Saracens are once again the team to beat the Premier League this season. Photo: Getty Images/Clive Rose
Rugby may be among the best in the midst of its showpiece tournament in France, but the Gallagher Premiership returns this Friday in a 10-team format after the most desperate season in its history.
To mark the occasion, Telegraph Sport spoke to all 10 club leaders. — either directors of rugby or head coaches — to monitor the state of the league, with all roads leading to Twickenham on June 8 next year.
Who is the most underrated player in the Premier League?
Billy Millard, Harlequins «:Jack Kenningham. I'll be talking specifically about Queens.
Alex Codling, Newcastle: Lewis Ludlow of Gloucester.
Mark McCall, Saracens: Ivan van Zyl<. br />Phil Dawson, Northampton:Maybe not anymore, but I was very impressed with how Gus Warr went at Sale last year. From our team Angus Scott-Young.
Alex Sanderson, Sale:It's complicated. This must be a sell-out player as I can speak with more authority about it. Ben Bamber. He made a huge impression on me. He will do it next year. Two years ago he worked nights in a factory. He only played 40 games for the union as a league player. Keep an eye on this section.
Alex Sanderson expects Ben Bamber to excel this season. Photo: Getty Images/Nathan Stirk
< strong>Rob Baxter, Exeter:In years past, our top candidates would have been Don Armand, Dave Evers and Sam Simmonds. Tom O'Flaherty. I'll go… Chandler Cunningham-South and Benhard Janse van Rensburg.
Johann van Graan, BathThe first one that comes to mind is Adam Radwan. He always seems to make the most exciting attempts.
Pat Lam, Bristol: Fitz Harding.
Dan McKellar, Leicester:Josh Bassett.
George Skivington, Gloucester:Seb Atkinson had a good year last year and got some recognition for it.
Which signing made you say «wow»?
Millard: Chandler Cunningham-South in Harlequin.< br />Codling: Finn Russell
McColl: Time will tell, the proof is in the pudding, but… Juan Martin Gonzalez.
>Dawson: The most famous of them is Finn Russell. But there will be a lot of guys who will come through and how they will play. It's too early to tell.
Sanderson: I can't answer that question with loyalty to my team, so… Luke Cowan-Dickie. I haven't met Agustin Creevey yet, but Luke is in touch.
Baxter:Benhard Janse van Rensburg is definitely there. In different circumstances we might have taken a closer look at him.
Van Graan: We have made two very good signings in Finn Russell and Tom du Toit and they will both increase our value. club.
Lam:Finn Russell.
McKellar: Finn Russell.
Skivington: Zach Mercer – This is an important purchase. Many clubs in the league would be happy to have him.
Who is the best member of your team?
Millard:Probably…Lewis Gjaltema, our Kiwi 9.
Codling:Sam Stewart, number 9 Outstanding mustang — almost outside the record.
McCall:Even though he is in his 40s, Alex Good.
Dawson:We have competition called the Blackiston Challenge and Fin Smith won it. Archie McParland and George Furbank will also be there.
Phil Dawson's Northampton team are aiming high this time around. Season Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
Sanderson: Raffie Quirke. However, Tom Curtis won the Bronco. But Raffi used to do triathlons, so all he does is run.
Baxter: Ross Vincent, young backstroke, Italy, graduate of Exeter University.
Van Graan:Chris Cloet, flanker.
Lam:Kieran Marmion… it wasn't Piers O'Conor this time. Jimmy Williams beat him in the Bronco and so did he.
McKellar: Joe Powell, scrum-half.
Skivington:Lewis Ludlow; something like a car.
Who's in good shape?
Billard: Jack Kenningham.
Codling: Guy Pepper, a very talented young English rower. He had a serious injury, but he came back and it was immediately clear that he could benefit us, and maybe somewhere else.
McCall: Toby Knight.
< strong>Dawson: A young fellow by the name of Toby Tame, who made a very strong impression and ran away.
Sanderson: Tom O'Flaherty
< strong>Baxter: Greg Fisilau. Ross Vincent, Tom Wyatt and Josh Hodge are also there.
Van Graan:Ewan Richards, second row, who had a lot of injuries last year and brilliantly captained the opening rounds of the Premier League Cup rugby.
Lam: Harry Randall, scrum-half.
McKellar: < /strong>Young Finn Carnduff was excellent.
Skivington:Our young guys have really held their own lately. Jake Morris on the wing.
What is the most annoying law in rugby?
Millard: Caterpillar kicks the ball into the box.
Codling: I'm not a big fan of the goal line. drop out. I understand why this was put in place, but I think it's too easy for a team to kill a game when the offense is dominant.
McCall: The passing goal could drop to two. points.
Dawson: Like it could have been judged differently, from the point of view of the players on the sides changing their peg. If this is dealt with, rugby will become a better sport.
Sanderson: Unintentional contact with head and shoulders resulting in yellow and red cards.
Baxter: >It's hard to put the two together. Right now the head contact process is ruining the game. The «zero intent» around this is completely wrong.
Van Graan:The fact that you can't dive on a ball that appears within a meter of a ruck. For this you are punished once a year.
Lam: The clock does not turn off during the fight.
McKellar: Slap in the face. If you don't complete the pass, it's a bad attack — don't blame the defense. Let's make it easier for the judge. This is a crazy law. And don't get me started on pier protection.
Skivington: When people slide over the edge of the pier and stay on the wrong side. Madness.
How could the Premier League raise its profile?
Billard: Foreigners are always available.
Codling:Make it more interactive — for all ages. This is an amazing product that I kept an eye on while I was in France. Being able to go out and touch so many people… the benefits of rugby are so vast.
McCall: Same as Billy. We need international players who play regularly.
Dawson:Make the game more interesting. It's a longer conversation, but the marketing and product should make it more compelling. People want to see competition, but they also want skill and ball movement — and that can get lost.
Sanderson: Celebrate the positive elements of the game: competitiveness, danger, physicality — especially the latter. . Contact sports — UFC and NFL — rule the world. Half depends on how hard you can hit.
Baxter:We have to stop pretending that players are ignorant and need protection from themselves [regarding head injuries]. They need to be part of the process in more detail. We need to get rid of games where 14 players are always on the field. Premiership Rugby Cup has been blessed by the absence of cards and TMOs.
Van Graan: Join hands and show people, rather than tell them, what a brilliant game we are all part of.< br /> Lam: Get rid of the salary cap.
McKellar: All rugby union competitions around the world need to invest more in advertising and marketing. You can never do too much of this. Young people should see these players and aspire to play for Leicester, Saracens… whoever.
Skivington:The responsibility lies with the coaches and the players. Premiership Rugby helps and brings order, but we also have to do our part to grow the game.
Who do you like to beat the most?
Millard: All of them .
Codling:I've been here for 15 weeks, but I'm already aware of this banter about the «north». I wouldn't classify Sale as north; For us this is a “derby”, but there are three hours left before it. The guys like to compare themselves to Sale, especially the way they've done it the last three years under Alex.
McCall: Anyone.
Dawson: That's it.
Sanderson: Saracens.
Baxter: Do you need me to answer that question? [Saracens]
Van Graan: Honestly, I respect all nine. The game that benefited our club last season was beating Harlequins at Twickenham.
Lam:On behalf of our fans, Bath.
McKellar: Probably all of them… but this is Northampton.
Skivington: Any win is a good win, but if you can beat champions Saracens then that's good. You can't look much further than the Gloucester-Bath derby.
Who do you hate losing to most?
Millard: Saracens
Codling: < /strong>Same thing , as those we love to beat.
McCall: Anyone.
Dawson: Anything.
Sanderson: < /strong>Harlequins.
Baxter: Do you really need my answer? [Saracens]
Van Graan:I don't like losing.
Lam: That's it.
McKellar: It is the same; all except Northampton.
Skivington:I'm totally into Gloucester now, again it has to be Bath.
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