The Premiership kicks off on Friday but the game’s perpetual flux is sure to punctuate the breathtaking action

Men’s rugby union in the northern hemisphere cranks up once again. On Friday the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship resume, the former opening with a rerun of last season’s final when champions Northampton travel to Bath.

It almost goes without saying that these are swirling, uncertain times for rugby, a sport seemingly in perpetual flux. The dust has settled for now on the sudden loss to financial ruin of three Premiership teams, and the rest of the game is taking stock. Where will we be when the curtain falls on the third Lions Test in Sydney, not far short of 11 months hence?