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#Post#: 155703--------------------------------------------------
Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: June 23, 2026, 3:46 am
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Telegraph Sport assesses how all 10 teams fared and considers
how they might go in 2026-27
With the curtains drawing on another Prem Rugby season and
Northampton Saints crowned champions for the second time in
three years, Telegraph Sport runs the rule over all 10 teams in
the English top flight...
Bath
B-
Two semi-finals but no final for last season’s treble winners.
Bath were still there or thereabouts in both of the main
competitions and deserve credit for the way in which they took
the game to eventual champions Bordeaux in the European
semi-final, but with the resources at their disposal, more had
been expected of the Blue, Black and White.
How Bath missed Lee Blackett, the attack coach poached by
England. Thomas du Toit and Alfie Barbeary will be missed next
season, but Bath still possess enough depth and class to fight
for silverware again. Surely, after the difficult second album,
they will rediscover their verve.
Bristol Bears
D
Another season of underachievement for the Prem’s wackiest
show-boaters, finishing in the bottom half of the Prem table,
despite threatening the top four for most of the season, and
being roundly trounced by Toulouse in the last 16 of the
Champions Cup (although, in that latter regard, Bristol are by
no means the first and won’t be the last).
Pat Lam, the director of rugby under pressure for a top-four (or
better) finish, needs to have a think in the off-season about
how best to marry the Bears’ Wild West attack with the
pragmatism of victory. There is so much talent at the club; it
is the application which is questionable.
Exeter Chiefs
A
What a remarkable turnaround Rob Baxter has overseen at the
Chiefs. Ninth out of 10 last season, 15 minutes away from
champions in this campaign. It was – just – a bridge too far for
Exeter in the final but they could barely have done better, as
relative newcomers against a side who have been there and done
it.
Still, the Chiefs, even with the great Len Ikitau departing at
the end of this season, feel like a team on the up. Baxter has
Exeter ticking again – good players playing well rather than, as
was the case last season, poorly – and deserves all the
plaudits. The future, with Black Knight Group expected to
complete their takeover soon, looks bright down in Devon.
Gloucester
C
Too generous? This ranking is on the basis that Gloucester
achieved about what was expected of them. The top four always
looked too far but qualifying for the Champions Cup, which they
have done, was a must, albeit, they might not have wanted it to
have gone down to the wire. The big signing of Ross Byrne at
fly-half was a failure, but Charlie Atkinson stepped up superbly
to conduct the orchestra.
There is no getting away from the fact that Tomos Williams’s
departure to Saracens is a loss but a coaching restructure, with
Chris Boyd consulting, is a sign for optimism.
Harlequins
F+
Woeful from start to finish and most around the club will want
to consign the season to the bottom of the River Thames. There
were certainly elements outside of Harlequins’ control – head
coach Danny Wilson departing a week before the season began was,
at best, inauspicious – but there is just no way that squad
should not be qualifying for the Champions Cup, needing to be in
the top eight of 10 teams. George Furbank is a shrewd signing
and the coaching staff, with Robbie Deans leading from afar,
looks more settled. Winning three of the last four Prem matches
should give fans hope, too, that a corner has been turned.
George Furbank will join Harlequins having won two Prem titles
during a decade at Northampton
Leicester Tigers
A-
Defeat in an epic play-off semi-final against their nearest
rivals should not overshadow a very respectable first season at
the helm for Geoff Parling. Not many expected it to go as well
as it did, with a handful of lesser-known players – Archie van
der Flier, Billy Searle, Will Wand and, to an extent, Orlando
Bailey – stepping up and turning the Tigers into bona-fide
play-off contenders.
All eyes will be on how Leicester continue their momentum next
season without a handful of their beasts up front: Nicky Smith,
George Martin and Hanro Liebenberg all depart for pastures new.
Newcastle Red Bulls
D
Improvements around the whole of Kingston Park, but it is going
to take time to revolutionise a club that was rotten. The
clean-up operation certainly began this season – even if there
was not a significant improvement in results, there was with
performances and attendances – but it could take another
campaign or so before Newcastle move away from the bottom two
spots in the Prem table. That said, there are exciting arrivals:
Hoskins Sotutu, the New Zealand No 8, chief among them. As they
slowly, sustainably go about their business, Newcastle are worth
keeping an eye on.
Northampton Saints
A+
What more is there to say about the joie de vivre of
Northampton? The Saints play with such joy and free spirit that
they should be the envy of most clubs in England (and beyond). A
second title in three years is deserved reward for their
freewheeling approach.
The only minor blot on their copy book is a quarter-final exit
from the Champions Cup – albeit in an epic encounter at Bath –
but, as we know, it is nigh-on impossible for English clubs to
fight on both fronts. Indeed, it is not easy for the French
clubs, either, with European champions Bordeaux missing out on
France’s equivalent of the play-offs. But Saints fans would have
traded the quarter-final defeat for their day of glory in the
Twickenham sun every day of the week. What a club.
Sale Sharks
E
A campaign to forget for Sale, who were the Prem’s great
disappointments this season. Most expected the Sharks to be in
the play-offs and they fell far short of that, but, at the very
least, they secured Champions Cup qualification for next season.
Alex Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby, has the backing of the
club’s hierarchy owing to previous successes but it remains to
be seen how long that patience lasts next season, especially
with the cavalry joining. Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis, Courtney
Lawes, Alex Lozowski and Joe Marchant, to name but a few. Next
season there are no excuses. One poor campaign can always be
dismissed as a blip; two might hint at something deeper.
Saracens
C
A season of two halves for Saracens, the change surely coming
after that 62-15 defeat by Bath at the Rec in March. But, in
Mark McCall’s final season as director of rugby, Saracens went
to the well and made their leader proud, falling just short on
the final day in a winner-takes-all clash with eventual
finalists Exeter.
There are some incredibly talented prospects at the StoneX –
Noah Caluori, Charlie Bracken and Olly Hartley among them –
while George Martin and Tomos Williams are highly anticipated
arrivals; if Saracens, to be led by the returning Brendan
Venter, can keep them both fit.
#Post#: 155706--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: June 23, 2026, 4:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Gloucester continue to escape criticism because of low
expectations.
Surprised they didn't mention our ridiculous run of injuries as
one of many contributing factors. All well and good having a
squad that should be qualifying but they have to be available.
Obviously we all know that the problem wasn't just that and we
produced many dire performances with some very good players on
the field. Still, F+ vs a C and an E for two sides who didn't
lose their head coach and didn't have the same glut of
injuries... and who didn't win as many matches
#Post#: 155708--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: Yareet
Date: June 23, 2026, 4:26 am
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Still, F+ vs a C and an E for two sides who didn't lose their
head coach and didn't have the same glut of injuries... and who
didn't win as many matches
>
--- End Quote ---
Unfortunately, Jams, you’ve missed the fact that Bortolami was
our Head Coach. And Byron was our defence coach. Lost them both
this season.
On top of the injuries which were also significant
#Post#: 155709--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: June 23, 2026, 4:55 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> Unfortunately, Jams, you’ve missed the fact that Bortolami was
our Head Coach. And Byron was our defence coach. Lost them both
this season.
>
> On top of the injuries which were also significant
>
--- End Quote ---
I refuse to accept your facts until you pay attention to my post
in another thread days ago where I FORENSICALLY DESTROYED your
comment with meticulous detail in a discussion of the UTMOST
IMPORTANCE.
(It's a fair cop on the coaches, though I don't think your
injuries were particularly out of line with the league, and they
weren't as bad as ours. I forgot about Byron and I genuinely
erased the memory of Bortolami entirely as I view Sanderson as
your HC, but he's DoR I guess. What happened with Bortolami? Was
he sacked?)
#Post#: 155726--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: Yareet
Date: June 23, 2026, 6:03 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> I refuse to accept your facts until you pay attention to my
post in another thread days ago where I FORENSICALLY DESTROYED
your comment with meticulous detail in a discussion of the
UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> (It's a fair cop on the coaches, though I don't think your
injuries were particularly out of line with the league, and they
weren't as bad as ours. I forgot about Byron and I genuinely
erased the memory of Bortolami entirely as I view Sanderson as
your HC, but he's DoR I guess. What happened with Bortolami? Was
he sacked?)
>
--- End Quote ---
Sorry, J- Dog. Which post was that?
A mutual parting of ways for Marco. And our injuries (perhaps
with Sharky specs) were a decent number but also a large number
of our key players and/or longish term:
Rodd
Dickie
Asher
DdP
Both Curries
Raffi (obvs 🙄)
RdP
Reed
Carpenter
That’s the bones of a starting XV. Especially when you add in
Nibbly Jibbly taking a chomp out of his old teammates 🤬
#Post#: 155728--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: June 23, 2026, 6:34 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> Sorry, J- Dog. Which post was that?
--- End Quote ---
I really wouldn't worry about it!
--- Quote ---
> And our injuries (perhaps with Sharky specs) were a decent
number but also a large number of our key players and/or longish
term:
>
> Rodd
> Dickie
> Asher
> DdP
> Both Curries
> Raffi (obvs 🙄)
> RdP
> Reed
> Carpenter
>
> That’s the bones of a starting XV. Especially when you add in
Nibbly Jibbly taking a chomp out of his old teammates 🤬
>
--- End Quote ---
Hmm. Rodd and LCD played 8 league matches, Tom Curry 7, Asher
12, Carpenter 12, Raffi 13, Reed 13, RdP 14. That's really not
that bad - most of those guys gave you plenty of minutes on the
field.
Ben Curry, DdP - no argument there.
Quins: Els 1 Prem game, Lamositele & Waghorn 2, Lawday 3, Lewies
& Launchbury 4, Kerrod 5, Baxter, Cleaves, and Beard 6, Tyrone
7, Chisholm 9, Riley, Isgro, CCS, and Northmore 10. Some other
guys managed 13-14-15 which is fine and normal.
We had a glut of injuries in the pack that saw entire sets of
front rows injured, needing us to call up a few ringers, our two
most experienced locks were not available for most of the
season, our best 12 barely played, our best 13s missed a lot of
matches, 3 of our 4 most regular back 3 options were injured
most of the season, etc etc.
#Post#: 155733--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: Yareet
Date: June 23, 2026, 7:56 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> I really wouldn't worry about it!
>
> Hmm. Rodd and LCD played 8 league matches, Tom Curry 7, Asher
12, Carpenter 12, Raffi 13, Reed 13, RdP 14. That's really not
that bad - most of those guys gave you plenty of minutes on the
field.
>
> Ben Curry, DdP - no argument there.
>
> Quins: Els 1 Prem game, Lamositele & Waghorn 2, Lawday 3,
Lewies & Launchbury 4, Kerrod 5, Baxter, Cleaves, and Beard 6,
Tyrone 7, Chisholm 9, Riley, Isgro, CCS, and Northmore 10. Some
other guys managed 13-14-15 which is fine and normal.
>
> We had a glut of injuries in the pack that saw entire sets of
front rows injured, needing us to call up a few ringers, our two
most experienced locks were not available for most of the
season, our best 12 barely played, our best 13s missed a lot of
matches, 3 of our 4 most regular back 3 options were injured
most of the season, etc etc.
>
--- End Quote ---
No arguments that your injury situation was graver but my point
was the people we lost were pretty key to our team - hence
and/or
Although my biggest surprise is that Chisholm played only one
fewer Prem games than CCS this season. 9? Really? My sense was
it was more like none
#Post#: 155740--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: boroughquin
Date: June 23, 2026, 9:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> No arguments that your injury situation was graver but my
point was the people we lost were pretty key to our team - hence
and/or
>
> Although my biggest surprise is that Chisholm played only one
fewer Prem games than CCS this season. 9? Really? My sense was
it was more like none
>
--- End Quote ---
Agreed if I'd been forced into betting on Chis' league
appearances I genuinely would have said 0! Must have all been
Oct/Nov/Dec
#Post#: 155742--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: June 23, 2026, 10:04 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: boroughquin link ---
>
> Agreed if I'd been forced into betting on Chis' league
appearances I genuinely would have said 0! Must have all been
Oct/Nov/Dec
>
--- End Quote ---
All Rugby doesn't have an entry for Chis this season. I thought
he was injured before the season started.
#Post#: 155761--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem club-by-club grades: Who had a season from hell and who
shone?
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: June 24, 2026, 3:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Yes. I'm an idiot, it was a lot of players to go through and I
totally missed it was the wrong year. I too was surprised!!!
maybe that should've been a clue.
Yareet, they might be important players but so are ours? You had
fewer injuries and the ones you did have were less severe. I
dunno what to say
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