Features

Premiership swings into action

Author: John Harris
Date: 04/09/2009
Rugby Union betting

September signals the best month of the year for domestic rugby union as the Guinness Premiership resumes.

A rare feat of four consecutive league rounds starts this month. Sale Sharks take on champions Leicester Tigers in the season's curtain-raiser on Friday, in what is sure to be the first of many classic encounters this term.

There will be no shortage of candidates to take Leicester's crown, with the Sharks being one of many who will fancy their chances of reaching Twickenham in May.

Who will win the Guinness Premiership? - Latest Rugby Union Betting

Sale have added World Cup winner Ben Cohen to their squad ahead of the new season, adding to a wealth of international talent at Edgeley Park.

Brits Mathew Tait, Mark Cueto, Andrew Sheridan, Dwayne Peel, Charlie Hodgson, Chris Jones and Brent Cockbain all have international experience and are part of a squad as good as any in the top-flight.

London Irish narrowly lost out to hot sportsbook favourites Leicester in the Premiership final last term and will look to go one better this time around.

The Armitage brothers are two of the hottest properties in English rugby and are joined by experienced trio Mike Catt, Peter Richards and Paul Hodgson to create a winning formula at the Madejski Stadium.

Despite the Premiership's resumption being imminent, the headlines this summer have surrounded just two clubs and for all the wrong reasons.

The name of Bath Rugby has been tarnished following the exploits of the squad at the Recreation Ground last term, where several players indulged in an end-of-season binge which was marred by drug-taking.

Suspensions have been handed to five ex-Bath players in recent months for drug-related offences and one of the most famous clubs in world rugby are out to restore dignity in their name this season.

Harlequins are the other side to have been plunged into controversy and may have a hangover from the three-year suspension handed to ex-director of rugby Dean Richards.

Wing Tom Williams is also banned for four months for his part in 'Bloodgate', while the £261,000 fine handed to the club is bound to make money tight at the Twickenham Stoop.

As an institution, Quins are in transition. But the club will be hopeful of decent fortunes on the field after a strong 2008-09 campaign.

The big boys are joined in the top flight by Leeds Carnegie, once again. The Headingley-based club are the yo-yo boys of English rugby but a huge recruitment drive in the off-season by Andy Key and Neil Back will instil hope in Leeds fans that their latest return to the top-flight will be a successful one.

All the would-be contenders are looking up to the men at Welford Road though as they are again be the men to beat both at home and in Europe.

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