Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Can anyone stop reigning champions Northampton winning a third title in four years? By Compiled by Sophie Hurcom BBC Sport England Blink and it seems like a Prem Rugby season has only just finished but it has already been 97 days since 2025-26 wrapped up at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. A new campaign of the English top flight stretches before us, with 18 rounds of games between now and early next June, all against the backdrop of a World Cup that is just over 12 months away. BBC Sport commentators and pundits from across England analyse what we can expect from each club when the games get under way.

Commentary of every Prem Rugby game is available on BBC local radio, via BBC Sounds or the BBC Sport website. Bath - 'Should challenge for honours again'Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Bath failed to back up their 2025 title with a third straight visit to Twickenham in June2025-26: Second, play-offs Key signing: Dan du Preez, number eight Dan Albutt, BBC Radio Bristol commentator Bath's recruitment has been low-key with only two prime additions in South African number eight Dan du Preez and Scotland prop Jamie Bhatti, so the concern for them will be the loss of big ball carriers, especially prop Thomas du Toit and back-rower Alfie Barbeary. Replacing their impact will be tough, but Bath still have a loaded squad that will once again have Scotland fly-half Finn Russell pulling the strings.

Last season's home semi-final defeat by Exeter will still sting, but head of rugby Johann van Graan has proven to be a master of learning from bad experiences and turning them into positives. If they can, then they should challenge for honours again, but Du Toit and Barbeary are big losses and it may make that task a lot harder. Scotland forward Josh Bayliss may be the most underrated player in the Prem; his power and pace will be a big asset to Bath in a stacked back row.

Listen to The Scrum every Tuesday at 18:00 on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Sounds. Bristol - 'Need better luck with injuries'Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Bristol prop George Kloska made his England debut this summer 2025-26: Sixth Key signing: Ethan Staddon, back-row forward Damian Derrick, BBC Points West sports reporter Bristol Bears enter Pat Lam's 10th season with the clearly stated ambition of getting back into the top four play-off places. Strangely for Bears, it was their attack and lack of tries that cost them last season.

A second full season back in rugby union for Wales and British and Irish Lions winger Louis Rees-Zammit, along with a stated preference for the wing over full-back, should help enormously. The continued development and influence of Bristolian prop George Kloska, now an England international, will be key. So is keeping Argentina international lock Pedro Rubiolo fit.

The depth of their squad is still a concern - particularly in the front five and at fly-half - so they'll need better luck with injuries. Bristol's form after the mid-season Six Nations break must also improve as it's let them down over the past two seasons. Get that right and Lam, who appears to be under little pressure, could be in a tussle for a trip to Twickenham.

Listen to The Scrum every Tuesday at 18:00 on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Sounds. Exeter - 'Lost relatively few frontline players'Image source, Shutterstock Image caption, Exeter Chiefs have retained almost all of the players that took them to last season's final Last season: Third, runners-up Key signing: Dallas Mc Leod, centre Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport, South West of England Exeter surprised many by going from their worst-ever top flight season to beaten Prem finalists in June. Rob Baxter's new-look coaching team has had more chance to bed in their ideas, and aside from Australia centre Len Ikitau have lost relatively few frontline players - once-capped All Black Dallas Mc Leod has come in to replace the Wallabies star while Exeter look strong elsewhere.

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