Harlequins will be the ones defending their Premiership crown this season as we dive into Premiership Rugby betting odds for the 2021/22 season.
They sprung a big surprise on the previous reigning Champions Exeter by winning last season’s Premiership Final.
Can Quins defend or will the rest of the league bear the brunt of a major backlash from the wounded Exeter beast?
For the 2021/22 Premiership season, there is the added twist of the return of Saracens to top flight action.
Premiership Rugby Odds 2021/22 Winner
Saracens 9/4
Exeter Chiefs 5/2
Bristol Bears 4/1
Sale Sharks 6/1
Harlequins 12/1
Leicester 16/1
Northampton 20/1
Wasps 25/1
Bath 33/1
Gloucester 66/1
Worcester Warriors 100/1
London Irish 100/1
Newcastle Falcons 200/1
* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill)
Premiership Rugby at William Hill
2021/22 Premiership Rugby Season Overview
There has been a little change to proceedings for the Premiership Rugby season coming up.
Because of cancelled matches last season and not everything being on an even keel, it was decided that there would be no relegation for that campaign.
Only four teams (Bristol, Exeter, Sale and Wasps) managed to play all 22 scheduled matches in the 2020/21 Premiership season.
That was good news for Worcester Warriors who finished bottom of the pile with just four victories across the course of the campaign.
So the Warriors get a reprieve and with Saracens rejoining the top flight, the season is going to be longer with the additional team.
Relegation is back on the table for the 2021/22 Premiership Rugby season. The rest of the format stays exactly the same.
TOP 4: Qualify for the Premiership Play Offs as well as the following season’s Heineken Cup.
5th – 8th: Qualification for the following season’s European Champions Cup.
9th-12th: Qualification for the 2022/23 European Challenge Cup
13th: Premiership Relegation
Premiership Rugby To Finish Bottom Odds
Newcastle Falcons 9/4
Worcester Warriors 6/4
Gloucester 4/1
London Irish 6/1
Leicester 33/1
Bath 33/1
Wasps 66/1
100/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill)
Premiership Rugby at William Hill
Can Quins defend their crown?
There was an unexpected title success for Harlequins in the 2020/21 Premiership season after a fourth place finish in the regular season.
But in the Premiership semi finals they knocked over Bristol Bears after extra time in a thrilling encounter.
Then Quins went even bigger in knocking over Exeter Chiefs in the final. Harlequins won their second Premiership title with that success.
They are a quote of 12/1 in rugby betting to make it back to back Premiership Rugby titles* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill).
The big asset that they had on their side last season was phenomenal scoring power.
They tallied more than 70 points in matches, 81 points more than Exeter scored in their season.
It was a brilliant success for Harlequins last season, but do they have enough in their ranks to back it up in the 2021/22 season?
Last 10 Premiership Rugby Winners
- 2021 Harlequins
- 2020 Exeter
- 2019 Saracens
- 2018 Saracens
- 2017 Exeter
- 2016 Saracens
- 2015 Saracens
- 2014 Northampton
- 2013 Leicester
- 2012 Harlequins
Exeter to regain their slipped crown?
Exeter Chiefs had been favourites in rugby betting for last seasons’ Premiership Final. While they came out on the losing side, it was a stunning match.
Exeter would never have expected to score five tries in the match and end up losing. But they did, going down in a 38-40 defeat against Quins at Twickenham.
Last season Exeter had finished second in the regular season behind Bristol Bears with a W17 L5 record.
The Chiefs did score more tries in last season’s Premiership season than anyone else.
They had also put a lot of stock into trying to win the Heineken Cup too.
But they did also fall short on the European front too, surprisingly slipping out in the Quarter Finals against Leinster at Sandy Park.
This is the Exeter Chiefs and the Devonshire club are a quote of 5/2 to bounce back and land the Premiership title* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill).
Return of Saracens adds a big factor in Premiership Rugby betting odds
After their banishment to the second tier, Saracens have fought their way back into Premiership action.
The bookmakers are expecting Sarries to make their presence heavily felt during the 2021/22 Premiership season.
They are the current 15/8 favourites to win this season’s title in Premiership Rugby betting odds* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill).
Saracens won the Championship title last season, taking their place back in the top flight after one season away.
They achieved that by a comprehensive 117-15 aggregate win in the Championship Final against Ealing Trailfinders.
They last got their hands on the Premiership title in the 2018/19 season.
Saracens were dealt a big setback with their relegation at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, due to having been handed a massive points deduction penalty.
As a club they have managed the situation pretty well. They have retained a lot of their star power and still have an enviable squad.
The question will be, how sharp is that squad going to be?
A long season back in the top flight is a lot different from a shortened Championship campaign that they went through last season.
2021/22 Regular Season Final Standings
- 1st Bristol Bears 85 pts
- 2nd Exeter Chiefs 82 pts
- 3rd Sale Sharks 75 pts
- 4th Harlequins 71 pts
- 5th Northampton Saints 57 pts
- 6th Leicester Tigers 54 pts
- 7th Bath 52 pts
- 8th Wasps 50 pts
- 9th London Irish 48 pts
- 10th Newcastle Falcons 45 pts
- 11th Gloucester 45 pts
- 12th Worcester Warriors 27 pts
What do the Bristol Bears have?
Things were looking so good last season for Bristol Bears in Premiership Rugby. They were the force to be reckoned with.
Bristol topped the table at the end of the regular season, finishing three points ahead of second-placed Exeter Chiefs.
They looked to have a genuine chance of picking up the Premiership title, but they were unraveled in the Semi Finals.
Eventual champions Harlequins edged them in extra time in a thrilling match at Ashton Gate.
That was a massive missed opportunity for the Bears who now have to try and rally themselves, which is made potentially more difficult with the presence of Saracens back in the top flight.
Bristol Bears will at least get a big chance to exert some early dominance as they face Saracens in the opening match of the new Premiership rugby season.
The Bears can be backed at a quote of 4/1 in Rugby Betting to go the distance this time* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill).
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Will Sale Sharks have a say in the title?
Sale Sharks had a good 2020/21 Premiership Rugby campaign as they finished third in the table. It was a good solid campaign from them.
Only Bristol and Exeter won more games across the course of the season than the Sharks picked up.
But there was a semi final exit for them at the hands of Exeter, unable to get the better of the Chiefs when it came to the crunch.
However, the Sharks can be pretty pleased with their efforts.
It’s questionable as to whether or not they have the strength in depth to compete when it comes to taking on the main front runners.
But it would be no surprise to see them in contention at the business end of the campaign for a top-four finish.
2021/22 Premiership Rugby Predictions
The return of Saracens brings an unknown quantity to the table. It’s going to be a lot to expect them to return straight from a Championship season and dominate the top flight.
So the 5/2 second-favourite odds on Exeter taking the Premiership title appeal a little bit more* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill)..
No doubt they will have the bit between their teeth after missing out on silverware last season. They look to be the ones to beat.
As for Premiership Rugby Relegation, it has to be Worcester that get the nod there at 6/4* (odds recorded at 18:45 GMT on September 14th, 2021 at William Hill).
In those tight duels with other potential strugglers like Newcastle and London Irish, it’s a little easier to see the Warriors coming up a little bit short.
