Premiership Squad Sizes

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Interesting Tweet from @BathRugby

Latest data, net increases/(decreases) in 1st XV squad sizes, end 2020/1 to start 2021/2

Bath (5)
Bristol 2
Exeter (5)
Gloucester (7)
Harlequins (4)
Leicester (6)
London Irish 0
Newcastle (4)
Northampton (5)
Sale 0
Saracens (6)
Wasps (3)
Worcester (7)

13 Premiership clubs (50)

https://twitter.com/rugbybath/status/1436041822623645696?s=21

Doesn’t bode well on the injury front as players get more game time.

Edit: H/T @rugbyinsideline

Less for the salary cap; fewer players available for clubs.

Could see academies tested more than ever this season.

https://twitter.com/rugbyinsideline/status/1436316907305644036?s=21

[Horusthewasp]

Interesting post BND.

I posted the below back in March regarding senior squad sizes across the Premiership (from respective club websites) - puts the numerical impact into a bit more context:

Changes in Senior Squad Size
(2020/2021 squad - change = 2021/2022 squad):

• Northampton: 57 - 5 = 52
• Exeter: 56 - 5 = 51
• Worcester: 50 - 7 = 43
• Newcastle: 48 - 4 = 44
• Gloucester: 45 - 7 = 38
• Bath: 44 - 5 = 39
• Wasps: 44 - 3 = 41
• Bristol: 43 + 2 = 45
• Leicester: 43 - 6 = 37
• Harlequins: 41 - 4 = 37
• Irish: 38 - 0 = 38
• Sale: 32 - 0 = 32

2021/2022 Ranking by Senior Squad Size

• Northampton: 52
• Exeter: 51
• Bristol: 45
• Newcastle: 44
• Worcester: 43
• Wasps: 41
• Bath: 39
• Gloucester: 38
• Irish: 38
• Leicester: 37
• Harlequins: 37
• Sale: 32

Bristol is the biggest climber (from 8th to 3rd), Gloucester suffer the biggest drop (from 5th to 8th) and Wasps jump up one spot from 7th to 6th.

p.s. Saracens omitted as I don’t have their squad number for last season.