Gallagher Prem Rugby 2025-26 Kicks Off: Can Bath defend title? Biggest threats and dark horses to watch this season
Sale Sharks vs. Gloucester Rugby: Gallagher Prem season kicks off in Salford
The 2025-26 Gallagher Prem Rugby season kicks off on Thursday night with Sale Sharks taking on Gloucester Rugby in front of what should be a packed house at the CorpAcq Stadium (formerly known as the Salford Community Stadium).
The Sharks enjoyed a solid campaign last time out, finishing in third place in the table before bowing out to eventual runners-up Leicester Tigers 21-16 in the semi-final. The Cherry and Whites, on the other hand, failed to secure a spot in the Playoffs, two points off the top four.
Our experts are leaning toward the home team to make a strong start to the new season, and you can check out our full Sale Sharks vs Gloucester Rugby prediction for all the key information ahead of the kickoff this evening.
In this season’s opener, a total of 12 England internationals will take to the field, six on each team, including the likes of George Ford, Tom Roebuck, and Ben Curry for the hosts, and Charlie Atkinson, Arthur Clark and Ollie Thorley for the visitors.
This opening clash is more than just a battle between two historic clubs - it serves as an early marker for the league as a whole, and both teams will be determined to deliver a Round 1 statement that sets the tone for the long and gruelling season ahead.
Bath start Prem season as favourites to defend title
The 2024-25 season was a memorable one for Bath, as they surged to the top of the table with eight wins from their first nine games and never looked back. The Bristol Bears and Leicester provided stern tests in the knockouts, but it was not enough to deny Bath a historic treble.
Last year’s Prem triumph was more than just a title for Johann van Graan’s team; it was redemption after their heartbreak from 12 months earlier, and the side has left nothing to chance this season, having done some major recruitment during the offseason.
The reigning champions will get their defence started under the lights at Twickenham Stoop against Harlequins on Saturday night, so be sure to take a look at our rugby predictions ahead of kick-off.
Bath’s title run last term saw them become the seventh different team to win the Premiership in as many seasons, and the 102 tries they ran in were the most in the competition. The defending champions are the favourites to lift the trophy again this year at odds of 2.37, followed by Saracens at 4.33.
Northampton, Sale and Saracens: Ones to watch this season
For the Northampton Saints, the 2024-25 season was one of disappointment, as they only managed eighth place in the league as defending champions and suffered a heartbreaking 28-20 loss to Bordeaux Begles in the European Rugby Champions Cup final.
Returning to the top four is the primary goal for the Saints this season, and they’ve undergone significant changes over the summer with the departures of Juarno Augustus and Temo Mayanavanua and the arrivals of JJ Mescht and Callum Chick.
Sale have featured in the semi-final of the Prem in each of the last three seasons, and Sharks fans feel that returning to the summit of the domestic league is now overdue. Like the Saints, Sale have also brought in reinforcements, with the likes of Jacques Vermeulen and Marius Louw set to suit up for them this year.
As for the Saracens, most of the offseason headlines revolved around the re-signing of Owen Farrell at fly-half. However, the North Londoners also added full-back Max Malins to their ranks, while also bulking up their front five.
