Premiership Restart Preview: Rugby returns with the 2019/20 season set to be finished
Saracens will be unable to defend the Premiership crown they won in June last year after their relegation due to salary cap breaches
Credit: Paul Harding/ PA
Guess what? The Premiership returns this Friday (14/08) and here at The Flanker, we are weeping tears of happiness for it’s comeback like Jermaine Jenas does over late goals for Spurs in the Champions League.
It has been a long five months since Bristol walked out convincing 28-15 winners over Harlequins at Ashton Gate on 8 March, so let us get you up to speed with our preview of where things currently stand.
We have all the player moves, fixture lists and story of the season for each club below.
Saracens -12th (-63 points)
It seems like a lifetime ago that the biggest story in English domestic rugby broke. Reigning European and Premiership champions Saracens were found to have breached salary cap rules and were given a points deduction which doomed them to the Championship for 20/21 season.
The North London outfit now has nothing to play for domestically, with focus now firmly directed at consecutive Champions Cup wins.
Given the upheaval, it has been a successful enforced break for the club as they managed to re-sign the core of their championship winning squad.
Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly are all tied down to long-term deals but they have lost the considerable size of Will Skelton and George Kruis from next season.
It will be interesting to see how Sarries finish off the season, will they rest their big players or will they want to send a message on their way down?
Their match-up against playoff-chasing Harlequins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the August 22 might tell us.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15 - Bristol Bears (a)
August 22 - Harlequins (h)
August 26 - Gloucester (h)
August 31 - London Irish (a)
September 5 - Wasps (h)
September 9 - Sale (a)
September 13 - Exeter Chiefs (h)
TBD - Worcester Warriors (a)
October 4 - Bath (h)
Champions Cup
19 September - Leinster (a)
26/27 September - Semi Final
17 October - Final
Ins
Former Falcon Juan Pablo Socinco has signed a one-year deal with Saracens from Spanish club El Salvador
Credit: Ian Horrocks/Getty Images
Aled Davies - Ospreys
Callum Hunter-Hill - Edinburgh
Tim Swinson - Glasgow Warriors
Will Hooley - Bedford Blues
Harry Sloan - Ealing Trailfinders
Alec Clarey - Jersey Reds
Janco Venter - Jersey Reds
Juan Pablo Socinco - El Salvador (Spain)
Outs
Matt Gallagher - Munster
Titi Lamositele - Montpellier
Ben Earl - Bristol Bears (loan)
Max Malins - Bristol Bears (loan)
Jack Singleton - Gloucester (loan)
Alex Goode - NEC Green Rockets (loan)
Joe Gray - Harlequins
George Kruis - Panasonic Wild Knights
Nick Isiekwe - Northampton Saints (loan)
Ben Spencer - Bath
Alex Lozowski - Montpellier (loan)
Will Skelton - La Rochelle
Richard Wigglesworth - Released at end of 2019/20 season
Brad Barritt - Released at end of 2019/20 season
Juan Figallo - Released
Viliami Hakalo - Retired
Nick Tompkins - Dragons (loan)
Rhys Carre - Cardiff Blues
Leicester Tigers - 11th (20 points)
Although well on the way towards the bottom of a downward spiral for a few years now, this season was perhaps most emblematic of the Tigers’ problems in the last half of the decade.
Just four wins and some heavy losses against London Irish and Sale show how far the mighty have fallen.
Two high-profile departures have further compounded the Tigers worries. Jonny May is on his way back to Gloucester and Manu Tuilagi’s move to Sale display just where the balance of power now lies in the Premiership.
An ugly player wage battle and sackings at board level during the break have not helped matters either.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Tigers faithful.
George Ford, Ben Youngs and Ellis Genge have committed their future to Welford Road, Steve Borthwick is now Head Coach in place of Geordan Murphy (who moves to Director of Rugby) and the acquisition of Nemani Nadolo is sure to catch the eye.
An early trip to the Exeter Chiefs will be an acid test for the Tigers in their first game back.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15 - Exeter Chiefs (a)
August 22 - Bath (h)
August 26 - London Irish (h)
August 30 - Gloucester (a)
September 5 - Sale (h)
September 9 - Waps (a)
September 13 - Northampton Saints (h)
TBD - Bristol Bears (a)
October 4 - Harlequins (h)
European Challenge Cup
September 20 - Castres (h)
September 25/26/27 - Semi Final
October 16 - Final
Ins
Zack Henry - Nevers
Shalva Mamukashvili - Ensei-STM
Nemani Nadolo - Montpellier
Cyle Brink - Lions
Oliver Chessum - Nottingham
Dan Kelly - Loughborough Students
Cameron Henderson - Glasgow Warriors
Matt Scott - Edinburgh
Harry Potter - Melbourne Rebels
Blake Enever - Brumbies
Matias Moroni - Jaguares
Kiri Murimurivalu - La Rochelle
Guy Porter - Brumbies
Kobus van Wyk - Hurricanes
Luke Wallace - Coventry
Jasper Wiese - Cheetas
Ryan Bower - Worcester Warriors
Outs
Jonny May is moving back to Gloucester after three fruitful years at Leicester Tigers
Credit: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Sam Costelow - Scarlets
Jonny May - Gloucester
Joe Batley - Bristol Bears
Ifereimi Boladau - Nottingham
Sam Eveleigh - Released
Andy Forsyth - Coventry
Leo Gilliand - Released
Rory Hughes - Glasgow Warriors
Keston Lines - Released
Tatafu Polota-Nau - Released
Joe Thomas - Released
Adam Thompstone - Released
Jimmy Stevens - Released
Jonah Holmes - Dragons
Will Spencer - Bath
Guy Thompson - Ealing Trailfinders
Owen Hills - Nottingham
Greg Bateman - Released
Kyle Eastmond - Released
Telusa Veainu - Stade Francais
Gaston Cortes - Toronto Arrows
Noel Reid - Agen
Manu Tuilagi - Sale Sharks
EW Viljoen - Lions
Sione Kalamafoni - Scarlets
Worcester Warriors - 10th (22 points)
The West Midlanders have yet again exceeded expectations and avoided relegation for another year.
It is testament to Alan Solomons and his team that they continue to prove people wrong with wins against Sale and Harlequins the most eye-catching results for the Warriors.
It has been a relatively quiet break for the the team with the most noteworthy news being Ted Hill’s appointment to captain at the tender age of just 21, weeks after signing a new four year contract.
He will be the youngest ever player to captain a Worcester team in the Premiership.
The progress made by Michael Fatialofa, who many feared may not walk again after his vertebrae injury in January, was also a highlight and seeing the big Kiwi being discharged from hospital on June 5 was truly heart-warming.
Youth has obviously been a focus for the cash-strapped team as the promotion of a number of academy players, plus the signing of former Bristol and Wasps fly-half Billy Searle, has shown.
Matt Kvesic will also re-join the team he made his name at from Exeter Chiefs in their biggest statement move of the break.
A derby game at home against Gloucester will be yet another chance to show how Worcester can punch above their weight.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15 - Gloucester (h)
August 21 - Wasps (a)
August 26 - Harlequins (h)
August 30 - Exeter Chiefs (a)
September 4 - Bristol Bears (h)
September 9 - Bath (a)
September 13 - London Irish (a)
TBD - Saracens (h)
October 10 - Sale (a)
Ins
Billy Searle - Wasps
Matt Kvesic - Exeter Chiefs
Joe Batley - Bristol Bears
Outs
Luke Scully - Cardiff Blues
Joe Taufete’e - Lyon
Ryan Mills - Wasps
Dean Hammond - Ealing Trailfinders
Jono Lance - Western Force
Luke Baldwin - Dragons (loan)
Ryan Bower - Leicester Tigers
Callum Morris - Stourbridge
Gloucester - 9th (26 points)
Both David Humphreys and JohannAckermann left Gloucester during the enforced break
Credit: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The poor start from the West Country outfit leaves the Cherries well below the heady standards they set themselves this season and it has cost the men who got the club into that position their jobs.
Both Director of Rugby David Humphreys and Head Coach Johan Ackermann have left during the enforced break, with former London Irish second-row George Skivington surprisingly taking the latter’s place after a disputed contract saga.
He does not have very long to turn the fortunes of the club round, who have been bolstered by experienced veterans Matt Garvey and Longovi’i Munipola joining the squad for the rest of the season.
With the club snapping up former star Jonny May, and signing the exciting youngster Louis Rees-Zammit to a long term deal, there certainly is light at the end of the tunnel for Gloucester although a playoff push looks unlikely.
If it does happen, the home tie against local rivals Bristol Bears on August 21 might be the catalyst for that improbable situation.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15 - Worcester Warriors (a)
August 21 - Bristol Bears (h)
August 26 - Saracens (a)
August 30 - Leicester Tigers (h)
September 5 - London Irish (h)
September 9 - Exeter Chiefs (a)
September 14 - Harlequins (h)
TBD - Bath (a)
October 4 - Northampton Saints (h)
Ins
Jordy Reid - Ealing Trailfinders
Jack Singleton - Saracens (loan)
Jonny May - Leicester Tigers
Matias Alemanno - Jaguares
Cameron Jordan - Leicester Tigers
Matt Garvey - Bath
Longovi’i Munipola - Newcastle Falcons
Outs
Callum Braley - Benetton Treviso
Aaron Hinkley - Exeter Chiefs
Simon Linsell - Ealing Trailfinders
Franco Marais - NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Tom Marshal l- NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Owen Williams - NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Franco Mostert- Honda Heat
Gerbrandt Grobler - Stade Francais
Ruan Dreyer - Lions
Harry Fry - Dragons
Josh Hohneck - Otago
London Irish - 8th (28 points)
Previous campaigns after promotion have usually not ended well for the Exiles.
This season, they have finally got consistent results they are capable of and will be looking up rather than down the table when rugby resumes.
Like all clubs, they have had to deal with the inevitable upheaval as Covid-19 took effect.
Irish will finish their season playing home games at the Stoop after their tenancy with the Madjeski Stadium ended ahead of a new ground share with Brentford FC.
Nine players, including experienced fly-half Stephen Myler, have been released from their contracts which expired on June 30.
Despite the outgoings, Irish have still been able to bring in test-centurion Rob Simmons from a struggling Waratahs outfit, welcome back Tom Homer after his stint with Bath and former Argentina captain Agustin Creevy.
Just seven points behind the playoffs, the visit of 4th-placed Northampton Saints on August 22 will be crucial if they have hopes of joining the Premiership elite.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15 - Bath (a)
August 22 - Northampton Saints (h)
August 26 - Leicester Tigers (a)
August 31 - Saracens (h)
September 5 - Gloucester (a)
September 9 - Harlequins (h)
September 13 - Worcester (h)
TBD - Exeter Chiefs (a)
October 4 - Bristol Bears (h)
Ins
Wallaby test-centurion Rob Simmons will join London Irish before the 2020/21 season
Credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Tom Homer - Bath
Matt Cornish - Ealing Trailfinders
Charlton Kerr - England Sevens
Rob Simmons - NSW Waratahs
Agustin Creevy - Jaguares
Sebastian de Chaves - Newcastle Falcons (2019/20 season only)
Ross Neal - Seattle Seawolves (2019/20 season only)
Outs
Belgium Tuatagaloa - Rouen
Barney Maddison - Ealing Trailfinders
Will Partington - Hartpury University
Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi - Northampton Saints
Jack Belcher - Released
Bryce Campbell- Released
Pat Cilliers - Released
Sam Collingridge - Released
Saia Fainga’a - Released
Finlay Rossiter - Released
Franco van der Merwe - Released
Alivereti Veitokani - Released
Dave Porecki - NSW Waratahs
Stephen Myler - Ospreys
Scott Steele - Harlequins
Tom Stephenson - Rosslyn Park
Ruan Botha - Kubota Spears
Harlequins - 7th (28 Points)
It has been a frustrating season thus-far for many beleaguered Harlequins fans.
Much like previous seasons, the club puts out stellar performances one week and follows it up with a disappointing loss the next.
Despite still being within shout of a top four spot, departures from the club have made their task just that bit trickier.
Kyle Sinckler will play for Bristol Bears the rest of this season while the departure of Chris Robshaw and retirement of Rob Buchanan feel like a passing of the torch.
Meanwhile, the recent departure of Gabriel Ibitoye to Agen will be stinging but with Nathan Earle back fit and Chris Ashton joining the squad, the back-three options for the West London side are well stocked.
If Quins can stay consistent, the last game of the regular season against Leicester Tigers could be a playoff nail-biter.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 14 - Sale Sharks (h)
August 22 - Saracens (a)
August 26 - Worcester Warriors (a)
August 30 - Northampton Saints (h)
September 5 - Bath (h)
September 9 - London Irish (a)
September 14 - Gloucester (a)
TBD - Wasps (h)
October 4 - Leicester Tigers (a)
Ins
Andre Esterhuizen - Stormers
Wilco Louw - Stormers
Joe Gray - Saracens
Tyrone Green - Lions
Joe Marchant - Blues (returning from loan)
Matas Jurevicius - London Scottish
Jordan Els - Ealing Trailfinders
Scott Steele - London Irish
Craig Trenier - Ealing Trailfinders
Mak Wilson - Southern Knights
Marc Thomas - Doncaster Knights (2019/20 season only)
Outs
Harlequins will be without the talismanic Kyle Sinckler for the rest of this season as he joins Bristol Bears
Credit: Getty Images
Nick Auterac - Northampton Saints
Kyle Sinckler - Bristol Bears
Phil Swainston - Rouen
Francis Saili - Biarritz
Travis Ismaiel - Bulls
Toby Freeman - London Scottish
Semi Kunatani - Castres
Chris Robshaw - San Diego Legion
Vereniki Goneva - Mont-de-Marsan
Harry Barlow - Released
Renaldo Bothma - Released
James Bourton - Released
Luke James - Released
Tom Penny - Released
Lloyd Wheeldon - Released
Gabriel Ibitoye - Agen
Maks van Dyk - Released
Jack Stafford - Released
Harry Barlow - New England Free Jacks
Bath- 6th (30 points)
We now get into the teams with a real shot at making it into the play-offs with a Bath team which, at times, has proved it can hang with the big boys.
The West Country giants had a strong start to the season, beating Exeter Chiefs, Northampton Saints and Sale all before the New Year.
Damaging losses to the Chiefs in the return game and Bristol, however, showed the team is fallible.
A big plus for Stuart Hooper’s men will be the acquisition of Ben Spencer who has linked up with the squad for rest of this season and the 20/21 season at the least.
The club will be also try and give club legend Francois Louw a big send-off before he retires at the end of the season too.
While the loss of Rhys Webb and Freddie Burns will be felt, this is a team which has been able to keep the nucleus of a squad which looked to be taking Bath back to the promised land.
Just how serious their ambitions are will be on shown on the away fixture against Northampton Saints on August 26.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15 - London Irish (h)
August 22 - Leicester Tigers (a)
August 26 - Northampton Saints (h)
August 31 - Wasps (h)
September 5 - Harlequins (a)
September 9 - Worcester (h)
September 13 - Sale (a)
TBD - Gloucester (h)
October 4 - Saracens (a)
Ins
Former Sarries scrum-half Ben Spencer is the headline signing for Bath during the enforced break
CREDIT: David Rogers/Getty Images
Juan Schoeman - Sharks
Ben Spencer - Saracens
Will Spencer - Leicester Tigers
Outs
Sam Nixon - Bayonne
Rhys Webb - Ospreys
Rhys Davies - Ospreys
Freddie Burns - Toyota Industries Shuttles
Chris Cook - Bristol Bears
Jackson Willison - Soyaux Angouleme
Aled Brew - Released
Will Britton - Released
Levi Davis - Ealing Trailfinders
Levi Douglas - Released
Lucas Noguera Paz - Released
Jack Davies - Doncaster Knights
Tom Homer - London Irish
Alex Davies - Rosslyn Park
Wasps - 5th (33 points)
Jimmy Gopperth signed a new contract with Wasps over the summer
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Despite having one fewer win than their competitors, Wasps are sitting pretty just two points behind the coveted 4th place spot.
Bonus point victories against Saracens, Gloucester and London Irish put the Coventry outfit right in the hunt although they do face a tough run in.
Off the pitch it has been a quiet break for the club, with the main business being contract extensions to key players such as Joe Launchbury, Jimmy Goperth, Zack Kibirige and Dan Robson.
Fly-half Ryan Mills is the one major addition made from Worcester Warriors.
Although it will be sad to see club favourite Ashley Johnson move on, the relative lack of change during the summer is surely a big positive.
A big game for the playoff hunt could be the away fixture at Bath on August 31 if Wasps are able to hang on to some coattails in the top four.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 16 - Northampton Saints (a)
August 21 - Worcester Warriors (h)
August 25 - Sale Sharks (h)
August 31 - Bath (a)
September 5 - Saracens (a)
September 9 - Leicester (h)
September 13 - Bristol (h)
TBD - Harlequins (a)
October 4 - Exeter Chiefs (h)
Ins
Ryan Mills - Worcester Warriors
Myles Edwards - Oyonnax
Outs
Billy Searle - Worcester Warriors
Charlie Matthews - Kamaishi Seawaves
Nizaam Carr - Bulls
Ashley Johnson - Birmingham Moseley
Northampton Saints - 4th (35 points)
The Saints have come on leaps and bounds since Director of Rugby Chris Boyd joined the club from the Hurricanes in 2018.
Unafraid to give the youth a chance, he has blooded youngsters such as George Furbank, Rory Hutchinson, Alex Moon and Alex Mitchell in recent seasons.
Saints Director of Rugby Chris Boyd will be targeting a playoff spot when the Premiership restarts
Credit: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
The East Midlanders will have been using the break wisely after only one win in their last six before the league was suspended in March.
Nick “Arms” Auterac and South Africa youth international Shaun Adendorff join to add some ballast to the pack but the best import is undoubtedly Nick Isiekwe on a season long loan from Saracens.
The second rower will push Moon, Ribbans and Lawes for their spots while maintaining his England hopes.
The Saints will hope to get some momentum going as they start with Wasps at home before they have a tough run in with Chiefs, Bristol and Sale all left to play. As the old saying goes, you have to beat the best if you want to be the best.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 16 - Wasps (h)
August 22 - London Irish (a)
August 26 - Bath (h)
August 30 - Harlequins (a)
September 4 - Exeter Chiefs (h)
September 8 - Bristol Bears (a)
September 13 - Leicester Tigers (a)
TBD - Sale (h)
October 4 - Gloucester (a)
Champions Cup
September 20 - Exeter Chiefs (a)
September 26/27 - Semi Final
October 17 - Final
Ins
Nick Auterac - Harlequins
Tom James - Doncaster Knights
Nick Isiekwe - Saracens (loan)
Shaun Adendorff - Aurillac
Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi - London Irish
Outs
Cobus Reinach - Montpellier
Mitch Eadie - Bristol Bears
Ben Franks -Retired
Will Davis - Ealing Trailfinders
James Mitchell - Doncaster Knights
Gordon Reid - Released
Toby Trinder - Released
Michael van Vuuren - Ealing Trailfinders
Andy Symons - Vannes
Fraser Strachan - Ealing Trailfinders
Devante Onojaife - Released
Ben Glynn - Ospreys (loan ended)
Bristol Bears - 3rd (38 points)
After showing what they were capable of in the 2018/19 season, Bristol Bears have come on leaps and bounds in the curtailed league this year.
They have now added a bit more steel to their world-class attacking flair, with the club not just aiming for a top four place but wanting to win the whole damn thing.
With names like Kyle Sinckler, Semi Radrada, Max Mallins, Ben Earl and impressive league convert Ratu Naulago all being added for the rest of this season, they have good reason to retain high expectations.
A number of players, including Ian Madigan, have left but the quality in the team is extremely impressive.
The game against Sale on August 29 could be a warm up for the playoffs a few weeks after.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15 - Saracens (h)
August 21 - Gloucester (a)
August 25 - Exeter Chiefs (h)
August 29 - Sale (a)
September 4 - Worcester Warriors (a)
September 8 - Northampton Saints (h)
September 13 - Wasps (a)
TBD - Leicester Tigers (h)
October 4 - London Irish (a)
European Challenge Cup
September 18 - Dragons (h)
September 25/26/27 September - Semi-Final
October 16 - Final
Ins
Semi Radrada is the headline signing for Bristol Bears as they look to a Premiership title
Credit: Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images
Semi Radrada - Bordeaux Begles
Kyle Sinckler - Harlequins
Mitch Eadie - Northampton Saints
Ben Earl - Saracens (loan)
Max Malins - Saracens (loan)
Chris Cook - Bath
Ratu Naulago - Hull FC
Bryan Bryne - Leinster
Tom Kessell - Coventry
Outs
Matt Protheroe - Ospreys
Nicky Thomas - Ospreys
Ian Madigan - Ulster
Nic Stirzaker - Montauban
Joe Batley - Worcester Warriors
Tom Lindsay - Retired
Adrian Choat - Released
Ryan Edwards - Released
James Lay - Released
Jordan Lay - Released
Luke Daniels - Ealing Trailfinders
Jersey Reds - Ollie Dawe
Lewis Thiede - Ealing Trailfinders
Sam Graham - Doncaster Knights
Shaun Malton - Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Hamilton - Oyonnax
Jordan Crane - Retired
Aly Muldowney - Retired
Sale Sharks - 2nd (40 points)
Manu Tuilagi dropped bombshell by joining Sale Sharks during lockdown
Credit: David Rogers/Getty Images
Another team who are looking to be the big kahuna’s are Sale Sharks, a team which hasn’t reached the knockout rounds since they won it in 2006.
They have made the biggest splash during the break with the acquisition of Manu Tuillagi, a signing which gives a huge boost to the Manchester outfit going into the run-in.
Losing Mark Wilson to Newcastle after his season-long loan will be a blow but this is a side with real quality.
They have the world’s best number 9 in Faf de Klerk, a stellar young back row in the Curry brothers and sizeable meat alongside Tuilagi in the form of Rohan Janse Van Rensberg.
Probably the team to knock the Chiefs off their expected championship, the game against the Devon side on August 21 could be a dress rehearsal for the final at Twickenham.
Fixtures
August 14 - Harlequins (a)
August 21 - Exeter Chiefs (h)
August 25 - Wasps (a)
August 29 - Bristol Bears (h)
September 5 - Leicester Tigers (a)
September 9 - Saracens (h)
September 13 - Bath (h)
TBD - Northampton Saints (a)
October 4 - Worcester Warriors (h)
Ins
Sam Hill - Exeter Chiefs
Cobus Wiese - Stormers
Manu Tuilagi - Leicester Tigers
Outs
Rob Webber - Retired
James Williams - Hartpury University
Ciaran Booth - Connacht
Joe Jones - Doncaster Knights
Rouban Burch - Released
Nic Dolly - Released
Sam Dugdale - Released
Bryn Evans - Released
Teddy Leatherbarrow - Released
Matt Sturgess - Fylde
Mark Wilson - Newcastle Falcons (Loan ended)
Exeter Chiefs - 1st (45 points)
Are the Chiefs the champions elect? They looked on an unstoppable march to the title before the break with a 57-7 battering over fellow title hopefuls Northampton Saints back in February laying down the gauntlet.
Much of the coronavirus hiatus has been spent doing some soul searching off the field as the club underwent a re-brand due to backlash over their Native American moniker, branding and mascot.
Whatever name, kit or customs they adopt, the team on the field looks near unbeatable at the moment with their ranks bolstered even further to cope with the rejigged schedule.
Scottish giant Jonny Gray comes down to join compatriot Stuart Hogg at the club while Facundo Cordero, the brother of Santiago, make his way over from Argentina.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne also joins to provide cover at scrumhalf while talented winger Corey Baldwin comes in from the Scarlets.
Exeter Chiefs talisman Stuart Hogg on the charge against Worcester Warriors ealier in the 2019/20 season
Credit: Ryan Hiscott/JMPREX/Shutterstock
It’s a tricky start back to life in the Premiership for the Chiefs with away trips to Sale and Bristol in the first three weeks, but they will be confident of topping the pile come October.
Still fighting on all fronts with a Champions Cup quarter-final against the Saints to navigate, Exeter have all the tools in place to make it a season to remember.
Fixtures
Premiership
August 15- Leicester Tigers (h)
August 21 - Sale Sharks (a)
August 25 - Bristol Bears (a)
August 30 - Worcester Warriors (h)
September 4 - Northampton Saints (a)
September 9 - Gloucester (h)
September 13 - Saracens (a)
TBD - London Irish (h)
October 4 - Wasps (a)
Champions Cup
September 20 - Northampton Saints (h)
September 26/27 - Semi Final
October 17 - Final
Ins
Jonny Gray - Glasgow Warriors
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne - Lyon
Aaron Hinkley - Gloucester
Corey Baldwin - Scarlets
Josh Hodge - Newcastle Falcons
Jack Walsh - Manly Marlins
Facundo Cordero - Los Ceibos
Outs
Nic White - Brumbies
Enrique Pieretto - Glasgow Warriors
Sam Hill - Sale Sharks
Matt Kvesic - Worcester Warriors
Josh Caulfield - Cornish Pirates
Max Bodily - Ealing Trailfinders
Greg Holmes - Western Force
James McRae - Cornish Pirates
Gareth Steenson - Retiring at end of 2019/20 season
Phil Dollman - Retiring at end of 2019/20 season
