Review of the 2024-2025 Premiership Season

Well, what a whirlwind of a season the 2024-25 campaign was! Every team experienced their fair share of disappointment and glory, with some extremely unexpected and shocking results – Newcastle’s incredible home win against us, Leicester and Harlequins game at HQ which ended (thanks to a late Dan Cole try) a draw, and of course Round 13 of the season at the end of march, which brought some insanely exciting games – that 13-try tryfest Gloucester v Bristol game at Castle Grim (aka Kingsholm), Bath v Quins at the Rec – 2 sides renowned for exciting backlines both playing running rugby and a classic matchup between 2 old foes, Leicester and Saracens at Welford Road. Sarries went on to win 29-22, bringing light back to their hopes of playoff qualification following the Showdown/Letdown at Spurs the week before. With the playoff spots being decided on the final day of the regular season, this campaign was not dull, far from it! Last season was a rollercoaster of emotions for many rugby fans in general. Watching England in the 2024 Autumn Internationals was that. Following Owen Farrell’s departure to Racing 92, Marcus Smith was handed the 10 jersey in his place.  Well, where to start - the heartbreak of that 79th minute George Ford penalty hitting the post in the loss to New Zealand, the dramatic last-gasp loss to Australia and a thoroughly underwhelming 29-20 defeat to the Springboks, followed by a moral-lifting thrashing of Japan. I feel all those who watched both at HQ or on the telly agreed the Autumn series left much to be desired. The Six Nations 2025 provided a bit more promise – a squeaky-bum victory against Scotland, a thoroughly exciting win against France and the near 70 point demolition of Wales at the Principality. Never a good sign for the Welsh when “Swing Low, sweet chariot” can be heard echoing around the stadium. Bath fans – jubilation, Leicester fans – heartbreak at the last hurdle, Exeter fans – well, just pain really. So many teams had moments of brilliance. It was a topsy turvy season. A number of famous faces in English rugby retired this year – Mike Brown, Alex Goode, Dan Cole, Danny Care, Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson. My congratulations to all who have retired after many successful years in the sport and best wishes for the future. I daresay Mr Goode will have a role in the coaching lineup at StoneX in the future… In this deep dive I will aim to discuss each team in the premiership in detail, but not to such an extent your concentration will drift and eyelids start to droop. For the premiership stats nerds like myself, I will include some key figures and facts to keep you entertained. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Bath Rugby

Well, well, well. What a season for the men in blue! Bath ended their 29‑year league drought ended with a nail‑biting 23–21 final win over Leicester Tigers at Twickenham and what a final it was! Bath seemed heavily powered by a dominant pack: that deadly Thomas du Toit/Will Stuart combo in scrums and breakdown, with Tom Dunn in superb form, earning him an opportunity or two with England. Finn Russell orchestrated consistently and extended his Bath deal until 2028. It seems Johan van-Graan has built a phenomenal ethos in the club, one that seems highly work-rate driven. This can be seen in the minimal points Bath conceded last season – a mere 417 in 18 games, averaging around 23 per game. By far the fewest out of all the teams. Their lethal attack, orchestrated by captain Ben Spencer and the top point scorer Finn Russell, scored 651 points last season, even higher than the likes of Bristol. Despite their top try scorer, Will Muir/aka the Horse only getting 9 tries (impressive yes, bt compared to Ibitoye and Hassell-Collins with 13, perhaps less so), points came from other directions. Notably Finn Russell with a mammoth 183 points over the season. Bath were near impossible to beat at times during the season and despite their underwhelming champions cup campaign, still flourished in other competitions. My only main concern for them next season would be a lack of squad depth at certain positions, such as hooker, scrum half and fly half. There were some departures last season; figures like Orlando Bailey, Louis Schreuder and Niall Annett left. With Santi Carreras, Dan Frost, Henry Arundell and Chris Harris all joining however, Bath seem to have filled those spaces very nicely indeed.

Leicester Tigers

Leicester surprised me this season. I was slightly concerned they would drop off after failing to make the playoffs the season before last and getting beaten away to Sale in the 2023 SF but with Michael Cheika at the helm, instead they came back fighting. After a mixed bag of results in the autumn and winter months, Leicester really turned up the style in the later stages of the season and improved dramatically, taking 2^nd spot and securing a home semi final. Leicester got their own back over Sale for the 2023 semi final and proceeded to Twickenham with confidence. They were perhaps unluckily beaten by Bath in this year’s final but the Leicester squad shows signs of promise. Their backline was certainly one of the better ones, with the likes of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Freddie Steward and Solomona Kata all shining. Handre Pollard was often faultless from the tee, Pollard recording 5 performances where he nailed all his kicks and several more when he missed only 1. Leicester’s defence seemed to have improved, with only 439 points conceded. Leicester’s experienced forwards pack (with the likes of Dan Cole, Hanro Liebenberg and Tommy Reffell) were crucial in tight games. The main problem to haunt Leicester was discipline woes – Solomona Kata was the most carded player in the premiership with 3 cards and the, if I may say so, questionable yellow to Dan Cole in the final arguably cost them the match. Leicester seemed to move away from their old style ‘bish bash bosh’ style of rugby to a more expansive game play and it seemed to work well. I wonder with Cheika departing if Two notable retirees include Dan Cole with 338 tigers and 118 england caps and Ben Youngs, 332 tigers and 127 england caps.  I imagine with the likes of James O’Connor coming in next season, Leicester will be title contenders once again.

Sale Sharks

Sale have been a team who I had suspicions would go far. With Alex Sanderson and a very handy team at the helm, they progressed to the final back in 2023 and were unlucky not to qualify the season before last. Whilst not the most attractive style of rugby, some could say Sale have adopted many traits of Exeter and Saracens (at their peaks) and combined them together. Exeter, their dominant forward play and powerful driving maul. Saracens, their wolfpack style defence and superior kicking game with an impressive aerial game. George Ford (especially later on in the season) noticeably played a greater role in orchestrating it all and worked beautifully alongside Rob du-Preez at 13 who has come on leaps and bounds since joining the Sharks. Strong academy integration with players like Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Joe Carpenter and the 2 Currys has allowed the sharks to build a long-term successful squad and I look forward to seeing what they can achieve in the near future.

What has significantly let Sale down this season is the lack of bonus points they obtained. Only 10 TBP and not a single LBP, indicating that when Sale lost, they lost relatively heavily. Leicester had 12 TBP, Bath 15 and Bristol 16. With the 2024-25 season only spanning 18 matches, it often came down to these small margins. Sale just need to find that extra gear at the end of games to pinch a few bonus points off teams and then, I feel, they could be real contenders for the top 2 places in the table.

Bristol Bears

What a fascinating season the Bears have had! Finishing 4^th, Bristol did qualify for the playoffs and visited Bath away. This was always going to be a difficult game and despite leading 13-6 at half time, they were unable to overcome the home side and consequently got knocked out in the semis. Bristol made a couple of fairly shrewd signings at the start of the season including Vialame Mata from Edinburgh (who we sarries fans know all too much about thinking back to that Challenge Cup encounter at Edinburgh a few years ago) and the criminally-underrated tighthead Lovejoy Chawatama who has certainly helped solidify the Bristol set piece. This is one area I feel the Bears have massively improved on during the season. Yes their ability to score tries and run the ball is phenomenal (95 tries over 18 regular season games, and 16 try bonus points – incredible statistics to say the least) but this cannot be done without the basics. Their lineout and scrum has been more reliable and efficient this season. Bristol set the record for the longest away win streak, reaching 10 consecutive away wins after beating Leicester at Welford Road.

The only significant problem Bristol seem to suffer from is injuries. This year a notable number of their regular starters have been missing due to injury issues – players like James Williams, Joe Batley, AJ Macginty and Max Malins, the latter of course rejoining Saracens ahead of the 2025-26 season. If they can sure up their S&C work and repeat their 24-25 season next year, I expect them to be contenders for the trophy.

Gloucester Rugby

Gloucester are a team who I’m sure were not really on the radar for many at the start of the regular season. Having lost a significant number of players at the end of the 23-24 season (Jonny May, Adam Hastings, Santi Socino and Stephen Varney, I thought they might drop off the radar slightly and become a mid-table team fighting for a spot in the champions cup berths. Instead, Gloucester made several smart signings (Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe and Christian Wade to name just a few) and built into the season, accelerating their playoff drive and ambitions after the 6N break. Numerous impressive wins such as home victories against Leicester, Bristol and Sale boosted their hopes of a 4^th place finish. Gloucester’s attack has really taken steps since the arrival of Tomos Williams. Having been given a new lease of life, the welsh international thrived at Kingsholm and brought electric feet and created numerous superb tries, the most stunning of which was his no-look pass against Bristol to set up Atkinson for a try. It was moments of absolute brilliance at times for Gloucester, but too often they were very inconsistent away from home and failed to take many losing bonus points. Finishing level on points with Saracens at the end of the season and only 2 points from 4^th placed Bristol, there’s certainly plenty for the Shedheads to look forward to next season.

Saracens

This season was labelled as a transition season for Saracens, with an enormous number of faces either leaving or retiring at the end of the 23-24 campaign. Owen Farrell, Sean Maitland, Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola, Aled Davies, Alex Lewington and Callum Hunter-Hill to name just a few. We were always going to struggle in this period. The start of the season showed promise nonetheless, with encouraging victories both away to Gloucester and at home to Sale and Exeter. Our problems really started around the end of October with the international break – players such as Alex Lozowski, Elliot Daly, Ben Earl, Maro Itoje and Tom Willis were all called up to the England squad for a training camp which overlapped with a home match vs Leicester, which we consequently lost. The same happened before the 6N, when we sent a depleted side down to Sandy Park and failed to even pick up a losing bonus point at the home of the Chiefs. So many of our problems (like numerous other premiership clubs) have stemmed from the low salary cap and thus the limited squad depth we can create.

One noticeable problem was teething issues with the attack. It seemed that Ivan van-Zyl has taken on a much more senior role within the backline and either this, or a tactical change, hampered the speed at which he fed the ball from the ruck. There seemed to be lots of dithering with him at 9. I felt rather sorry for poor Fergus Burke who seemed to be receiving a lot of slow ball which consequently put him and his backs on the backfoot. At times the attack shone, but this was more of an if than a when. The centre partnership has also been a major issue, with Alex Lozowski suffering injury midway through the season, and Elliot Daly often away on England camps, it has proven difficult for any of our centres to form a long-term partnership. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say Sam Spink’s arrival was very promising, however he has (so far) been rather disappointing in a sarries shirt and failed to make any sort of impact. Now Alex Goode has retired, I feel we will see Max Malins step into his spot at full back, with Olly Hartley and Elliot Daly at 12 and 13 and a wing combination of Cinti and Roti Segun.

From the superb away win to Bristol to the awful Showdown/Letdown at Spurs stadium, we also encountered highs and lows throughout the 24-25 campaign. Narrowly missing out on premiership semi-final qualification for the first time in 15 years (except the 2020-21 championship campaign of course) was a significant low, however facing Bath away in the semi final would’ve been a mammoth task in any case. We can look back on our season and smile.

Harlequins

Harlequins’ 2024–25 season was a rollercoaster of thrilling highs and frustrating lows, ultimately ending in a 7th-place finish and a year without playoff rugby. While their signature attacking flair was still on show, inconsistency and defensive frailties haunted them throughout. The campaign began with a huge morale boost: a gritty 17–10 win over Saracens, ending a four-year losing streak against their fiercest rivals, followed by a first-ever Premiership victory at Sandy Park, overcoming Exeter on their own turf. Marcus Smith was, as ever, at the heart of their creativity, helping Quins notch 60 tries over the season—third-least in the league—and keeping them among the top sides for metres made and defenders beaten. Cadan Murley chipped in with 10 tries, while Tyrone Green and Nick David were dangerous in open play. The team picked up 11 bonus points, often through attacking efforts, though several came in narrow defeats. But defence remained a major issue—they conceded 478 points across the regular season, among the worst in the the table. The low point came in December with a 14–0 shutout loss to Gloucester—their first scoreless league outing in over a decade. Although they ended the campaign with a rousing win over Saracens at the Showdown and their Big Summer Kick-Off win at Twickenham, where Cadan Murley bagged a hat-trick in a 42–14 romp over Gloucester, it was too little, too late. Off the field, the squad underwent a changing of the guard: André Esterhuizen, Danny Care, Lennox Anyanwu and Joe Marler departed, while veterans Leigh Halfpenny and Titi Lamositele arrived to bring stability. New defence coach Jason Gilmore began instilling structure, but progress was uneven. What is alarming is the shabby recruitment Harlequins have made ahead of next season – a mere 5 signings with 18 players departing. With Marcus Smith signed through 2028, young talents emerging, and the core of their attacking identity intact, Harlequins have the ingredients to contend again—but must rediscover the grit to match their flair.

Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints’ 2024‑25 season was a turbulent ride: the defending champions ended in a disappointing 8th place, well off the pace, with only 68 tries scored and 488 points amassed—enough for mid-table respect but little else. Their campaign began with promise, backing up the previous season’s title with a solid home form, including a dramatic 33-29 victory over Harlequins full of attacking flair and fight-back spirit. Yet consistency eluded them: away from Franklin’s Gardens it was a different story, with just one away league win all year. Injuries and England call-ups wiped out key figures—George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman—leaving the squad patchy and unbalanced. Reddit discussions repeatedly highlighted a problem familiar to Saints fans: “The forwards are really struggling in the loose… we completely lost the physical battle”. The Saints backs are lethal given some space and ball in hand, but as the saying goes ‘forwards win games, backs decide by how much’.

Defensively, Saints were no longer the rock-solid outfit of a year prior: they conceded the fourth-highest points total in the league, with breakdown and defensive cohesion slipping critically under pressure. While their attack retained potency—finishing with several bonus-point wins—the defensive drill was costly, most visibly in key losses to Sale and Leicester in pivotal away fixtures. Still, the season had bright patches. Their European run to the Champions Cup final, overcoming giants like Leinster, showcased resilience and evolving ambition—though a narrow defeat to Bordeaux-Bègles in Cardiff underlined both bravery and remaining gulf to Europe’s elite. Emerging stars like Henry Pollock, Ollie Sleightholme, Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, and Fin Smith earned British & Irish Lions call-ups and offered a glimpse of the next generation.

In short, Northampton showed heart, ambition, and attacking quality—but were undone by instability, injury loss, and defensive breakdowns. As they rebuild, tightening their defence, sharpening set-piece execution, and maintaining continuity amid international absences will be critical if they’re to reclaim Premiership and European glory in 2025–26.

Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs’ 2024–25 campaign was nothing short of a downward spiral—ending in a rare 9th-place finish, with their performance marred by poor recruitment, tactical inertia, and simmering off-field turmoil. In the early rounds, they stumbled to an alarming 0–6 record, collecting no wins through their first six Premiership matches, and surrendered narrowly in several—often by single scores in defeats to Leicester and Northampton—demonstrating neither grit nor killer instinct. Defensively, the Chiefs were utterly exposed: a brutal 79–17 thrashing by Gloucester epitomised a season of collapses, one of five matches this year where they conceded over 50 points. In response, club chairman Tony Rowe suspended coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher, forcing director Rob Baxter back into day-to-day coaching duties to try and salvage morale. Despite this shake-up, solidity remained elusive.

Exeter’s recruitment and squad management—central to the club’s decline—failed spectacularly. Transfers such as Jimmy Roots and Will Goodrick-Clarke failed to deliver consistency up front, while Henry Slade’s ill-fated shift to fly-half only highlighted the lack of true playmaking leadership. Worse still, frequent coaching changes—defence coach Omar Mouneimne sacked mid-season, Hunter given promotion and then dismissed—bred instability. Baxter's loyalty to long-serving staff now looks like stubbornness rather than strategy.

Off the field, financial strain and questionable governance haunted the club. Repayment of COVID-era debt and internal sponsorship ties involving Rowe raise questions about conflicts and sustainable investment. Despite reducing losses from millions to around £400K, the club has little room for mismanagement in a ring-fenced Premiership landscape. Fan attendance dwindled, and morale at Sandy Park? Terribly low. In the 23-24 season, their average % attendance was just 73% compared to pre covid times. I could not find statistics for the 24-25 season but it did not seem things were improving on that front. It seems Exeter’s fans have voted with their feet – rising prices and poor performances have put many off.

All told, this felt less like a blip and more like a slump—once champions, now rudderless. Exeter must overhaul recruitment, inject fresh coaching ideas, and shelter emergent young players under competent leadership just to restore basic Premiership credibility in 2025–26.

Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons endured a bruising 2024–25 Premiership campaign—losing 16 of the 18 league matches, ending dead last with just 292 points scored and an average of 38 per game conceded, and managing only 1.67 tries per match on average. Yet within this bleak record were small flickers of hope. In March, they finally snapped a 25 game long losing streak by beating Exeter Chiefs 24–18 at Kingston Park, with hooker Jamie Blamire scoring a brace in a rare moment of glory. Adam Radwan would finish as the teams top try scorer with 10, Brett Connon led the team with 151 points—demonstrating that, despite the defeats, individuals stood up.

Steve Diamond’s side never gave up, and fans rewarded that grit: average attendance at Kingston Park rose above 6,000, a rare bright spot in club morale. Still, obvious problems sabotaged their recovery: key players—Adam Radwan, Ethan Grayson, Max Pepper, and club captain Callum Chick—left mid-season or declined new deals and were not adequately replaced. Budget constraints pressured Falcons to lean on youth, but even promising academy prospects like Ben Redshaw slipped away to Gloucester ahead of next season. The limited recruitment—only adding a few hard-nosed forwards such as Cameron Neild and Thomas Gordon—underscored how shallow their squad remained. On 18 March 2025, Newcastle Falcons announced a player recruitment freeze until further funding is secured.

Still, optimism is on the horizon: Red Bull has agreed to acquire the Falcons, taking on roughly £39 million of debts and pledging to keep the club at Kingston Park while investing in marketing, infrastructure, and youth engagement—they’re committed to preserving history and building new momentum. With that backing behind them, Newcastle have a chance to rebuild properly—retaining hard-working squad members, investing in crucial signings, and turning those fan loyalty and high work-rate foundations into genuine competitiveness for 2025–26. I am excited to see what the Falcons can achieve in the future.