Can the Newcastle Red Bulls 'take a few names'? Which surprise side could go 'one step further'? Vote for your Gallagher PREM winner as kick-off nears
Published 24/09/2025 at 12:55 GMT+1
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After a long, fallow three months, the Gallagher PREM is back. Thursday sees the start of a much-anticipated 2025/26 season that sees Bath seek to defend the title they won back in June, bringing to an end their 29-year famine. Can they go back-to-back? Can Louis Rees-Zammit inspire Bristol to big things? And can the Newcastle Red Bulls "take a few names"? Predict your winners below.
'First try as the Newcastle Red Bulls!' - McGuigan bundles over the line
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Gallagher PREM is back!
The wintry weather makes Bath's joyous June day seem a lifetime ago already, but the champions from the West Country - along with their nine other rivals - are all set to slug it out again for the 2025/26 title.
TNT Sports and discovery+ is once more your home for all the action, with every single game to be shown live throughout the season.
Ahead of the big kick-off, TNT Sports caught up with ex-Bath and England prop David Flatman, who gave his take on the shape of the division this term.
'Monkey off back' = back-to-back?
Flatman knows a thing or two about Bath's struggles, having spent nine years at the club between 2003 and 2012.
It took the West Country outfit 29 years to break their PREM trophy drought, with Twickenham a sea of blue and white at the end of last season's final as Johann van Graan saw his side fend off a dramatic Leicester fightback.
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Tom de Glanville and Max Ojomoh of Bath Rugby lift the trophy following the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final in June
Image credit: Getty Images
As well as their existing title-winning squad - marshalled expertly at 10 by Finn Russell - they will also possess the scorching pace of Henry Arundell on the wing this term, with the 22-year-old having returned from Racing 92.
"This PREM season, I think Bath will win it again," Flatman said. "If I was a season-ticket holder at Bath, I'd be buying my PREM final tickets early doors because I think they will be favourites.
"Now they've won it - and they kind of looked nervous in the final, [but they] got there, did the job and the monkey's off the back.
"I can see them going again back-to-back. Hell of a squad. The obvious names, you don't need me to name them, but they've also got Thomas du Toit, which helps."
Red Bulls to 'take a few names'?
Much has been happening at the PREM's most northerly club over the summer, with Red Bull completing their acquisition of Newcastle on August 12.
On announcing the deal, Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff said that the investment seeks to "empower the club to reach its full competitive potential."
That potential, with a captive local following, is not in doubt, and with a raft of new signings coming through the door this summer - including Christian Wade, seeking to break Chris Ashton's PREM try-scoring record - hopes are high in the north-east.
"The Newcastle Red Bulls is super exciting in the medium to long term," Flatman said.
"I know it's not the plan yet for them to start whacking people and smashing everyone and winning the league - it's going to take more time than that.
"But I would love them to get off to a good start and just take a few names in the first half of this season before Christmas, because it would be great for the league. It's great for the league what's happening up there."
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Who could go 'one step further'?
Finally, Flatman suggested that an outsider that he would love to see "really deliver".
He said: "If there's one team who always do well, they're always in the conversation come the end of the season, who I would love to go one step further and really deliver - it would be Sale Sharks.
"I just love what they're about, [I'm a] big Alex Sanderson fan - as everyone is.
"I feel like they're a really good group of people, really good group of players who haven't quite got there - and wouldn't it be satisyfing to see them do it?"
Before you get your chance to vote, TNT Sports also consulted two current England internationals - Chandler Cunningham-South and Tom Curry - for their tips.
Both, as it happens, went for Bath as favourites, while Cunningham-South also thinks Bristol Bears could challenge after their strong summer recruitment drive.
The Bears' marquee signing was undoubtedly Louis Rees-Zammit, with the Wales winger returning from his stint in the NFL.
But there have been other shrewd additions besides, with the likes of Scotland winger Tom Jordan coming on board.
Can director of rugby Pat Lam progress his attractive side from their fourth-place finish last term?
Predict your winner
Without further ado, let the fans decide...
First round of PREM fixtures
| Match | Date & time |
| Sale v Gloucester | Thur 25 Sept, 19:45 |
| Harlequins v Bath | Fri 26 Sept, 19:45 |
| Newcastle v Saracens | Fri 26 Sept, 19:45 |
| Northampton v Exeter | Sun 28 Sept, 13:00 |
| Bristol v Leicester | Sun 28 Sept, 15:30 |
Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, the Quilter Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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