Northampton Saints to repeat? Saracens a threat? TNT Sports experts make PREM title predictions ahead of 2026/27 season
Updated 24/09/2026 at 12:27 GMT+1
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The Gallagher PREM is back, with the 2026/27 season starting on Friday, September 25 with a double-header as Harlequins face Bath, and defending champions Northampton Saints take on Newcastle Red Bulls, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max.
Who will win 2026/27 PREM? Pundits make their predictions
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Last season saw Saints win the title for the second time in the last three years as they beat Exeter Chiefs in the final.
But will Saints, who have secured Henry Pollock's future with a new contract extension, rule the roost again?
Or will Bath, the 2024/25 winners, get their hands on the trophy again? Or might there be a surprise contender?
TNT Sports experts Ben Kay, Chris Ashton and Danny Care make their predictions for who will emerge victorious this season.
Kay: Saracens could surprise with new signings
"You can't look away from Northampton and Bath because they are so into their rhythm of how they play," said Kay.
"Bath were poor last year, so you would expect a little bit of a bounce back. Northampton are in that rhythm, and it seems like it is coming so easy to them.Â
"I think the surprise might be that Brendan Venter's arrival as director of rugby at Saracens might change things a bit, and they have made some huge signings.Â
"Losing Tom Willis, who was probably their best player for two years, is massive, but they have signed Alfie Barbeary and I hope moving there will relaunch his career a bit because he had so many injury problems at Bath when it looked like he was on such an upward curve.Â
"To get him in a new environment and with one of the signings of the year, if he can stay fit, in George Martin, you pair him and Maro Itoje together, and Tomos Williams as well, and I can see Saracens having a significantly better season and causing a few upsets and surprising us."
Ashton: Saints are most dangerous team
"It has got to be Saints. Not just because they are my old team, but they are best placed," said Ashton.
"Having won it twice in the past three years, the age profile of the team, how many England players they have - there is a lot going for them.Â
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"Their stadium is a hard place to go and play. They have a great squad of young players coming through and even when they have injuries they never really seem to drop off, they stay at a certain level. They are the most dangerous team out there."
Care: Saints winners, but Williams boosts Sarries
"I don't think you can look any further than the current holders," said Care.
"It would be the first time a team has gone back to back since Saracens did it seven years ago. I think Saints might be the ones with their hands on the trophy at the end.Â
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"If you look at the profile of their squad, there are so many great young English players, they love being there. They have Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty, who are two of the best young up-and-coming coaches in the world.Â
"They have a great environment, play an incredible style of rugby, have a great stadium to play rugby at, and I think their profile fits the mould of what you need to be PREM champions. They have a great squad who know how to do it.
"I think Sarries are dangerous this year and a big reason for that is because they have signed Tomos Williams. He might be the missing link they have needed the last few years.
"He does stuff that other scrum-halves don't do or don't dare to do. I love the fact he backs himself and the no-look passes and offloads are incredible."
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