Northampton chase rare back-to-back Prem titles as rivals regroup
Northampton Saints head into the new Prem season as champions and hunters. They beat Exeter 26-17 in June's final at Allianz Stadium to lift the trophy BBC Sport. Now they are chasing a third English title in four years The Guardian.
History says that is easier said than done. No team has won consecutive English domestic titles since Saracens in 2019. Northampton know the drop-off well. They finished eighth in 2024-25, the season after their previous triumph.
Last season was a statement of control. Saints finished top of the 2025-26 table after winning 14 of 18 matches. They edged Exeter 35-28 in April after a last-minute try from Fin Smith, then beat the same opponents in the final with two tries from George Hendy.
Head coach Phil Dowson, working alongside Sam Vesty, said in September that his squad are better prepared for a title defence this time. Performance psychologist Oli Dixon is part of that plan. The clearest sign of belief came in September, when back-row star Henry Pollock — a loose forward who carries hard and tackles all day — signed a new multi-year deal, with England team-mate Tommy Freeman also extending his stay.
Exeter, coached by Rob Baxter, will expect to be in the mix again. They were beaten finalists in June and are still waiting on New Zealand centre Dallas McLeod, who is yet to arrive. Centre is the midfield role that links attack and defence, and McLeod's arrival could sharpen them.
Bath have changed most. They have lost prop Thomas du Toit, a front-row scrum specialist, and seen Alfie Barbeary leave for Saracens. Bath also face a quirk: if they reach the play-offs, the top-four knockout that decides the title, they cannot stage a home semi-final at the Rec because of redevelopment work.
Saracens are starting a new era too. Brendan Venter has replaced Mark McCall in charge. They have lost England forward Tom Willis but added Barbeary. One early prediction, from FloRugby, has Saracens beating Northampton in the semi-finals of this season's 10-club league BBC Sport.
What makes this stand out is the swing in Saints' recent years. Title, then eighth, then title again. That pattern captures rugby union's fine margins, where a ruck — the contest for the ball on the ground after a tackle — won or lost can tilt a whole winter.
For fans, this means a simple story to follow. Can Northampton break a seven-year run with no repeat champions, or will the chasing pack drag them back again? The answer will come through derby days, heavy pitches and knockout nerves.
