Saturday’s Premiership fixtures delivered a memorable upset as Gloucester secured a dominant away victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park, while Bristol Bears comfortably dispatched Sale Sharks, spoiling Courtney Lawes' much‑anticipated homecoming. Gloucester’s revamped squad kicked off their campaign with a spectacular 45‑24 win, earning a valuable bonus point and marking their first triumph on Devon soil since 2015. The side, bolstered by high‑profile summer signings such as Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Jean Kleyn, displayed a brand‑new level of confidence and cohesion, quickly establishing themselves as serious contenders this season.
Exeter entered the match already hampered by a spate of illnesses that compounded existing injury woes. The Chiefs appeared disjointed for large stretches of the game, only managing to resemble their usual form in the final minutes when the result was already beyond doubt. Gloucester, on the other hand, seized the initiative from the outset. Within five minutes, full‑back Ben Redshaw delivered a perfectly timed kick‑pass that set winger Ben Loader on the try‑line for an early lead.
Exeter responded with a sustained period of pressure, culminating in a short‑range effort from tight‑head prop Josh Iosefa‑Scott, which Henry Slade converted to narrow the gap. Gloucester’s tactical kicking soon turned the tide. Scrum‑half Caolan Englefield executed a deft chip over the Exeter defence, allowing England centre Seb Atkinson to dive over for a try. Fly‑half Charlie Atkinson added the conversion and soon after, a second try for Loader arrived when Atkinson’s incisive cross‑field kick found the winger in space.
The momentum continued as England A back‑rower Ethan Roots burst down the left touchline, finishing a powerful run that began with a break from Greg Fisilau. A pivotal moment arrived when Exeter conceded a soft penalty from the restart. Gloucester opted to kick to the corner, and hooker Dewi Lake, who had already been influential throughout the match, rose from a driving maul to touch down in the corner, securing the bonus‑point try. Charlie Atkinson’s conversion from the touchline was executed with precision, extending Gloucester’s lead to fourteen points at halftime.
The second half saw Lake add a second try within six minutes, cementing his status as the day’s standout performer. Gloucester’s dominance was further underlined when winger Will Joseph embarked on a solo run from midfield, evading multiple tacklers before grounding the ball for a try that showcased his speed and balance. Atkinson’s conversion once again proved flawless, pushing the lead to a commanding 38‑19.
Exeter attempted a late resurgence. Italian scrum‑half Stephen Varney, playing against his former club, broke cleanly to score, and Slade added the conversion, narrowing the deficit.
However, a crucial tackle by Redshaw denied Varney a second try, and even after blind‑side flanker Freddie Thomas received a yellow card for an infringement near his own line, Gloucester’s defence remained resolute. In the closing stages, replacement hooker Louie Gulley, on his Premiership debut, completed a line‑out move to score a bonus‑point try for Exeter, but Junior Denny’s seventh try for Gloucester sealed a comprehensive victory. In the other fixture, Bristol Bears opened their Premiership campaign with a thrilling 34‑24 win over Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium, a result that also marked the return of England veteran Courtney Lawes to top‑flight rugby.
The 37‑year‑old, who last captained Northampton to a title in 2024, made his first Premiership appearance for Sale, but Pat Lam’s Bears proved too strong on the day. Bristol began aggressively, applying early pressure, though Sale’s former fly‑half AJ MacGinty missed a relatively straightforward penalty. Sale then found a rhythm, culminating in a try for Cowan‑Dickie, who powered over from close range after a well‑executed move involving Roe. George Ford’s conversion gave Sale a 7‑0 lead, but Bristol quickly responded when James Williams delivered a long pass to the prolific Wales winger Louis Rees‑Zammit, who dived into the right corner for the Bears’ first try.
Ford kept Sale in the contest with a penalty, but Rees‑Zammit struck again in the 23rd minute, receiving a crisp pass from Tom Jordan and crossing the line for his second try of the match. Just before halftime, scrum‑half Randall added a third Bristol try after collecting a loose ball and diving over from close range.
Williams converted, pushing the score to 20‑10 in Bristol’s favour at the break. The second half saw Sale fight back.
Winger O’Flaherty broke free down the right wing, scoring a try that, after Ford’s second conversion, reduced the margin to three points. However, Bristol’s relentless attack continued. In the 57th minute, Randall slithered over for his second try, and later Gwilliam powered over from close range for the Bears’ fifth try.
O’Flaherty completed a brace for Sale, but the extra points from Williams kept Bristol ahead, ultimately sealing a 34‑24 victory. Both matches highlighted the impact of new signings and the importance of tactical kicking, defensive resilience, and the ability to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes.
Gloucester’s comprehensive win over Exeter signals that they could be a dark horse this season, while Bristol’s confident start suggests they will be a formidable force in the league. Meanwhile, despite the loss, Sale can take solace in the performances of emerging talents such as O’Flaherty, who showed promise against a high‑scoring Bristol side. The weekend’s results set an exciting tone for the remainder of the Premiership campaign.