With the 2026/27 Prem Rugby season just around the corner, we asked ChatGPT to predict the outcome.
Northampton Saints will be looking to defend the Gallagher Prem title for the first time, having defeated Exeter Chiefs in the final last campaign.
Newcastle Red Bulls, buoyed by significant recruitment over the summer, will be aiming to improve on their three consecutive bottom-place finishes, while Harlequins, Gloucester and Sale Sharks will all be looking to bounce back from poor 2025/26 seasons.
Losing play-off semi finalists Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby will both be searching for a place in the 2026/27 showpiece this time out, while Saracens and Bristol Bears are likely to be circling that top four once again.
With all that in mind, let's take a look at what ChatGPT predicts will be the outcome of the 2026/27 Prem Rugby season.
Regular Season Predictions
Team | Won | Lost | BP | Points |
1. Northampton Saints | 14 | 4 | 8 | 64 |
2. Bath Rugby | 13 | 5 | 9 | 61 |
3. Leicester Tigers | 11 | 7 | 8 | 52 |
4. Saracens | 11 | 7 | 7 | 51 |
5. Exeter Chiefs | 10 | 8 | 8 | 48 |
6. Bristol Bears | 9 | 9 | 9 | 45 |
7. Sale Sharks | 8 | 10 | 8 | 40 |
8. Gloucester Rugby | 7 | 11 | 7 | 35 |
9. Harlequins | 6 | 12 | 6 | 30 |
10. Newcastle Red Bulls | 2 | 16 | 2 | 13 |
Explaining the choices, ChatGPT said: "Saints' attacking quality and young talent should make the the league's most consistent side, while Bath's quality and Finn Russell's influence should see them comfortably secure second"
"Leicester Tigers and Saracens should complete the top four, with Leicester strengthened by recruitment and Saracens remaining competitive despite their coaching change."
"Exeter's run to least season's final proves their quality, while Bristol's attacking threat makes them dangerous but inconsistent, ultimately both should narrowly miss out on the play-offs."
"Sale Sharks and Gloucester round out the top eight, with both sides capable of challenging higher but lacking the consistency of the leading sides."
"Quins will still be recovering from a poor campaign in 2025/26, while Newcastle's expensive rebuild will likely take time to settle, despite the impressive recruits."
Play-Off Predictions
Semi Finals
- Semi Final 1: Northampton Saints 31-24 Saracens
- Semi Final 2: Bath Rugby 27-23 Leicester Tigers
"Northampton Saints and Saracens in semi final one would be a fascinating tactical battle. Saracens would make it ugly and physical, but Northampton's attacking variety eventually tells."
"Semi final two is the hardest game for me to predict. Leicester's pack would give Bath serious problems, but I'm backing Bath's home advantage and backline creativity to get them over the line."
Grand Final
- Northampton Saints 29-24 Bath Rugby
"I think we'd get an excellent final between the two best sides over the course of the season."
"Bath would have the physicality to make Northampton uncomfortable, but Saints' ability to create tries from broken-field situations would ultimately prove decisive."
"I'd expect Fin Smith to be crucial from the tee, while Northampton's young attacking players would eventually find a way through the stubborn Bath defence."
Individual Awards
Player of the Season
- Finn Russell - Bath Rugby
- Fin Smith - Northampton Saints
- Henry Pollock - Northampton Saints
"This feels like the season where Russell could genuinely dominate the Premiership. Bath have an excellent support cast around him - Ben Spencer, Ollie Lawrence, Tom de Glanville, Will Muir and the rest - meaning the Scotsman won't have to manufacture everything himself"
"His ability to control territory and tempo could be the difference between Bath finishing second and actually winning the title."
Young Player of the Season
- Tom Lichfield - Northampton Saints
- Archie McParland - Northampton Saints
- Will Rigg - Newcastle Red Bulls
"Northampton Saints lost George Furbank to Harlequins, which opens up opportunities in their back three and attacking structure"
"Litchfield is one of the younger players who could benefit from Northampton's commitment to developing home grown talent. I can see him going from promising squad player to established Prem starter during 2026/27."
Director of Rugby of the Season
- Phil Dowson - Northampton Saints
- Johan van Graan - Bath Rugby
- Brendan Venter - Saracens
"If Northampton finish top of the league and retain the Prem title, doing so after losing Furbank and defence coach Lee Radford, Dowson deserves huge credit."
Top Tryscorer
- Noah Caluori - Saracens
- Tommy Freeman - Northampton Saints
- Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - Exeter Chiefs
"Caluori scored 18 Prem tries last season, one ahead of Tommy Freeman's 17. Rather than predicting Freeman to leapfrog him, I'm backing Caluori to retain the crown."
"Saracens should have plenty of attacking opportunities and Caluori has already demonstrated that he has the finishing ability to convert them. He could potentially break the 20-try barrier this season."
