Every PREM Rugby boss ranked worst to best (10-1)

Taking into account what they’ve achieved both in the past and more recently, with a slight lean toward current form, here is a look at how each PREM Rugby boss compares to their peers.

At the bottom of the list is Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore, who stepped up at the start of the season after Danny Wilson left for Wales.

Moving up from defence coach into the top job was never going to be straightforward, and he inherited a squad already dealing with disruption.

Injuries have not helped, but Quins have struggled to hit the standards expected of them. With the players available, there is a fair argument that results should have been better.

That said, the club clearly see long-term value in him as he is staying on next season. His CV is steadily building, so while this season has been underwhelming, he is not without promise.

George Skivington’s position feels a little harsh, because his situation at Gloucester has been far from simple.

Since taking over in June 2020 after Johan Ackermann and David Humphreys left, he has often been balancing more than just coaching responsibilities.

There have been seasons where Gloucester looked close to breaking into the play-offs, but they have not quite managed to get over the line.

This year in particular has been a struggle, despite his previous experience also extending to taking charge of England A against Portugal in February 2024.

Financial limitations at the club likely play a role, but ultimately the head coach carries responsibility for performances. Skivington has shown he is capable, even if results have not consistently followed.

Stephen Jones is still settling into life as the main man at Newcastle. A former British and Irish Lion as a player, he built his coaching reputation working with backs and attack before stepping up from an assistant role.

So far, he seems to have brought a bit more stability to the side, which is no small task given Newcastle’s recent challenges.

However, with such a short track record as a head coach, it is difficult to judge him fully. For now, he sits lower in the rankings while he establishes himself.

Alex Sanderson is a tricky one to place. At Sale Sharks, he has overseen periods where the team looked like genuine title contenders and arguably punched above their weight, coming close to Premiership success on several occasions.

This season, though, has gone in the opposite direction. Performances have dipped badly, and with increased investment from Simon Orange, expectations have risen.

Sanderson is still clearly a strong motivator who understands the club’s identity, but there is a growing sense that he needs to turn near-misses into silverware soon or risk being moved on.

Pat Lam feels like a perfect match for Bristol Bears. Since arriving from Connacht in 2017, he has fully committed to an attacking style that can be as frustrating as it is thrilling.

When it clicks, Bristol are one of the most entertaining teams in the league. Lam guided them to the 2019–20 Challenge Cup, beating Toulon 32–19, and committed his future to the club with a contract running until 2028.

The only thing missing is domestic success. Given the quality in the squad, that lack of a Premiership title slightly holds him back in this ranking.

Geoff Parling’s impact at Leicester Tigers this season has been one of the standout coaching stories. Taking over after the departure of Michael Cheika and several experienced players, expectations were not particularly high.

Instead, he has got Tigers playing with confidence and consistency, turning them into one of the toughest sides to beat.

For a first senior head coach role, it has been hugely impressive, especially given his background as a forwards coach, including with Australia.

There have been minor off-field moments, such as his TNT Sport comments, but on the pitch his work has spoken loudly. He looks like a coach with a big future.

Mark McCall’s standing at Saracens is already cemented. His honours list includes Premiership titles in 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19 and 2022–23, as well as Champions Cup wins in 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2018–19.

He also added the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2014–15 and guided Saracens to the RFU Championship title in 2020–21, alongside several runner-up finishes in both domestic and European competitions. Individually, he has been named Premiership Coach of the Year five times.

This season has not quite matched those heights, which nudges him slightly down the list, but it does not change the bigger picture. McCall remains one of the game’s most accomplished coaches.

Phil Dowson has quickly built a strong reputation at Northampton Saints. Since stepping into the director of rugby role, he has guided the club to a Premiership title, their first in a decade, and taken them to a Champions Cup final in Cardiff.

His side also reached the Champions Cup semi-finals the season before, as well as reaching the final since, showing steady progression in Europe’s top competition.

Domestically, Saints topped the league before going on to beat Bath in the Premiership final at Twickenham.

Dowson’s rise through the coaching ranks at the club, from forwards coach to leading the entire operation, has been impressive. Links with England highlight how highly he is now regarded.

Rob Baxter and Exeter Chiefs are almost inseparable at this point. Having taken charge in 2009, he led the club from the Championship into the Premiership at the first attempt.

His crowning achievement came in 2019–20, when Exeter secured a historic double by winning the Champions Cup against Racing 92 and then beating Wasps in the Premiership final at Twickenham.

He had already delivered a first Premiership title in 2016–17, again overcoming Wasps. Even as the squad evolves, Baxter’s consistency and influence keep Exeter competitive, underlining his status as one of the league’s most respected figures.

Johann van Graan has transformed Bath since arriving ahead of the 2022–23 season. He took over during a period of upheaval and quickly imposed a clear structure and identity on the club.

The turnaround has been dramatic. Bath ended a 17-year trophy drought by winning the Premiership Rugby Cup with a 48–14 victory over Exeter Chiefs, before adding the Challenge Cup with a 37–12 win over Lyon.

They then went on to secure the Premiership title, beating Leicester Tigers 23–21 in the final to complete a remarkable treble. Along the way, there were statement performances, including a record 68–10 victory over Saracens.

In a short space of time, van Graan has rebuilt Bath into a dominant force, and the scale of that success puts him firmly at number one.