New Season, New Squads, New Goals & New Sponsors

We take a look at all the Premiership teams, their hopes for the season ahead, signings and sponsorship deals.

Bath
This year Bath will be looking to push on towards a playoff spot after another disappointing season following a 6th place finish last season. The club have now only made the playoff once in the past 8 years. Under the leadership of Director of Rugby Todd Blackadder the club have aimed to increase the depth of their squad following a season packed with injuries. The departure of 12 year veteran and powerhouse Matt Banahan to Gloucester leaves a hole out wide which they hope will be filled by 20 year old flyer Joe Cokanasiga, who they recently acquired on three year deal from relegated London Irish. They also added more power to their back line through the signing of ex-Harlequin and Welsh hard man Jamie Roberts.

Bath have continued their partnership with shirt sponsor Dyson, as well as other notable large brands such as Land Rover, Thatcher’s and Ricoh.

Bristol Bears
Newly promoted Bristol will be doing their best to win the relegation battle which they likely be locked into, something they know all to well about after being relegated in 2017. They’ve been spurred on by some big spending on the signing of two All Blacks in ex-Ulster star Charles Piutau and John Afoa, as well as a host of established and emerging premiership players.

Bristol found a shirt sponsor in the courier service TooGood. They have also partnered up with TM Lewin and Heineken for next season.

Exeter Chiefs
Exeter come in to this season with the hope of replicating last years dominant season. They took a no thrills approach to their offseason this year, their only signing being Welsh international Alex Cuthbert from the Cardiff Blues. Under the guidance of Head Coach Rob Baxter the expectations for the Chiefs this year shouldn’t fall anywhere short of another title win.

Exeter enter another season with lead sponsor SWCOMMS who they’ve partnered with for over 20 years now.

Gloucester
After finishing mid-table last season Gloucester will be looking to get a shot at the playoffs. Led by South African Johan Ackermann they have completed several impressive offseason signings. The highlight being the signing of Danny Cipriani from Wasps. The talented England Fly-Half will be joined by ex-lions Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert and Ruan Dreyerd – all capped by South Africa. No doubt Ackerman flexing his links back home.

Gloucester continue with main club partner and shirt sponsor Mitsubishi Motors.

Harlequins
Harlequins will be hoping that they can only go up from last season after finishing 10th, their worst finishing position in the premiership since their relegation many years ago. With ex-England defensive coach Paul Gustard taking over the helm as Head of Rugby they will be hoping for a fresh start. With the departure of hard running center Jamie Roberts Quins have brought in Bath power prop Nick Auterac and Wallaby utility back Ben Tapuai.

Harlequins have continued their principle partnerships with both DHL and Adidas going into the 18/19 season.

Leicester Tigers
The Tigers supporters have been left disappointed after finishing just outside the playoffs last season, the first time they haven’t made the playoffs since 2004! Multiple injuries to the likes of Ben Youngs, Manu Tuilagi, George Ford and Matt Toomua heavily impacted them so a key this year will be the fitness and durability of the squad going into the season. The Tigers had a relatively quiet off-season however they signed bruising Scottish no.8 David Denton from Worcester and young speedster Sam Aspland-Robinson from Harlequins, as well as the impressive Guy Thompson from Wasps.

The club has maintained Holland and Barret as their main sponsor. Alongside them they also have deals with several sponsors including Leo Vegas and Thomas Cook Sport.

Newcastle Falcons
The Falcons lead by Director of Rugby Dean Richards pulled off the near impossible last year by getting within a game of the final last year. Supporters will be hoping for more of the same as they aim to keep toppling the bigger clubs. To help they’ve brought in front rowers Logovi’i Mulipola and George Mcguigan from Leicester to bolster their pack.

The club are sponsored by several companies including Nutrition x and Nuffield Health.

Northampton Saints
Northampton had a disappointing 2018/19 season, finishing 9th in the premiership. However, the Saints have made some big changes to their team, bringing in the likes of Welsh international Dan Biggar, who can run the game from fly half.  Saints have also signed Taqele Naiyarvoro, Will Davis, Ben Francis, Dominic Barrow and Andy Symons who will hopefully provide Northampton with some much needed strength in depth for this season.

The clubs main partner will continue to be Travis Perkins and they will also be partnering with several other companies including Carlsberg and Macron.

Sale Sharks
Sale sharks finished 8th last season but with the high profile signing of Chris Ashton, who has returned from France, the season ahead looks promising.  Sale have also secured the signing of Rohan Janse Van Rensburg who will join Ashton on the wing, providing Sale with a new and improved attacking threat.  In the pack, James Phillips joins Sale in the second row and Joe Jones, who has played internationally at U20 level, will provide a strong base in the front row from loose head prop.

Saracens
Saracens have long been a the most successful team in England and Europe.

Saracens have changed very little this offseason but they have brought in Alex Lewington, David Strettle and Tom Woolstencroft who Saracens hope can provide the extra attacking threat that will be needed to beat the likes of Exeter and powerhouses such as Leinster in the European Cup.

Saracens enter another season partnered alongside Allianz and CME Group.

Wasps RFC
Wasps had an excellent season in the premiership finishing 3rd behind Exeter chiefs and Saracens.  Nevertheless wasps fans are hoping that Dai Young can lead his players to a premiership title this season after fans were left disappointed by wasps’ performance in the playoffs last year.  Wasps have had a varied offseason with lots of of their publicity focused on the 6 month ban that Ashley Johnson received after testing positive for a diuretic.

In order to bolster wasps already strong squad, Dai Young has brought in Joe Atkinson and Ben Morris in the hope they can provide strength in depth to Wasps’ back row.  Wasps have also brought in Michael le Bourgeois and the 6ft 5in powerhouse Ross Neal to provide stability in the middle of the pitch. Finally Billy Searle has been signed as a fly-half who can run the game, continuing the exciting and free flowing game that wasps have developed.

Wasps main sponsors this year will be Land Rover and Under Armour.

Worcester Warriors
Last season Worcester Warriors, avoided relegation and finished 11th out of 12 teams in the premiership.  It is certainly fair to say that head coach, Rory Duncan, needed to bring about some changes in this off season.  The warriors have signed 8 new players, introducing two new forwards (Callum Black and Isaac Miller) to the team and strengthening their back line with Ashley Beck, Michael Heaney, Jono Lance, Francois Venter, Scott Van Reda and Duncan Weir.  Weir and Heaney will bring about a new pace and tempo to Worcester attacking game while the likes of Beck and Venter will provide some strength in the centers. Josh Adams will be joined by Scott Van Breda in the hope that Worcester will have more attacking options this coming season.

These signings have been helped by the funding that new kit sponsor VX3 has provided and Worcester should be hoping to improve from last years track record.