Saturday’s Premiership round delivered a double‑header of surprises, with Gloucester pulling off a dominant away victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park, while Bristol Bears comfortably dispatched Sale Sharks, dampening the homecoming of England veteran Courtney Lawes. Gloucester’s revamped squad kicked off their campaign with a bang, securing a 45‑24 win that also earned them a valuable bonus point. The triumph marked the first time the Cherry and Whites have claimed a league victory on Devon soil since 2015, and it came against a side that finished as the beaten finalists in the previous season’s Premiership final.
The Gloucester side looked revitalised after an active summer recruitment drive that brought in the likes of Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Jean Kleyn. Their fresh impetus was evident from the outset. Within five minutes, full‑back Ben Redshaw delivered a perfectly weighted kick‑pass that set winger Ben Loader on a clear line to the try‑line, giving Gloucester an early lead. Exeter, however, were not to be written off.
The Chiefs, already hampered by a spate of injuries, were further plagued by a bout of illness that left many players looking sluggish. They responded with a sustained period of pressure, culminating in a short‑range effort from tight‑head prop Josh Iosefa‑Scott, which Henry Slade successfully converted, narrowing 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 onto the ball and touch down. Fly‑half Charlie Atkinson added the conversion and later set up a second try for Loader with a pinpoint cross‑field kick that found the winger in space.
The momentum continued to build for Gloucester when England A back‑rower Ethan Roots burst down the left touchline, finishing a move that began with Greg Fisilau’s break. The Chiefs then gave away a soft penalty from a restart; Gloucester opted to kick to the corner, where hooker Dewi Lake surged from a driving maul to ground the ball for a bonus‑point try. Charlie Atkinson’s conversion from the touchline was flawless, extending the lead to fourteen points at the break.
The second half saw Lake add a second try after just six minutes, cementing his impact on the match. Gloucester’s dominance was further highlighted by winger Will Joseph’s spectacular solo effort: he collected the ball near midfield, sidestepped multiple defenders and sprinted to the try‑line, converting the try with another solid kick from Atkinson. Exeter attempted a late resurgence. Italian scrum‑half Stephen Varney, playing against his former club, broke through the Gloucester line to score, and Slade added the conversion, trimming the deficit to 38‑19.
A subsequent tackle by Redshaw denied Varney a second try, and even a yellow card for blind‑side flanker Freddie Thomas did little to halt Gloucester’s defensive resolve. The Chiefs salvaged a consolation bonus‑point try in the closing minutes when replacement hooker Louie Gulley, on his Premiership debut, powered over from a five‑metre lineout. Junior Denny added a final try for Gloucester, sealing a comprehensive 45‑24 victory.
In the other fixture, Sale Sharks’ much‑anticipated return to Premiership action was marred by a 34‑24 defeat at the hands of Bristol Bears. The 37‑year‑old England stalwart Courtney Lawes, making his first appearance since captaining Northampton to the 2024 title, could not prevent Pat Lam’s Bears from taking the early initiative. Bristol applied pressure from the outset, though Sale’s former fly‑half AJ MacGinty missed a relatively straightforward penalty. Sale then enjoyed a spell of possession, culminating in a close‑range try by Cowan‑Dickie after a well‑executed move involving Roe.
George Ford’s conversion put Sale ahead 7‑0, but Bristol quickly responded. The Bears’ first try arrived in the 12th minute when James Williams delivered a long pass that found Wales international Louis Rees‑Zammit, who dived over in the right corner. Sale’s Ford slotted a penalty, but Rees‑Zammit struck again in the 23rd minute, this time finishing a move that began with Tom Jordan’s pass. Just before halftime, scrum‑half Randall collected a loose ball and powered over, giving Bristol a 20‑10 lead at the break after Williams added the conversion.
The second half began with Sale winger O’Flaherty breaking free to score in the right corner, and Ford’s second conversion narrowed the margin to three points. However, Bristol’s relentless attack soon restored a comfortable cushion.
In the 57th minute, Randall sliced through the defence for a short‑range try, and Williams converted. O’Flaherty added a second try for Sale, but Bristol’s Gwilliam answered with a close‑range effort, and Williams completed his third conversion, sealing a 34‑24 win. Overall, the weekend showcased Gloucester’s resurgence under a new coaching regime and highlighted the depth of talent across the Premiership, while Bristol’s attacking flair proved too much for Sale, despite the presence of seasoned campaigners like Lawes. Both matches provided a thrilling start to the season, setting the stage for an exciting campaign ahead.