The Premiership Rugby Cup enters the semi-final stage this weekend, with London Irish hosting Northampton Saints on Friday night, and Sale Sharks making the trip down to Devon, to take on Exeter Chiefs on Sunday.
This competition is often used to introduce academy breakthrough players to first team rugby, and will once again be highlighting the stars of the future this weekend. Here are five players to look out for, in the Premiership Rugby Cup semi finals.
- Rus Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
The powerful back-rower has been out on loan to RFU Championship side Cornish Pirates for the majority of this season, yet has been shining in his opportunities with Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup. Scoring three times already in the competition, the 22-year-old crossed the line in the tight 25-22 victory over Bath, and grabbed a brace as the Chiefs dispatched Gloucester 50-33.
Born in Suva, Fiji, Tuima moved over to England at an early age, and soon became apart of the Exeter Chiefs Academy. Tuima started to make a big impact across the South West, and in 2019 became dual-registered with the Chiefs and Plymouth Albion in National League One. Making his full Premiership debut against Wasps in 2021, Tuima has been putting his hand up for selection, and will undoubtedly be in Rob Baxter’s plans given the expected Chiefs departures come the end of the season.
2. Edd Scragg (London Irish)
The lock forward joined London Irish ahead of the 2022/23 season, after departing Cornish Pirates. In similar style to Tuima, Scragg also featured for Plymouth Albion in the National League One, when on loan from Pirates at Albion. The 22-year-old is a graduate of the Welsh Exiles programme, and represented his country at Under 18s, 19s and 20s level. Scragg featured in every match in the 2019 Under 20s Six Nations, and has ambitions of an international call up in his near future.
Scragg has scored in this year’s Premiership Rugby Cup, with his try against Bath presenting his versatility in attack. A towering second row, the lock stands 6 ft 7″ tall, and at just 22-years-old, is already a physical presence at 120kgs. Scragg is improving with every performance he puts in for the Exiles, and is expected to make his Gallagher Premiership debut before too long.
3. Michael Dykes (London Irish)
What better way is there to mark your Gallagher Premiership debut, than with a hat-trick of tries. Michael Dykes did just that for London Irish, as the winger scored three in last month’s West London derby against Harlequins. The pick of the three scores was Dykes second try, as he executed a fantastic finish inches from the touchline. The 21-year-old outmuscled the tackle attempts of two Harlequins defenders, and dived with one outstretched arm to score.
A graduate of the fabled Exiles Academy, Michael Dykes has been impressing Declan Kidney so early on in his London Irish career. Expected to receive an extended run in the first team, due to the England call-up of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Dykes has made good on his opportunity, and will be looking to again showcase his skills in the Premiership Rugby Cup this weekend.
4. Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks)
Joining the Sharks Academy in 2017, Kieran Wilkinson has continuously impressed in Sale, and has worked his way into the first team. A defensively aggressive fly-half who relishes a collision, Wilkinson is no stranger to making big tackles, a lot like a certain former England fly-half with whom he shares his surname.
Wilkinson skipped the Premiership call-up and instead made his first team debut in the European Challenge Cup. With a calm head and confidence far beyond his years, Wilkinson consistently kicked Sale to a 41-24 victory over Perpignan. So far in the Premiership Rugby Cup, Wilkinson has slotted six out of eight attempts at the posts, and has even scored two tries. His back-to-back brace within the final ten minutes, sealed off an emphatic 40-19 victory over Harlequins.
5. Alfie Petch (Northampton Saints)
A former teammate of Tuima, Alfie Petch started his career in the Exeter Chiefs Academy, and he too spent a season at Mennaye Field, winning 23 caps for Cornish Pirates in the Championship. Joining Northampton Saints at the start of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season, Petch has been impressing the Franklins Gardens’ faithful, mixing it up in the scrum with the most experienced Premiership veterans. Holding his own against the likes of Joe Marler and Ellis Genge, the tighthead prop has surpassed expectations in his 16 caps for Saints.
A powerful ball carrier, who works tirelessly in attack and defence, Petch is a breakthrough prop who would love the opportunity to meet his former teammates in the Premiership Rugby Cup Final. A reunion with Exeter Chiefs may be on the cards if Saints can outmuscle London Irish, who are expected to bring a fast-flowing flair to the ‘Friday night lights.’