The 2026-27 PREM Rugby season began in style with a mammoth 52 tries scored – a record for the league’s opening weekend.Across the five matches, there were, unusually, four away wins as Gloucester, Bristol, Bath and Saracens all secured victories on the road.Here, Daily Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER picks out five things we learned from the action…Away day bravery rewarded As the PREM is only a 10-team league played in short blocks, there is very little margin for error for sides if they want to make the top four. That, in part, explains why all but one of the five opening-round matches were won by the away team. Defending champions Northampton were the only home side to come out on top. It is a promising sign for the league that clubs – on the evidence of round one – aren’t going to be content to be pragmatic and look for losing bonus points on the road, as so often happens in France’s TOP14. Long may that continue! Gloucester’s fine 45-24 win over Exeter at Sandy Park was the best example of a team being brave on away turf and reaping the rewards. Gloucester put in one of the performances of the weekend with an impressive 45-24 win at Exeter’s Sandy Park George Skivington’s side also showed plenty of attacking intent, spreading the ball wide to the likes of Ben Loader (second right)Itoje imperious on returnEngland captain Maro Itoje was given the summer off by Steve Borthwick, missing three Nations Championship games as a result. The idea was to get a frazzled Itoje a rest so he can return to his best in a World Cup season. While just one game in, the plan appears to have worked. Itoje has had a full pre-season to get into pristine shape and had a fine game as his Saracens team began their campaign with a 40-38 win at Leicester. Itoje’s performance showed promise ahead of a big 12 months for club and country. Saracens head coach Joe Shaw said of him: ‘I’m really happy. What a good decision by Steve and the club to give him the summer off.‘There can be no negativity around it. He was there on day one of pre-season wanting to do everything as captain. He feels fresh. Everything is positive.‘The club have got a world-class player and leader and so have England.’ Maro Itoje (right) appeared to be feeling the benefits of his summer break in Saracens’ win at Welford RoadGloucester impressFor too long Gloucester – one of English rugby’s grandest old clubs – have not been able to compete at the top of the PREM. For the good of the league, that needed to change. The Cherry and Whites appeared to have recruited well over the summer and their opening win at Exeter was confirmation of that. New captain Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan excelled, both adding much-needed grunt to their pack alongside Jean Kleyn. George Skivington’s side also showed plenty of attacking intent, spreading the ball wide to the likes of Ben Loader. With a home game against Harlequins to come in round two, there is every chance of Gloucester getting off to a strong start.Same old SaintsMany pundits believe Northampton – who have won two of the last three titles – will be impossible to stop this season. While it is unlikely to be that straightforward for Saints to retain their title, Phil Dowson’s side do look the best team in the league and their scintillating backs showed they haven’t lost any of their pizzazz in a 59-26 hammering of Newcastle Red Bulls. Fin Smith pulled the strings from No 10, creating hat-tricks for Tommy Freeman and James Pater. Fin Smith (pictured) pulled the strings from No 10 for Northampton against Newcastle, creating hat-tricks for Tommy Freeman and James PaterThe core of the Saints side which regularly forms the heart of Borthwick’s England squad impressed, too. A lot is made of Northampton’s backs, but the ability of England forwards such as Alex Coles and Emmanuel Iyogun to combine their required grunt work with handling in wide areas is very impressive. It will take some team to stop them. Smith, now seemingly first-choice England No 10, was man of the match again. His ability to bring the best out of the talent around him in no-nonsense fashion is a valuable asset for club and country. The emergence of young full-back Pater has compensated for George Furbank’s move to Harlequins and could yet prove to be one of the stories of the season.Sale under pressure alreadyAfter a horror season last time out, Sale boss Alex Sanderson went big in the transfer market with Courtney Lawes leading a host of international summer arrivals. There is significant expectation, then, that the Sharks will improve this term. Long-term owners and backers Simon and Michelle Orange won’t accept another campaign of mediocrity. That is why Sale’s round-one home defeat by Bristol means the heat is already on for Sanderson and his men. A host of new arrivals can lead to a lack of cohesion which will surely improve with time, but Sanderson needs results quickly to prove he’s the right man to get Sale in position for a top-four finish. Things aren’t about to get any easier, with a trip to Saracens in round two.