr><td>Newcastle Red Bulls</td><td>Stephen Jones</td><td>George McGuigan</td><td>Kingston Park</td><td>10,200</td><td>Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear</td></tr><tr><td>Northampton Saints</td><td>Phil Dowson</td><td>George Furbank</td><td>Franklin's Gardens</td><td>15,249</td><td>Northampton, Northamptonshire</td></tr><tr><td>Sale Sharks</td><td>Alex Sanderson</td><td>Ernst van Rhyn</td><td>CorpAcq Stadium</td><td>12,000</td><td>Salford, Greater Manchester</td></tr><tr><td>Saracens</td><td>Mark McCall</td><td>Maro Itoje</td><td>StoneX Stadium</td><td>10,500</td><td>Hendon, Greater London</td></tr></tbody></table>

Table

2025–26 Premiership Rugby

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>PF</th><th>PA</th><th>PD</th><th>TF</th><th>TA</th><th>TB</th><th>LB</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Northampton Saints</td><td>12</td><td>10</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>439</td><td>326</td><td>+113</td><td>65</td><td>43</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>52</td><td>Champions Cup and play-offs</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Bath</td><td>12</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>436</td><td>278</td><td>+158</td><td>64</td><td>40</td><td>10</td><td>1</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Leicester Tigers</td><td>12</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>370</td><td>274</td><td>+96</td><td>51</td><td>37</td><td>9</td><td>1</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Exeter Chiefs</td><td>12</td><td>8</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>336</td><td>207</td><td>+129</td><td>47</td><td>28</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>45</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Bristol Bears</td><td>12</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>323</td><td>286</td><td>+37</td><td>55</td><td>42</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>38</td><td>Champions Cup</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Saracens</td><td>12</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>415</td><td>331</td><td>+84</td><td>60</td><td>47</td><td>9</td><td>4</td><td>33</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Sale Sharks</td><td>12</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>9</td><td>325</td><td>354</td><td>−29</td><td>45</td><td>52</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Gloucester</td><td>12</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>257</td><td>390</td><td>−133</td><td>39</td><td>54</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Harlequins</td><td>12</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>9</td><td>233</td><td>391</td><td>−158</td><td>31</td><td>58</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>15</td><td>Challenge Cup</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Newcastle Red Bulls</td><td>12</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>11</td><td>208</td><td>505</td><td>−297</td><td>29</td><td>76</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>Relegation play-off</td></tr></tbody></table>

Round-by-round progression

The grid below shows each team's progression throughout the season, indicating their points total (and league table position) at the end of every round:

<table><thead><tr><th>Team Progression</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Team</td><td>R1</td><td>R2</td><td>R3</td><td>R4</td><td>R5</td><td>R6</td><td>R7</td><td>R8</td><td>R9</td><td>R10</td><td>R11</td><td>R12</td><td>R13</td><td>R14</td><td>R15</td><td>R16</td><td>R17</td><td>R18</td></tr><tr><td>Northampton Saints</td><td>3 (5th)</td><td>8 (4th)</td><td>13 (2nd)</td><td>18 (1st)</td><td>23 (1st)</td><td>23 (3rd)</td><td>28 (3rd)</td><td>33 (1st)</td><td>38 (1st)</td><td>43 (1st)</td><td>48 (1st)</td><td>52 (1st)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bath</td><td>5 (4th)</td><td>10 (2nd)</td><td>15 (1st)</td><td>16 (3rd)</td><td>21 (2nd)</td><td>26 (1st)</td><td>31 (1st)</td><td>31 (3rd)</td><td>36 (2nd)</td><td>41 (2nd)</td><td>46 (2nd)</td><td>51 (2nd)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Leicester Tigers</td><td>1 (8th)</td><td>6 (5th)</td><td>7 (7th)</td><td>11 (6th)</td><td>16 (5th)</td><td>21 (4th)</td><td>26 (4th)</td><td>26 (5th)</td><td>31 (5th)</td><td>36 (4th)</td><td>41 (3rd)</td><td>46 (3rd)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Exeter Chiefs</td><td>3 (5th)</td><td>8 (3rd)</td><td>9 (6th)</td><td>14 (5th)</td><td>19 (3rd)</td><td>23 (2nd)</td><td>28 (2nd)</td><td>32 (2nd)</td><td>34 (3rd)</td><td>35 (3rd)</td><td>40 (4th)</td><td>45 (4th)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bristol Bears</td><td>5 (2nd)</td><td>5 (7th)</td><td>9 (5th)</td><td>14 (4th)</td><td>14 (6th)</td><td>19 (5th)</td><td>24 (5th)</td><td>29 (4th)</td><td>33 (4th)</td><td>37 (3rd)</td><td>37 (5th)</td><td>38 (5th)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Saracens</td><td>5 (1st)</td><td>10 (1st)</td><td>11 (3rd)</td><td>16 (2nd)</td><td>17 (4th)</td><td>19 (6th)</td><td>21 (6th)</td><td>26 (6th)</td><td>27 (6th)</td><td>32 (6th)</td><td>32 (6th)</td><td>33 (6th)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sale Sharks</td><td>5 (3rd)</td><td>5 (6th)</td><td>10 (4th)</td><td>10 (7th)</td><td>12 (7th)</td><td>13 (7th)</td><td>13 (7th)</td><td>18 (7th)</td><td>19 (7th)</td><td>20 (7th)</td><td>20 (7th)</td><td>22 (7th)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gloucester</td><td>0 (9th)</td><td>2 (8th)</td><td>2 (9th)</td><td>3 (9th)</td><td>3 (9th)</td><td>8 (9th)</td><td>8 (9th)</td><td>8 (9th)</td><td>9 (9th)</td><td>11 (8th)</td><td>16 (8th)</td><td>16 (8th)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Harlequins</td><td>1 (7th)</td><td>1 (9th)</td><td>5 (8th)</td><td>5 (8th)</td><td>10 (8th)</td><td>10 (8th)</td><td>10 (8th)</td><td>10 (8th)</td><td>10 (8th)</td><td>10 (9th)</td><td>11 (9th)</td><td>15 (9th)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Newcastle Red Bulls</td><td>0 (10th)</td><td>0 (10th)</td><td>0 (10th)</td><td>0 (10th)</td><td>0 (10th)</td><td>0 (10th)</td><td>0 (10th)</td><td>1 (10th)</td><td>5 (10th)</td><td>5 (10th)</td><td>7 (10th)</td><td>7 (10th)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Updated: 29 March 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>

Regular season

2025–26 Premiership Rugby

The regular season fixtures were announced on 23 July 2025. The opening match of the season between Gloucester and Sale Sharks took place on a Thursday night – a first for the league. The change was made as there will be no Saturday match, in order to avoid a clash with the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup third-place play-off and final at Twickenham on 27 September 2025.

• Derby Weekends – All fixtures scheduled for Round 3 are derby matches between local rivals – the Northern Derby (Sale Sharks v Newcastle Red Bulls), the West Country Derbies (Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester v Bath), the East Midlands Derby (Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers), and the London Derby (Harlequins v Saracens). • Slater Cup – Leicester Tigers and Gloucester will contest the Slater Cup at Welford Road on 19 December 2025, and at Villa Park on 28 March 2026, in honour of former Leicester and Gloucester player Ed Slater. • Big Game 17 – Harlequins will host Bristol Bears in this season's edition of The Big Game at Twickenham Stadium on 28 December 2024, during Round 7. • The Showdown 6 – Saracens will host Northampton Saints in this season's edition of The Showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 March 2026, during Round 12. • Big Summer Kick-Off 5 – Harlequins will host Exeter Chiefs in this season's edition of the Big Summer Kick-Off at Twickenham Stadium in May 2026, during Round 16. • Big Day Out – Bristol Bears will host Harlequins in the second edition of the Big Day Out at Principality Stadium in March 2026, during Round 12.

• All fixtures are subject to change. • Referees appointed to officiate Premiership matches are employed by the RFU, unless indicated otherwise.

Promotion/relegation play-off

2025–26 Premiership Rugby

Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for promotion, the champions of the 2025–26 Champ Rugby season will play in a two-legged play-off against the team which finishes 10th in the Premiership table at the end of the regular season. The winner, based on aggregate score, will play in the Premiership for the following season.

Leading scorers

2025–26 Premiership Rugby

Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

Discipline

Citings/bans

<table><thead><tr><th>Player/Coach</th><th>Match</th><th>Citing date</th><th>Law breached</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Josh Hodge</td><td>Northampton vs. Exeter (28 September 2025)</td><td>30 September 2025</td><td>9.13 – Dangerous Tackling (Red card)</td><td>3-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nathan Michelow</td><td>Newcastle vs. Saracens (26 September 2025)</td><td>1 October 2025</td><td>9.18 – Tip Tackling (Red card)</td><td>4-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WillGriff John</td><td>Bath vs. Sale (3 October 2025)</td><td>7 October 2025</td><td>9.20(a) – Dangerous Charging into a Ruck (Citing)</td><td>3-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tom Jordan</td><td>Bristol vs. Exeter (11 October 2025)</td><td>14 October 2025</td><td>9.13 – Dangerous Tackling (Red card)</td><td>4-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>JJ van der Mescht</td><td>Newcastle vs. Northampton (17 October 2025)</td><td>21 October 2025</td><td>9.27 – 2 Yellow Cards (Red card)</td><td>Sending off sufficient</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Luke Cowan-Dickie</td><td>Saracens vs. Sale (18 October 2025)</td><td>21 October 2025</td><td>9.13 – Dangerous Tackling (Red card)</td><td>Red card rescinded</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Edoardo Todaro</td><td>Bristol vs. Northampton (29 November 2025)</td><td>2 December 2025</td><td>9.17 – Tackling a Player in the Air (Red card)</td><td>2-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Charlie Clare</td><td>Leicester vs. Gloucester (19 December 2025)</td><td>22 December 2025</td><td>9.20(b) – Dangerous Play in a Ruck (Red card)</td><td>2-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Joe Batley</td><td>Bristol vs. Newcastle (27 December 2025)</td><td>30 December 2025</td><td>9.20(b) – Dangerous Play in a Ruck (Red card)</td><td>2-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ollie Thorley</td><td>Newcastle vs. Gloucester (2 January 2026)</td><td>6 January 2026</td><td>9.13 – Dangerous Tackling (Red card)</td><td>3-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Arthur Clark</td><td>Newcastle vs. Gloucester (2 January 2026)</td><td>6 January 2026</td><td>9.12 – Strike/Punch (Citing)</td><td>3-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jamie Hodgson</td><td>Newcastle vs. Gloucester (2 January 2026)</td><td>6 January 2026</td><td>9.12 – Strike/Punch (Citing)</td><td>1-match ban</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Campbell Ridl</td><td>Bath vs. Exeter (3 January 2026)</td><td>6 January 2026</td><td>9.17 – Tackling a Player in the Air (Red card)</td><td>2-match ban</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Awards

Player of the Month

The following players have received the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month award during the 2025–26 season, as selected by a panel of media commentators, in addition to monthly public polls.

<table><thead><tr><th>Month</th><th>Nominees</th><th>Club</th><th>Winner</th><th>Refs</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>October</td><td>Immanuel Feyi-Waboso</td><td>Exeter</td><td>Edoardo Todaro</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Guy Pepper</td><td>Bath</td></tr><tr><td>Henry Slade</td><td>Exeter</td></tr><tr><td>Edoardo Todaro</td><td>Northampton</td></tr><tr><td>December</td><td>Greg Fisilau</td><td>Exeter</td><td>Ellis Genge</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tommy Freeman</td><td>Northampton</td></tr><tr><td>Ellis Genge</td><td>Bristol</td></tr><tr><td>George Hendy</td><td>Northampton</td></tr><tr><td>January</td><td>Callum Chick</td><td>Northampton</td><td>Billy Searle</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Alex Coles</td><td>Northampton</td></tr><tr><td>Cameron Henderson</td><td>Leicester</td></tr><tr><td>Billy Searle</td><td>Leicester</td></tr></tbody></table>

Broadcast coverage

2025–26 Premiership Rugby

The competition is being broadcast by TNT Sports for the thirteenth consecutive year. The 2025–26 season is the second of the new broadcast deal with Premiership Rugby, under which all 93 matches will be shown live on TNT and Discovery+. In addition, seven select matches, including the Premiership Final, will be broadcast free-to-air on ITV over the course of the season.

This season will be the second to have the one-hour highlights programme, titled Gallagher Premiership Unleashed, which is aired on ITV4 each Wednesday at 7pm, recapping all of the fixtures held over the previous weekend. An abridged, half-hour version of the show is also shown on ITV1 every Wednesday at 11.45pm, while both programmes will remain available to view on demand via ITVX.