Three Midlands clubs in the running as Rugby premiership campaign begins

As the rugby Premiership campaigns begin at stadiums around the country this weekend, there are three Midlands teams in the running for English rugby’s top honour.

Worcester Warriors aim is to finish above the bottom four as they begin the season at home to Bath.

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The Warriors were beaten last time the two met, but captain Dean Schofield knows he’s got an advantage tomorrow. The former Sale Sharks lock signed for Worcester in April after two years with France’s RC Toulon, and was handed the captain’s armband immediately

“This place is excellent when it’s full,” he says of the Warriors Sixways stadium. “As everyone knows, the Warrior supporters are very vocal and it helps you on the pitch.”

Northampton Saints finished fourth last year and they’ve been convincing pre-season, beating Edinburgh at Murrayfield last Friday. Not that it’s going to their heads as they prepare to face Gloucester tomorrow.

Or, for Leicester Tigers, Sunday, when they take on newly promoted London Welsh. Literally in a different league until this season, the last time Leicester faced London Welsh was a friendly way back in 1995 which they won 62-19; a mauling the Tigers will be keen to repeat when they welcome the newcomers to Rugby’s top flight in Oxford on Sunday.

The Tigers narrowly lost last year’s final to Harlequins.

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That optimism’s well founded - they’ve now appeared in a record eight finals in a row.**