Premier 15s: Champions Saracens are team to beat as 2018-19 season begins

Saracens continue to bask in the glow of being crowned inaugural Premier 15s champions, but defending their title in 2018-19 will not be straightforward.

With the league ring-fenced for the first three seasons, the other nine sides are all catching up having travelled the massive opening-season learning curve.

The usual suspects of Harlequins and Wasps will be pushing for top honours, but others such as Loughborough or Bristol could cause an upset, while Worcester will be hunting for their first-ever league victory.