Gallagher Premiership Round 1 Predictions & Betting Tips

The Gallagher Premiership Rugby season kicks off this weekend as newly-promoted Saracens head to last year’s league toppers Bristol Bears on Friday night.

The 2021-22 campaign will see 13 teams battle it out for Gallagher Premiership glory this season, with Wasps handed a bye for the first week.

Gallagher Premiership Preview

The Gallagher Premiership Rugby season kicks off this weekend as newly-promoted Saracens head to last year’s league toppers Bristol Bears on Friday night.

The 2021-22 campaign will see 13 teams battle it out for Gallagher Premiership glory this season, with Wasps handed a bye for the first week.

Champions Harlequins begin their title defence with a long trip up north to Newcastle Falcons who will be hoping to improve on their 10th-placed finish from last year.

Bristol Bears will look to avenge their bruising 43-36 loss to Quins in the semi-finals as they play their first Gallagher Premiership match at Ashton Gate since that defeat.

Buoyed by a return to the top-flight, five-time champions Saracens will also welcome back a host of players including Gallagher Premiership winners Alex Lozowski and Nick Isiekwe.

Beaten finalists Exeter Chiefs play Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in one of four 3pm kick-offs on Saturday.

The Chiefs will look to get their attempt to reach a seventh straight Gallagher Premiership final off to the perfect start, but the Tigers present a difficult challenge.

Head coach Steve Borthwick begins his second season in charge of the East Midlands outfit and has been bolstered by the arrival of assistant coaches Kevin Sinfield and Richard Wigglesworth.

Ellis Genge takes over the reins from Tom Youngs as club captain as the side aim to improve on their sixth-place finish last time out.

Also in the East Midlands, Northampton Saints will take on Gloucester Rugby, with the Cherry and Whites hoping to equalise in the head-to-head.

Of the 56 clashes between the sides, Northampton have emerged victorious 28 times to Gloucester’s 27 but George Skivington’s were the most recent winners, coming away 31-7 winners at Franklin’s Gardens in May.

Worcester Warriors recorded their only on-field victory in Round 1 of the 2020-21 season but will hope an opening-round victory over London Irish this year will be a sign of what is to come.

Warriors saw 19 players leave Sixways this summer but they also welcomed several new arrivals, with the exciting Scottish pair of Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland showing the side’s intent.

The Exiles will be fielding a van der Merwe of their own, South Africa’s Marcel van der Merwe and the away side will be aiming for their first Gallagher Premiership win since March.

New season brings significant changes for Premiership Rugby

Saturday’s action culminates in Sale Sharks taking on Bath Rugby at 5pm as Alex Sanderson prepares for his first full season in charge of the Sharks.

Bath will be hoping to repeat their 27-22 victory at the AJ Bell in February, one of 10 victories the Somerset side recorded on their way to seventh place in the league.

Reigning champions Harlequins round out the weekend’s action when they had to Kingston Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons defeated Quins 25-22 the last time the teams met in Newcastle before Harlequins bounced back to record a commanding 54-26 victory over Dean Richards’ side on their way to Gallagher Premiership glory.

These opening encounters could show early indications of who could be lifting the trophy come the final in June.