By Gary Payne, BUSA Rugby Editor

Loughborough have dominated the Men’s Premier League North since opening their campaign so emphatically with a 59-15 victory in the first week. They were undefeated at the time of writing and hopes are high in the Midlands of finally winning the BUSA crown for the first time since the league began ten years ago.

Durham are a major threat, however, their only defeat coming against Loughborough, 40-21, in November. The rematch in the North East this month promises a hard fought encounter.

The Premier League South, meanwhile, remained much more competitive, with all sides taking points off each other throughout the year. Bath, St Mary’s and UWIC at the time of writing shared the lead at the top of the table, having all lost three games. However, another Twickenham visit has not been written off by UWIC, the reigning champions. “Hopefully, we can win enough games to get through the pool stage and then get everyone fit for the knockout stages,” UWIC’s Director of Rugby, Chris Davey, said. “Then we’ll just have to see what happens.”

In the women’s game, Loughborough and UWIC, the Twickenham finalists for the past two years, continued to dictate their respective leagues, amassing giant victories along the way. Loughborough’s 74-5 demolition of second placed Northumbria in the final week of term, was summed up coolly by coach John Griffin. “We’ve not hit top gear yet and we’ve still got lots to work on. But it will come,” he said.