With the international window now officially open ahead of the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, we will witness the return of the Gallagher PREM Rugby Cup this weekend across England. The former Anglo-Welsh Cup has long been the proving ground for the promising Premiership stars, with Round Six set to commence tonight under the Friday night lights of a cold Kingston Park.
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Newcastle Red Bulls re-start the competition, as they host Saracens at home this evening. Saturday afternoon then has two fixtures on offer, as Exeter Chiefs welcome Sale Sharks down to Devon, and Northampton Saints take on Leicester Tigers for an East Midlands derby at Franklin’s Gardens. The Tigers remain the sole unbeaten side in the competition, with Geoff Parling hoping to see another impressive win racked up as the push for the play-offs continues.
Sunday’s action sees Gloucester make the short trip down the M5 for a clash with Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate. With plenty of regional pride on the line in this West Country derby, expect all sorts of fireworks to light up the Bears’ Den, with Pat Lam’s side buoyed by the recent contraction renewal of flying wing Garbiel Ibitoye.
TEAM NEWS: PREM RUGBY CUP ROUND 6 (POOL STAGES)
FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH
NEWCASTLE RED BULLS vs SARACENS
19:45 KO, Kingston Park
Reuben Parsons will lead Newcastle Red Bulls as captain for the first time on Friday night when they host Saracens in PREM Rugby Cup action at Kingston Park. The 20-year-old back-rower heads up a refreshed side aiming to bounce back after last weekend’s defeat at StoneX Stadium.
Kiwi hooker Bryn Gordon makes his Red Bulls debut, while centre Rhys Beeckmans starts his first game after three appearances off the bench. Cameron Hutchison will direct the backline from fly-half, joined by South African duo Boeta Chamberlain and Stefan Coetzee on the wings. Connor Hancock earns his first start at prop, with 18-year-old George Bolam and Scotland U20 hooker Fraser Renwick named among the replacements for potential debuts.
For Saracens, Finn Keylock is awarded his first senior start on the right wing, while Phil Brantingham returns from injury at loosehead. Louie Johnson partners Charlie Bracken at half-back, and Alex Lozowski returns in the centre alongside Olly Hartley. Nathan Michelow captains a youthful back-row including Harry Wilson and Charlie West, with a full set of replacements offering opportunities for emerging talent.
Newcastle Red Bulls (1–15):
1 Connor Hancock, 2 Bryn Gordon, 3 Luan de Bruin, 4 Tim Cardall, 5 Finn Baker, 6 Reuben Parsons (C), 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Freddie Lockwood, 9 James Elliott, 10 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Nathan Greenwood, 12 Rhys Beeckmans, 13 Max Clark, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 15 Boeta Chamberlain
Newcastle Red Bulls Replacements (16–23):
16 Fraser Renwick, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Seb de Chaves, 20 George Bolam, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 23 Sam Waugh
Saracens (1–15):
1 Phil Brantingham, 2 James Hadfield, 3 Tietie Tuimauga, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Olamide Sodeke, 6 Harry Wilson, 7 Charlie West, 8 Nathan Michelow (C), 9 Charlie Bracken, 10 Louie Johnson, 11 Brandon Jackson, 12 Olly Hartley, 13 Alex Lozowski, 14 Finn Keylock, 15 Angus Hall
Saracens Replacements (16–23):
16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Alex O’Driscoll, 18 Harvey Beaton, 19 Tayo Adegbemile, 20 Reggie Hammick, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Luke Davidson, 23 Ben Morrow
SATURDAY JANUARY 31ST
EXETER CHIEFS vs SALE SHARKS
15:00 KO, Sandy Park
Exeter Chiefs welcome Josh Iosefa-Scott and Josh Hodge back from injury as they host Sale Sharks in Pool A PREM Rugby Cup action at Sandy Park. With several internationals away on Guinness Six Nations duty, the Chiefs hand opportunities to emerging talent in a side captained by Lewis Pearson.
The Chiefs field a strong front row with Will Goodrick-Clarke at loosehead, Iosefa-Scott at tighthead and Julian Heaven at hooker, while Pearson partners Rusi Tuima in the second row. The back row sees Finn Worley Brady, Martin Moloney and Richard Capstick providing experience and physicality. Tom Cairns directs from scrum-half, with Will Haydon-Wood at fly-half and centres Will Rigg and Ben Hammersley combining in midfield. Hodge returns at full-back with Paul Brown-Bampoe and Campbell Ridl on the wings.
Sale Sharks have made 14 changes from last week, with England U20s skipper Tom Burrow captaining the side. Former Chief Jacques Vermeulen leads the second row alongside Patrick Hogg, while Jos Gilmore, Dan du Preez and Vermeulen form a formidable back row. Dom Hanson and Tom Curtis run the halves, with Arron Reed and Gurswin Wehr on the wings and Ollie Davies at full-back.
Exeter Chiefs (1–15):
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Julian Heaven, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson (C), 5 Rusi Tuima, 6 Martin Moloney, 7 Finn Worley Brady, 8 Richard Capstick, 9 Tom Cairns, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 11 Campbell Ridl, 12 Will Rigg, 13 Ben Hammersley, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 15 Josh Hodge
Exeter Chiefs Replacements (16–23):
16 Max Norey, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Alfie Bell, 20 Oscar Beckerleg, 21 George Newman, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Dan John
Sale Sharks (1–15):
1 Tumy Onasanya, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 3 Patreece Bell, 4 Patrick Hogg, 5 Tom Burrow (C), 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Jos Gilmore, 8 Dan du Preez, 9 Dom Hanson, 10 Tom Curtis, 11 Arron Reed, 12 Sam Bedlow, 13 Joe Bedlow, 14 Gurswin Wehr, 15 Ollie Davies
Sale Sharks Replacements (16–23):
16 Ethan Caine, 17 Ralph McEachran, 18 Tye Raymont, 19 Tristan Woodman, 20 Reuben Logan, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Albert Bradshaw
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LEICESTER TIGERS
15:05 KO, Franklin’s Gardens
Northampton Saints return to PREM Rugby Cup action this Saturday as Leicester Tigers make the trip to Franklin’s Gardens for Round 6. Sitting fourth in Pool B, Saints know a win is crucial to keep their semi-final hopes alive, while Tigers top the table and aim to maintain their momentum.
Sam Graham leads the Saints from No.8, supported by Archie Benson at blindside and Charlie Ulcoq on openside flanker, who makes his Northampton debut as Saint #2125. The front row of Oliver Scola, Henry Walker and Cleopas Kundiona packs down alongside Ed Prowse and Tom Lockett in the second row. Archie McParland and James Pater run the halves, with Billy Pasco and Toby Thame in midfield. Flying wingers Amena Caqusau and Ollie Sleightholme, plus fullback James Martin, complete the back three.
Leicester Tigers have welcomed James O’Connor and Izaia Perese back into the starting XV. Hanro Liebenberg captains the side at No.8 with Harry Wells in the second row and Sam Williams, Harry Palmer, and Liebenberg forming a dynamic back row. Ollie Allan and O’Connor run the halves, with Joseph Woodward and Perese in midfield and George Pearson, Ryan Crowley, and Orlando Bailey rounding out the back three.
Northampton Saints (1–15):
1 Oliver Scola, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Cleopas Kundiona, 4 Ed Prowse, 5 Tom Lockett, 6 Archie Benson, 7 Charlie Ulcoq – Saint #2125, 8 Sam Graham (C), 9 Archie McParland, 10 James Pater, 11 Amena Caqusau, 12 Toby Thame, 13 Billy Pasco, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 15 James Martin
Saints Replacements (16–23):
16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Luke Green, 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Jack Kelleher – Guest player, Northampton Saints debut, 21 Tom James, 22 Freddie St John – Northampton Saints debut, 23 James Ramm
Leicester Tigers (1–15):
1 Archie Van Der Flier, 2 Finn Theobold-Thomas, 3 Will Hurd, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Tom Manz, 6 Harry Palmer, 7 Sam Williams, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (C), 9 Ollie Allan, 10 James O’Connor, 11 Ryan Crowley, 12 Joseph Woodward, 13 Izaia Perese, 14 George Pearson, 15 Orlando Bailey
Tigers Replacements (16–23):
16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Josh Manz, 20 George Marsh, 21 Charlie Bemand, 22 Wilf McCarthy – debut, 23 Kesena Izu – debut
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1ST
BRISTOL BEARS vs GLOUCESTER
15:00 KO, Ashton Gate
Bristol Bears return to PREM Rugby Cup action this Sunday as West Country rivals Gloucester make the short trip to Ashton Gate. Hooker Harry Thacker will make his 150th club appearance, captaining a side that blends experience with returning talent and Academy prospects.
Thacker leads the pack alongside Max Lahiff and tighthead Jimmy Halliwell, with Steven Luatua returning from injury to captain the back row. Luka Ivanishvili and Benjamin Grondona complete a strong forward unit. In the halves, Sam Wolstenholme partners fly-half Sam Worsley, while Jack Bates and Argentina international Benjamin Elizalde form the midfield. The back three features Gabriel Ibitoye, Noah Heward, and Rich Lane, with Ibitoye starting his first game since September.
Director of Rugby Pat Lam highlighted the importance of giving game time to players returning from long-term injuries while providing development opportunities for Academy players. Five Academy members feature among the replacements, ensuring a balance of youth and experience throughout the matchday squad.
Gloucester bring a full-strength side despite international call-ups, with Harry Taylor captaining the back row. Charlie Atkinson partners Mikey Austin in the halves, while Max Knight and Josiah Edwards Giraud start in the centres. The back three remains Ollie Thorley, Josh Hathaway, and George Barton.
Bristol Bears (1–15):
1 Max Lahiff, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Jimmy Halliwell, 4 James Dun, 5 Joe Owen, 6 Steven Luatua (C), 7 Luka Ivanishvili, 8 Benjamin Grondona, 9 Sam Wolstenholme, 10 Sam Worsley, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 12 Jack Bates, 13 Benjamin Elizalde, 14 Noah Heward, 15 Rich Lane
Bears Replacements (16–23):
16 Tomas Gwilliam, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Sam Scott, 19 Steele Barker, 20 George Taylor, 21 Max Pepper, 22 Raff Weston, 23 Ollie Harris
Gloucester Rugby (1–15):
1 Dian Bleuler, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Matias Alemanno, 5 Hugh Bokenham, 6 Will Trenholm, 7 Harry Taylor (C), 8 Jack Clement, 9 Mikey Austin, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 12 Max Knight, 13 Josiah Edwards Giraud, 14 Josh Hathaway, 15 George Barton
Gloucester Replacements (16–23):
16 Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, 17 Archie McArthur, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Josh Basham, 20 James Venter, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Will Butler
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