Home » Sports » Rugby » International » England

Why the PREM is now a try-fest with Saints and Bristol leading the way – and how it could help England: Tackle height changes, dynamic back threes, the cat-and-mouse maul and the jackal clampdown

NIK SIMON: New Sarries boss Brendan Venter has ambitions to break the PREM's cycle of attacking supremacy. The eccentric South African may be on a one-man crusade.

By NIK SIMON · Daily Mail

Published: Thursday, 8 October 2026 at 11:00 AM

Key Things to Know

Premiership attack coaches attribute the league's high-scoring start to rule changes, evolving tactics, and dynamic back-three play.
Winning teams have averaged 38 points over the opening 10 games, with 97 percent of points scored from tries.
Law changes regarding lower tackle heights and stricter breakdown refereeing have freed up offloads and attacking space.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Premiership Rugby has experienced a surge in scoring early this season, with winning sides averaging 38 points across the opening 10 matches. Attack coaches, including Northampton's Sam Vesty, Gloucester's James Lightfoot-Brown, and Bath's Mike Prendergast, point to regulatory shifts, refereeing clampdowns on cynical breakdown play, and evolving tactics as the primary drivers behind the increase in tries.

Coaches highlight that lower tackle heights permit more offloads, while dynamic back-three players create overloads rather than sticking to touchlines. Additionally, maul adaptations and stricter offside policing have created wider attacking space, an offensive trend that coaches believe could significantly bolster Steve Borthwick's England squad.

Read the full article on Daily Mail