Will Bath win Gallagher PREM title again? Who can stop Gloucester-Hartpury in PWR race? England for Six Nations? - Rugby storylines in 2026
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Published 02/01/2026 at 12:07 GMT
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International and domestic rugby hots up in 2026, with the Gallagher PREM, Premiership Women's Rugby, Guinness Six Nations and Nations Championship all on the line. Will Johan van Graan's men go back-to-back? Who can stop Gloucester-Hartpury rolling on? Do England have a shot at reclaiming the Six Nations? And who will reign victorious in the inaugural Nations Championship?
The fall and rise of Bath Rugby - an emotional journey to becoming Premiership champions
Video credit: TNT Sports
Will Bath do it again?
It was not too long ago that Johan van Graan's Bath Rugby were languishing in the nether reaches of the Gallagher PREM, finishing bottom of a 13-team top-flight in 2022.
Their rise has been remarkable and 2025 was the year that 29 seasons of hurt were wiped from memory as the West Country side defeated Leicester Tigers 23-21 in a nail-biting showpiece at the Allianz.
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Could their triumph spark the sort of domination they enjoyed campaign after campaign in the early 1990s?
Early indications would suggest it is certainly possible, with Bath top of the tree at Christmas, having lost just one league match by that stage - Tigers getting their revenge in a 22-20 victory at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
But a comprehensive 41-21 defeat to Northampton Saints in Bath's final appointment of 2025 saw them relinquish top spot to their opponents and drop to third behind Exeter Chiefs.
Thus, the race for the 2025/26 title promises to excite and enthral until the last, and all the action will play out on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Watch: VINTAGE Bath as magic from Russell and Arundell sees visitors score stunner
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How far can youthful Sarries go?
While Bath were taking the elevator up to success, Saracens were left trudging down the steps since emerging victorious from HQ in 2023.
Defeated in the play-off semi-finals in 2024 and finishing in the bottom half of the table the following term, a rebuild was sorely needed for The Men in Black over the summer.
Owen Farrell returned after his stint in the Top 14, Max Malins likewise rejoined from Bristol Bears, but it has been the club's burgeoning young talent that has set the pulses racing.
Teenager Noah Caluori is undoubtedly the pick of the bunch and the winger has already crossed the whitewash 10 times in his first domestic season at senior level.
So can the 19-year-old, along with fellow youngsters Jack and Charlie Bracken, inject verve into Sarries and boost them towards the top four?
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Highlights: Ruthless Caluori shines as Saracens claim dominant win over Sale
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Who can stop Gloucester-Hartpury?
March 2025 saw Gloucester-Hartpury achieve the unthinkable.
After three successive campaigns ending the regular season at the top of the Premiership Women's Rugby table, they completed their hat-trick of final triumphs to etch their names into the history books.
The Cherry and Whites bade farewell to the head coach that oversaw it all when they came from behind to defeat Saracens 34-19 at the StoneX and seal the three-peat.
Dan Murphy has stepped into Sean Lynn's shoes and is doing a very good impression of his predecessor so far.
Gloucester-Hartpury are still the only team unbeaten in the league, and are the only side to defeat league leaders Saracens, who had played a match more than the rest of the chasing pack by the start of 2026.
It looks set to be another shoot-out between the two as we edge closer to spring, with World Cup winners Jess Breach, Zoe Harrison and Marlie Packer hoping to steal the crown from England team-mates Natasha Hunt, Tatyana Heard and Alex Matthews.
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The moment Gloucester-Hartpury secured a 'dazzling, audacious' three-peat
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Six Nations glory at the Stade de France?
England emerged unscathed from their scintillating Quilter Nations Series campaign - can Steve Borthwick's team recapture past glories in the upcoming Guinness Six Nations?
Victories over Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina completed a flawless autumn and earned England an 11th consecutive win.
In fact, the only team to beat them across the calendar year were the first to face them - Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in February.
It will be Ireland's turn to visit their rivals from across the water in the 2026 Six Nations, and a tantalising prospect awaits Borthwick's side should they make it 15 victories on the spin.
Round Five sees holders France host England under the lights at the Stade de France on March 14 in what could be a title-decider - and what a night it would be in Paris should the visitors win their first Championship since 2020.
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No Filter: Behind the scenes of England's HISTORIC comeback against the All Blacks
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Who will win inaugural Nations Championship?
A new-look competition will enter the world of rugby in 2026, and it is anyone's guess who could claim the inaugural Nations Championship.
The format sees the six European powerhouses pitted against Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa across the summer and autumn.
After six rounds of action, the Nations Championship final will welcome the top-rated southern hemisphere team and the leading northern hemisphere side to Allianz Stadium at the end of November.
Will back-to-back world champions South Africa reign supreme once more? Can the All Blacks make their mark after a bruising 2025? Or can England muscle into position at the top of the favourites list for the 2027 Rugby World Cup?
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Highlights: South Africa prevail against Ireland in chaotic and card-filled clash
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Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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