Team of the Week: PREM Rugby Round 3 - Marcus Smith back to his best
Gallagher PremiershipMonday, 13 October 2025 at 11:52
Another thrilling round of PREM Rugby action delivered high drama, close finishes, and some stunning individual performances. Sale ran riot against a struggling Newcastle side, while Bristol edged out the Chiefs in a scrappy contest.
Elsewhere, Harlequins got the better of Saracens in a fiercely contested London clash, and Bath powered past Gloucester in the West Country derby. With Northampton also seeing off Leicester in an East Midlands thriller, there's no shortage of standout moments to celebrate.
FULL RESULTS: PREM RUGBY ROUND 3:
SALE SHARKS 57-5 NEWCASTLE RED BULLS / BRISTOL BEARS 18-14 EXETER CHIEFS / NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 32-26 LEICESTER TIGERS / BATH 38-17 GLOUCESTER /HARLEQUINS 20-14 SARACENS
TEAM OF THE WEEK: PREM RUGBY ROUND 3:
15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Despite Leicester falling short in a gripping encounter at Franklin’s Gardens, Steward reminded everyone why he's one of the safest fullbacks around. His aerial dominance was relentless, consistently winning the high-ball battle and giving his side a vital territorial edge. He also ran a clinical support line for Tigers’ opening try—calm, composed, and classy as ever.
14 Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Roebuck simply couldn't be stopped on Friday night. A hat trick of tries, six clean breaks, over 135 metres made, and even a turnover to cap it off—his performance against Newcastle was nothing short of electric. The England winger is finding form at just the right time, and surely national selectors are taking note.
13 Will Joseph (Gloucester)
While Gloucester had little to celebrate in their loss to Bath, Joseph provided a bright spark with two breathtaking breaks. His solo try just before the half-time whistle was a moment of individual brilliance, and his line break that led to Ben Loader’s score was equally dazzling. A performance that deserved far more than a consolation.
12 Ben Hammersley (Exeter Chiefs)
The young centre impressed with both flair and physicality in a tightly contested loss to Bristol. His smart show-and-go led to a well-taken try, and he remained solid in defence throughout. Hammersley continues to grow into his role at this level and looks like a star in the making for the Chiefs.
11 Edoardo Todaro (Northampton Saints)
He may not be a natural winger, but you wouldn’t have known it watching Todaro on Saturday. The 19-year-old finished well in the corner for Saints’ second try, but it was his involvement in Tom Pearson’s score—cutting in off the flank and punching through the line—that really caught the eye. Mature beyond his years in a makeshift backline.
10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Returning from Lions duty, Smith wasted no time stamping his authority. He scored the opening try, managed the kicking game superbly, and outshone Owen Farrell in a battle of England fly-halves. With a try, two conversions, and two penalties to his name, this was a complete fly-half’s performance—and possibly one that nudges him ahead in the England pecking order.
9 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Mitchell didn’t have to be spectacular to make a difference, but his quick thinking and vision were central to Saints’ attack. His smart grubber, albeit lucky in the bounce, created Saints’ opening try and set the tone. While no other scrum-half truly dominated the weekend, Mitchell’s control was a class above.
1 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
Rodd was a wrecking ball up front in Sale’s dominant win, anchoring a scrum that gave Newcastle nightmares. Not only did he boss the set-piece, but his 50+ metres with ball in hand showed his value in the loose. A performance full of grunt, energy, and impact.
2 Tom Dunn (Bath)
Bath's veteran hooker led by example in their derby win. He crossed for a try and got through a mountain of work, including a double-digit tackle count. As reliable as ever in the set piece and hugely influential around the park.
3 George Kloska (Bristol Bears)
In a game that lacked standout moments from the front rows, Kloska made his presence known with some thunderous hits and a solid display at the scrum. Not flashy, but plenty of grit in a hard-fought win.
4 JJ van der Mescht (Northampton Saints)
The South African enforcer threw his weight around to great effect. His rip on Jamie Blamire typified his physical approach, and 12 tackles in 50 minutes underlined his work rate. A major disruptor throughout.
5 Guido Petti (Harlequins)
On debut, Petti brought a fresh edge to the Quins pack. His energy, powerful carrying, and ability to help generate scrum pressure didn’t go unnoticed. The Argentine international looks to be a shrewd addition and slotted in seamlessly.
6 Jack Kenningham (Harlequins)
A tireless shift from the flanker, who covered serious ground, racked up 15 tackles, and regularly punched through the defensive line. Harlequins' defensive edge came from relentless pressure, and Kenningham was at the heart of it.
7 Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Pearson continues to prove why he's one of the most complete flankers in the league. A try before the break capped a half full of smart carries and relentless defence—16 tackles in 60 minutes tells its own story. Industrious, intelligent, and impactful.
8 Viliame Mata (Bristol Bears)
Mata was everywhere for the Bears. His jackal penalty gave them early momentum, and his try down the right wing—running it in from 30 metres—was a highlight-reel moment. He was the heartbeat of the Bristol attack with a gritty, powerful performance that swung the match in their favour.
EDITORS PICKS:
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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