Rugby is back! – Tilly J

rugby Sport rugby Tilly J September 27, 2024 0 Comments

Upon reflection of the 1st round of the Gallagher Premiership, I realised that are many contendors for the title.

Will the Saints’ win or will it be a maiden title?

Will Bath get their revenge?

Will there be an underdog winner?

Rugby is always a topic for debate at home. After this weekend, I had an insightful conversation with my Sarries-supporting grandad who told me up straight that all my opinions on Gloucester’s attempt against the Saracens were invalid and that the “score rather flattered the Sarries”, and that was end of the convo. So instead of my usual “Rugby Recap”, here are the club profiles and their odds of winning the Gallagher Premiership title.

BATH
Ground: Recreation Ground
Head of rugby: Johann van Graan
Last season: Beaten finalists
Title odds: 3/1
Players in: Ross Molony (Leinster), Francois van Wyk (Leicester), Guy Pepper (Newcastle).
Players out: Josh McNally (Cardiff), Matt Gallagher (Benetton), Johannes Jonker (Grenoble), Elliot stoot (Red Hurricanes Osaka), Chris Cloete, GJ van Velze(both retired).

BRISTOL BEARS
Ground: Ashton Gate
Rugby director: Pat Lam
Last season: 5th
Title odds: 10/1
Players in: Viliame Mata (Edinburgh), Lovejoy Chawatama(Harlequins).
Players out: Kyle Sinckler(Toulon), Callum Sheedy, Dan Thomas (both Cardiff), Magnus Badbury (Edinburgh), Piers O’Conor (Connacht), Virimi Vakatawa (released).

EXETER CHIEFS
Ground: Sandy Park
Rugby director: Rob Baxter
Last season: 7th
Title odds: 12/1
Players in: Tamata Tua(Brumbies), Kwenze Blose(Stormers), Jimmy Roots, Will Goodrick-Clark (both Ealing Trailfinders).
Players out: Alec Hepburn (Scarlets), Patrick Schikerling(Glasgow), Ollie Devoto(Taumton), Jeremy Tuima(Provence).

GLOUCESTER
Ground: Kingsholm
Rugby director: George Skivington
Last season: 9th
Title odds: 40/1
Players in: Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Gareth Anscombe, Christian Wade(Racing 92), Alfie Petch(Biarritz).
Players out: Adam Hastings(Glasgow), Santiago Socino(Agen), Jonny May (Soyaux Angouleme), Fraser Balmain(Saracens), Alex Hearle(Newcastle), Harry Elrignton(released).

HARLEQUINS
Ground: Twickenham Stoop
Rugby director: Billy Millard
Last season: 6th
Title odds: 8/1
Players in: Leigh Halfpenny(Crusaders),Titi Lamositele(Montpellier), Wyn Jones(Scarlets).
Players out: Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks, South Africa), Louis Lynagh(Benetton), Will Collier (Castres), Lovejoy Chawatama (Bristol), Will Edwards, Max Green (both released), Santiago Garcia Botta (retired).

LEICESTER TIGERS
Ground: Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Rugby director: Michael Cheika
Last season: 8th
Title odds: 12/1
Players in: Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Corne Beets (Blue Bulls, South Africa), Izaia Perese (New South Wales Waratahs).
Players out: Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks, Japan), Francois van Wyk (Bath), Nic Dolly (Western Force), Kieran Wilkinson (Newcastle), Phil Cokanasiga (Ospreys), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Guy Porter (retired).

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Ground: Kingston Park
Consultant rugby director: Steve Diamond
Last season: 10th
Title odds: 250/1
Players in: Alex Hearle (Gloucester), Luan de Bruin (Edinburgh), Cameron Neild, Conor Doherty (both Sale Sharks), Kieran Wilkinson (Leicester), Jack Metcalf (Doncaster), Thomas Gordon (Glasgow).
Players out: Phil Brantingham, Louie Johnson (both Saracens), Guy Pepper (Bath), Iwan Stephens, Rory Jennings (both Cardiff), George Wacokecoke (Doncaster), Matias Moroni (released).

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Ground: Franklin’s Gardens
Rugby director: Phil Dowson
Last season: Champions
Title odds: 5/2
Players in: Josh Kemeny (Melbourne Rebels), Callum Hunter-Hill, Tom West (both Saracens).
Players out: Courtney Lawes (Brive), Lewis Ludlam (Toulon), Alex Moon (Bayonne), Sam Matavesi (Lyon), Paul Hill (Edinburgh), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Cardiff), Alex Waller, Ethan Waller, Tom Cruse (all retired).

SALE SHARKS
Ground: Salford Community Stadium
Rugby director: Alex Sanderson
Last season: 3rd
Title odds: 7/1
Players in: Waisea Nayacalevu (Toulon), Will Addison (Ulster), Le Roux Roets (Sharks, South Africa).
Players out: Manu Tuilagi (Bayonne), Sam James (Racing 92), Cameron Neild, Conor Doherty (both Newcastle), Agustin Creevy, Telusa Veainu (both released).

SARACENS
Ground: StoneX Stadium
Rugby director: Mark McCall
Last season: 4th
Title odds: 3/1
Players in: Fergus Burke (Crusaders), Rhys Carre (Cardiff), Phil Brantingham, Louie Johnson (both Newcastle), Sam Spink (Western Force), Fraser Balmain (Gloucester).
Players out: Owen Farrell (Racing 92), Billy Vunipola (Montpellier), Mako Vunipola (Vannes), Christian Judge (Beziers), Aled Davies (Cardiff), Tom West, Callum Hunter-Hill (Northampton), Ben Harris (Ealing Trailfinders), Logovi’i Mulipola (Doncaster), Tim Swiel, Dom Morris (both released), Sean Maitland, Alex Lewington (both retired).