2017-18 Aviva Premiership Season Preview

With the English summer coming to an end it is time for the rugby. The 2017-18 Aviva Premiership season gets underway on Friday, September 01.

The season will come to an end on May 26 2018. The two winners of the Semi Finals will compete in the 2017-218 Aviva Premiership Final at Twickenham Stadium in London.

As the 2016-2017 season demonstrated there are likely to be some surprises along the way. The Exeter Chiefs made history to win their first ever English title, defeating the Wasps in the final.

Changes from last season see Bristol relegated and London Irish back in the Aviva Premiership. London Irish won promotion after one season playing in the Greene King IPA Championship.

Bath
The West Country side has had a bumpy ride in recent seasons. 5th last season, 9th the season before and beaten finalists the season before that, the club has truly been unpredictable. The loss of George Ford to Leicester is noteworthy though the arriving Freddie Burns is also an elite fly half. The Ohio born Sam Underhill is another arrival, coming to England from the Ospreys.

Prospects: Mid-Table

Exeter Chiefs
The magic that took the Exeter Chiefs to English club glory will place great expectation on the club this season. Repeating the feat will be more difficult this time around. The reasons for this are respect, international duty and juggling both the Aviva Premiership and the Champions Cup. The club ought to do well but four teams more likely to be in the Semi Finals can be identified.

Prospects: Mid-Table

Gloucester
Underwhelming recent seasons for Gloucester have the club no longer regarded as genuine title contenders. The West Country side enters the new season with a long road to improve on recent season results. Gloucester has been 9th, 9th and 8th in the past three seasons. Into his fourth season at Gloucester is Mariano Galarza. The 30-year-old was a regular for Argentina until the UAR changed policy, blocking European-based players from playing for Los Pumas.

Prospects: Lower-Table

Harlequins
Like Gloucester, the Quins have not been title contenders in recent seasons. Last season the London-based club finished 7th. Recruitment for the new season does not suggest fortunates are to change for the Harlequins this season. Long-time fly half, Nick Evans, is among the players no long at the club. Still flying is England’s Caribbean winger Marland Yarde. He moved from St. Lucia to England at the age of 9.

Prospects: Lower-Table

Leicester Tigers
The East Midland powerhouses were poor last season yet still made the Semi Finals. The club had horrible luck with injuries which included Marcos Ayerza being forced into retirement. Colorado’s Chris Baumann is among the new arrivals. He ensures that Leicester’s long-running history with players from the Americas will continue. Provided the vast majority of the roster remain fit the team will be able to go all the way and win the Aviva Premiership title.

Prospects: Champions

London Irish
Back from the second division, London Irish have added noteworthy players in an effort to remain in England’s elite. The club, though, has also lost a number of players. Canada’s Jebb Sinclair being among them. Canada’s involvement with London Irish will continue this season through Ciaran Hearn. The Newfoundland flier has been on the Exiles roster since 2015.

Prospects: Lower-Table

Newcastle Falcons
The Northern most side in the Aviva Premiership is looking stronger than at any time during the past decade. Impressive recruitment sees the arrival of test players from England, Fiji France and Canada. DTH van der Merwe joins from the Scarlets and does so after having won the Guinness Pro 14 Championship with teams from both Scotland and Wales. van der merwe joins fellow Canadian international, Evan Olmstead at the club. Also on the books are Argentine players Belisario Agulla, Juan Pablo Socino and Santiago Socino.

Prospects: Mid-Table

Northampton Saints
Having been crowned English champions in 2015 the Saints disappointed in the two subsequent seasons. Last season’s 7th placed finish was influenced by injuries. This season the club ought to perform better. With a large contingent of star players the team ought to be in the Semi Finals at the end of the season. Puma Juan Pablo Estelles is into his second season with the club.

Prospects: Semi Finals

Sale Sharks
The Manchester area’s team is, like Newcastle, a team that could do much better this season than in recent history. The 2006 champions have not come close to winning the national title since. The club’s recruitment for the new season gives the club a stronger roster than that from last season. Into his second season with the Sale Sharks is AJ MacGinty. The USA Eagles fly half joined from Irish province Connacht.

Prospects: Lower-Table

Saracens
There two-time reigning European champions are, in the eyes of many, the favorites to win this season. But with a likely Champions Cup final campaign this season and a heavy involvement of players in international duty tough decisions will need to be made. Argentina and the USA both have two players at the club. They are Marcelo Bosch, Juan Figallo, Titi Lamositele and Chris Wyles. All four continue to play  for Saracens.

Prospects: Finalists

Wasps
The Coventry-based club had a spectacular season in 2016-2017. Having done so well the club fell short in both the Aviva Premiership and Champions Cup. The club is now seeking to learn from this and turns it into titles. Although the roster has new players suggesting it is better would be flawed. The strength of the team overall appears to have dropped slightly.

Prospects: Semi Finals

Worcester Warriors
Stuck between Gloucester and Coventry is Worcester. The club has one of the best stadiums in the competition but not a competitive side to go with it. Having narrowly avoided relegation last season the time for the Warriors to return to the second division appears to be now. Player movement has sen many no longer at the club. One of which is Canadian Conor Braid. USA front-rower Joe Taufete’e will be looking for more regular game time for the club this season.

Prospects: Relegation