• Sarries hardest hit by Rugby
World Cup absentees• ‘World Cup gives us chance to get head start,’ says HughesThe longest pre-season in Premiership history ends at Ashton Gate on Friday when Bristol meet Bath with the Bears looking for a repeat of the victory that announced their return to the big time last season. But despite Bristol expecting to break an attendance record at the ground, beating the 26,088 that watched Bristol City beat
Manchester United in a Carabao Cup tie two years ago, the big kick-off will not be accompanied by the usual drum-rolls.
With rugby eyes on the World Cup this is an anxious time for the moneymen of the 12 Premiership clubs and the directors of rugby coping with the loss of players in Japan. None more so than at Saracens, the English and European champions hit hardest by international call-ups. Saracens have 15 players either in or returning from Japan.