PREM Cup: Round 10 Team News - Semi-Final spots up for grabs - Ruck
Premiership Rugby Cup Rugby News

PREM Cup: Round 10 Team News – Semi-Final spots up for grabs

27 February 2026
Tom Sansom

It’s crunch time in the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM Rugby Cup, as we prepare for the final round of pool stage action with four matches lined-up for Round 10. Exeter Chiefs and Leicester Tigers have already booked their spots in the semi-finals, with the runners-up spots up for grabs from Pools A and B.

Exeter clinched the top seed from Pool A with an impressive record of six wins from the past eight rounds. Leicester went one better than the men from Devon, as the Tigers clawed their way to the Pool B summit with seven stunning victories, having only tasted defeat thus far to East Midlands rivals Northampton Saints. Coincidentally, both the Chiefs and Tigers sit out Round 10 with byes, leaving it all to play for across the PREM Cup’s variation of the Six Nations’ ‘Super Saturday.’

Four matches will kick off tomorrow afternoon, with the final two spots set to be determined ahead of next weekend’s semi-finals. The top performing runner-up will take on the Chiefs, whilst the second-best silver medallist from their group faces a trip to Welford Road and a knock-out clash with Leicester. Here’s all the latest confirmed team news from the clubs, ahead of the 10th Round of the PREM Rugby Cup.

TEAM NEWS: 2026 PREM RUGBY CUP ROUND 10 (POOL STAGE)

SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY

BRISTOL BEARS vs SALE SHARKS

15:00 KO, Ashton Gate

Bristol Bears have named an experienced side for their final Premiership Rugby Cup outing before attention turns back to the Premiership Rugby run-in next month. Pat Lam welcomes back a host of senior figures for the Ashton Gate clash, with skipper Fitz Harding starting at openside and Benhard Janse van Rensburg returning in midfield.

Gabriel Oghre packs down between Max Lahiff and George Kloska in an all-English front row, while Joe Batley partners Academy lock George Taylor in the engine room. The back row sees Santiago Grondona and Viliame Mata join Harding, giving the Bears a powerful and experienced trio.

Harry Randall and James Williams combine in the halves, with Jack Bates linking up with Janse van Rensburg in midfield. Rich Lane starts at full-back, joined by Kalaveti Ravouvou and Gabriel Ibitoye in an exciting back three. On the bench, Harry Thacker and Kieran Marmion add proven Premiership quality, while Benjamin Elizalde provides backline cover.

Sale make several tweaks to their pack, with skipper Ernst van Rhyn returning to the second row alongside Ben Bamber. Jacques Vermeulen shifts to blindside, Sam Dugdale remains at openside and Dan du Preez starts at number eight. Gus Warr and Rob du Preez steer the side, with Joe Carpenter, Tom O’Flaherty and Arron Reed forming the back three.

Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13 Jack Bates, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 James Williams, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Max Lahiff, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 George Kloska, 4 George Taylor, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Santiago Grondona, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Viliame Mata.

Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 James Dun, 20 Joe Owen, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Benjamin Elizalde.

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Joe Bedlow, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Si McIntyre, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 3 James Harper, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 5 Ben Bamber, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Sam Dugdale, 8 Dan du Preez.

Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Ralph McEachran, 18 Tye Raymont, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Reuben Logan, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Alex Wills.

HARLEQUINS vs NEWCASTLE RED BULLS

15:00 KO, Twickenham Stoop

Harlequins have made seven changes for their final PREM Rugby Cup clash against Newcastle Falcons at The Stoop, with Los Pumas star Rodrigo Isgró returning on the right wing. Vice-captain Cadan Murley starts on the left, while Chandler Cunningham-South is included in the back row.

England Under-20 hooker Jimmy Staples makes his first start alongside Alessandro Heaney and Joe Jones in the front row. Kieran Treadwell and Jonny Green continue in the second row, with Jack Kenningham and Alex Dombrandt joining Cunningham-South in the back row. Stu Townsend and Connor Slevin steer the halves, and Ben Waghorn partners Luke Northmore in the midfield. Nick David shifts to full-back to complete a strong back three with Isgró and Murley.

The bench includes Jerold Gorleku, Will Hobson, Simon Kerrod, Zach Carr, Will Evans, Jack Grant, Sean Kerr, and Cameron Anderson, giving Harlequins depth and experience across the pack and backs.

Newcastle Falcons make eight changes from their opening-round win over Harlequins, with Ollie Fletcher captaining from hooker. Adam Brocklebank returns at loosehead, Tim Cardall starts at lock, while Ollie Leatherbarrow and Tom Gordon come into the back row.

Simón Benítez Cruz returns at scrum-half, with Sammy Arnold and Alex Hearle in the backline. John Hawkins is on the bench alongside on-loan Saracens hooker Samson Adejimi. Head coach Alan Dickens aims to end the campaign with a strong performance at the Stoop ahead of the European and Premiership run-in.

Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Ben Waghorn, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Connor Slevin, 9 Stu Townsend; 1 Alessandro Heaney, 2 Jimmy Staples, 3 Joe Jones, 4 Kieran Treadwell, 5 Jonny Green, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Jack Kenningham, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c).

Replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku, 17 Will Hobson, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Zach Carr, 20 Will Evans, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Sean Kerr, 23 Cameron Anderson.

Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Rhys Beeckmans, 12 Sammy Arnold, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Ollie Fletcher (captain), 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Tim Cardall, 5 Oscar Usher, 6 Reuben Parsons, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow.

Replacements: 16 Samson Adejimi, 17 Connor Hancock, 18 Micky Rewcastle, 19 John Hawkins, 20 George Bolam, 21 Joe Davis, 22 Sam Stuart, 23 Sam Waugh.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SARACENS

15:05 KO, Franklin’s Gardens

Northampton Saints have made nine changes for their final pool stage clash against Saracens at cinch Stadium, Franklin’s Gardens. Callum Chick captains the side from No.8, flanker Jack Lewis makes his first start for the club, and JJ Van Der Mescht partners Chunya Munga in the second row. Tom West remains from last week’s front row alongside Craig Wright and Cleopas Kundiona.

James Pater returns at fly-half alongside scrum-half Tom James, while George Furbank comes back from international duty at fullback. James Martin shifts to the wing and is joined by James Ramm in the back three. Saints’ bench features Robbie Smith, who will make his 50th appearance, along with Emmanuel Iyogun, Rory Hutchinson, Luke Green, Tom Pearson, James Bennett, Jonny Weimann, and George Hendy.

Saracens make four changes from their previous outing, with Tobias Elliott returning on the right wing after a four-month injury layoff. Theo Dan joins Phil Brantingham and Harvey Beaton in the front row, while Nick Isiekwe pairs with Hugh Tizard in the second row. Theo McFarland starts at blindside flanker, and captain Nathan Michelow and Andy Onyeama-Christie retain their positions.

Gareth Simpson and Alex Lozowski (making his first start of the season) form the halves, Olly Hartley and Nick Tompkins occupy the centres, with Brandon Jackson and Elliott on the wings, and Luke Davidson at fullback. The replacements include James Hadfield, Alex O’Driscoll, Tietie Tuimauga, Tayo Adegbemile, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Ivan van Zyl, Lucio Cinti, and Rotimi Segun, adding depth and international experience to the squad.

Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 James Ramm, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Toby Thame, 11 James Martin, 10 James Pater, 9 Tom James; 1 Tom West, 2 Craig Wright, 3 Cleopas Kundiona, 4 Chunya Munga, 5 JJ Van der Mescht, 6 Tom Lockett, 7 Jack Lewis, 8 Callum Chick (c).

Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Luke Green, 19 James Bennett, 20 Tom Pearson, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 George Hendy.

Saracens: 15 Luke Davidson, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Gareth Simpson; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Harvey Beaton, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 8 Nathan Michelow (c).

Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Alex O’Driscoll, 18 Tietie Tuimauga, 19 Tayo Adegbemile, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Lucio Cinti, 23 Brandon Jackson.

BATH vs GLOUCESTER

15:05 KO, The Rec

Bath Rugby host Gloucester Rugby in the final pool stage of the PREM Rugby Cup at the Rec on Saturday afternoon. Captain Will Butt leads the side, with a front row of Francois van Wyk, Kepueli Tuipulotu, and Vilikesa Sela. Will Jeanes and Charlie Ewels form the second row, with Ted Hill and Ethan Staddon in the back row alongside Miles Reid at number 8.

Tom Carr-Smith starts at scrum-half with Max Ojomoh at fly-half, while Butt and Chris Harris form the centre partnership. The back three sees Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga on the wings, and Tom de Glanville at fullback. Impact and bench options include Tom Dunn, Beno Obano, Mikey Summerfield in the front row, Quinn Roux and Alfie Barbeary in the back row, with Bernard van der Linde, Will Roue, and Cameron Redpath completing the matchday 23.

Gloucester Rugby make several returns from international duty, with Seb Atkinson and Arthur Clark leading the side having enjoyed a run in Steve Borthwick’s wider training group for the Six Nations. The front row features Ciaran Knight, Seb Blake, and Afo Fasogbon, while Clark and Matias Alemanno start in the second row. Lewis Ludlow captains the back row, joined by Will Trenholm and Deian Gwynne.

Caolan Englefield and Charlie Atkinson form the halves pairing, with Seb Atkinson and Josiah Edwards Giraud in midfield. The back three is completed by Ollie Thorley, Will Joseph, and Ben Redshaw. Replacements include Jack Innard, Dian Bleuler, Nepo Laulala, Danny Eite, Josh Basham, Rhys Price, Max Knight, and George Barton.

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Butt (c), 11 Will Muir, 10 Max Ojomoh, 9 Tom Carr-Smith; 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Miles Reid.

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Will Roue, 23 Cameron Redpath.

Gloucester Rugby: 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Josiah Edwards Giraud, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Ciaran Knight, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Arthur Clark, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Will Trenholm.

Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Danny Eite, 20 Josh Basham, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Max Knight, 23 George Barton.

LATEST RUGBY NEWS