Domestic Rugby seasons at the half-way point

As 2023 comes to a close, the major professional rugby unions in Europe reach the mid-point of their busy seasons.

England’s Gallagher Premiership Rugby has 9 rounds under its belt with Bath, Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs occupying the top 4 slots - so far. Sale have 1 more win but Bath’s excellent performance in gaining 8 bonus points (for scoring tries and narrow defeats) puts them ahead, by 1 point. With only a 12 point gap between #1 and #8 in the 10-team league, there is still everything to play for. The last weekend in calendar year 2023 sees all 10 teams in action with Northampton vs. Sale and Leicester vs. Bath as the marquee matches. (TV coverage - The Rugby Network)

The United Rugby Championship (top clubs from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and S. Africa) plays round 9 of 18 “pool” matches this weekend with teams playing their local competition for the second week in a row in deference to the family-focused holiday season. After 8 rounds, Irish powerhouse Leinster are in first place with Glasgow Warriors, Italy’s Benetton Rugby and the South African Vodacom Bulls all close behind. (TV coverage - Flo Rugby)

France’s Top 14 has played 10 of its 20 pool stage matches with Racing 92 on top, followed by Pyrenees club Section Paloise and Stade Francais Paris. While the French professional rugby is reckoned to be one of the best in the world, it is noteworthy that 4 major teams (Racing, Toulon, Stade Francais and Rochelais) have struggled thus far in the Investec Champions Cup against other European rivals.

To come:

The Six Nations tournament (England, France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy) gets under way the first weekend of February, the 5-match series ending with all 3 final matches on Saturday, March 16. (TV coverage - NBC’s Peacock)

Super Rugby Pacific featuring the top professional clubs from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga starts on February 22 as those countries move into their winter season.