Prem Rugby season 2026/27 began on Friday as defending champions Northampton Saints score 59 points in victory over Newcastle Red Bulls; Bath also record big victory away to injury-hit Harlequins; Henry Pollock sports new hairstyle on opening night fresh from signing new contract Friday’s opening night of the Prem Rugby season sees defending champions Northampton Saints and Bath post crushing wins over Newcastle Red Bulls and Harlequins… Tommy Freeman and James Pater scored hat-tricks as Northampton, the reigning Prem champions, took advantage of a favourable opening fixture to record a convincing victory over last season’s bottom club. Since the end of last season, Newcastle Red Bulls have recruited extensively and they did show signs of improvement but it was a tough ask against a side making a statement of their intention to fiercely defend their title. Tries from George Hendy, Alex Coles and Ollie Sleightholme took Saints’ tally to nine with Fin Smith adding five conversions and Anthony Belleau two.
Christian Wade scored two tries for the visitors to take his Premiership tally to 95 – just six behind the record holder Chris Ashton. Cam Jordan and Werner Kok were the other try-scorers with two conversions coming from Zack Henry and one from Brett Connon. The opening night of the Prem Rugby season also saw Henry Pollock in action for the first time since signing his new £400,000-a-year contract, and he emerged for kick-off sporting a cornrows hairstyle. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Santi Carreras produced a wonder try as Bath exploited the absence of Harlequins’ England contingent to launch their Gallagher Prem title challenge with a 33-17 victory at The Stoop.
Red Roses vs New Zealand: Mackenzie Carson, Sarah Bern and Maddie Feaunati all included in side for match at Allianz Stadium England vs Canada LIVE! WXV Global Series score, updates, analysis from Sandy Park Henry Pollock: Northampton chief expects more players to work with promoters like Eddie Hearn as he lifts lid on negotiations Phil Dowson: Eddie Hearn has raised the profile of rugby Australia vs South Africa: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus makes 13 changes to starting side for Perth Test after series win over All Blacks Marlie Packer chats to Sky Sports about England’s Red Roses losing their winning run, planning a response vs New Zealand and motherhood Carreras stopped a certain try by kicking a final pass destined for Cadan Murley while it was in mid-air, darting forwards to catch the ball and then winning the foot race that began just outside his own 22. It was a unique score from the Argentina full-back that mixed skill and athleticism and crucially it came in the 32nd minute as Harlequins looked to capitalise on the threats created by their high-tempo attack. While Bath produced fewer thrills, they entered the interval 28-10 ahead with their line-out maul an important weapon and they also finished the stronger of the sides once Quins had run out of steam.
Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt, Fin Baxter and George Furbank were missing through injury, leaving Murley and Chandler Cunningham-South as the last men standing from Quins’ England contingent.
