Saracens and Bath head into Round 3 level at the top of the English Premiership table after both sides made perfect starts to the 2025-26 campaign.
Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints sit close behind in third and fourth, while Gloucester, Harlequins, and the newly rebranded Newcastle Red Bulls remain winless after two rounds.
The early rounds have showcased familiar strength from England’s heavyweights. Saracens, led by Springbok scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl, followed up a 39-17 win against Newcastle with a commanding 50-17 victory over Bristol. Bath, under Johann van Graan, opened with a 47-31 triumph over Harlequins before backing it up with a 28-16 win against Sale. Prop Frans van Wyk has featured prominently in both games.
Exeter Chiefs have also impressed, drawing 33-33 with Northampton before overpowering Newcastle 38-15. South African front-rowers Joseph Dweba and Kwenzo Blose have been central to their dominance at the scrum.
The Saints, meanwhile, edged Gloucester 37-35, with JJ van der Mescht solidifying their set-piece and James Venter crossing for Gloucester’s late try.
Elsewhere, Bristol Bears, inspired by Benhard Janse van Rensburg, beat Leicester 42-24 before suffering a heavy defeat to Saracens, while Sale Sharks began with a 27-10 win over Gloucester but were halted by Bath in Round 2.
Round 3 opens on Friday when Sale host Newcastle in Manchester. The Sharks, captained by Ernst van Rhyn, will be favourites to maintain momentum against a Red Bulls side still chasing their first points. Saturday brings a packed schedule, with Bristol facing Exeter at Ashton Gate, Northampton hosting Leicester in a fierce East Midlands derby, Bath meeting Gloucester in the West Country clash, and Harlequins welcoming Saracens to Twickenham Stoop.
With Saracens and Bath unbeaten, Round 3 could start shaping the early title race. Exeter and Northampton remain within striking distance, while the winless trio of Gloucester, Harlequins, and Newcastle are under growing pressure to register their first victories before the gap to the top widens.
Photo: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images
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