The opening round of the Gallagher PREM delivered some huge individual performances, but who makes the first Team of the Week of the 2026/27 season?
RUCK has selected its Gallagher PREM Team of the Week for Round 1, with Northampton Saints leading the way after their emphatic victory against Newcastle Red Bulls.
Bristol Bears and Gloucester Rugby are also well represented following impressive wins on the road, while Bath Rugby, Saracens and Sale Sharks all have players in our starting XV.
There were some seriously difficult calls, particularly in the back three, but here is our final selection.
RUCK’s Gallagher PREM Team of the Week – Backs
15. James Pater – Northampton Saints
What an opening weekend for the young full-back.
Pater helped himself to a hat-trick as Northampton ran riot against Newcastle and was one of RUCK’s standout performers of the entire round.
Quick, confident and dangerous whenever Saints found space, he made a huge statement in the No.15 shirt.
14. Tommy Freeman – Northampton Saints
Another hat-trick hero from Saints’ demolition job.
Freeman picked up exactly where you would expect, using his power and finishing ability to punish Newcastle repeatedly.
There were plenty of impressive wing performances across the weekend, but the England star demanded a place in our XV.
13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg – Bristol Bears
Bristol needed some big performances to leave Sale with maximum points and Janse van Rensburg was right at the heart of their victory.
The powerful centre consistently got Bristol moving forward and played his part in a Bears attack that caused Sale problems throughout.
It was exactly the sort of influential midfield performance Bristol needed on the road.
12. Max Ojomoh – Bath Rugby
A really accomplished start to the season from Ojomoh.
Bath faced a difficult opening assignment away at Harlequins, but the England hopeful was sharp on both sides of the ball as the champions began their campaign with an impressive victory.
Ojomoh carried well, offered a constant option in midfield and helped Bath take control of the contest.
11. Louis Rees-Zammit – Bristol Bears
Two tries made Louis Rees-Zammit very difficult to leave out.
The Wales speedster showed exactly why Bristol were so excited to bring him back to rugby union, twice crossing during the opening 25 minutes at Sale.
His pace remains a frightening weapon and this was a pretty impressive way to announce himself in Bristol colours.
10. Charlie Atkinson – Gloucester Rugby
One of the performances of the weekend.
Atkinson was outstanding as Gloucester stunned Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park, controlling proceedings and repeatedly putting his side into dangerous positions.
Precise with ball in hand and excellent from the tee, the former Leicester and Wasps playmaker produced a performance that should put his name firmly back into the conversation.
9. Tomos Williams – Saracens
An immediate impact in Saracens colours.
Williams brought his trademark tempo and threat around the breakdown as Sarries edged a remarkable contest against Leicester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
In a game that produced points for fun, the Wales international's speed of service helped keep the Saracens attack moving.
RUCK’s Gallagher PREM Team of the Week – Forwards
1. Emmanuel Iyogun – Northampton Saints
Part of a Northampton pack that gave their backs an enormous platform.
Iyogun was powerful around the field and helped Saints establish the dominance that eventually turned their opening fixture against Newcastle into a rout.
A strong start to the campaign from the loosehead.
2. Dewi Lake – Gloucester Rugby
Two tries on his Gallagher PREM debut for Gloucester. Not bad.
Lake immediately demonstrated why his arrival at Kingsholm was considered such a significant piece of business.
The Wales international crossed twice as Gloucester's driving maul caused Exeter major problems, while his carrying and work around the field added to an excellent debut.
3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour – Sale Sharks
Sale may have suffered defeat, but Opoku-Fordjour continues to look like one of English rugby's most exciting young props.
The England international was prominent around the field and earns our tighthead spot despite the Sharks coming up short against Bristol.
Still only at the beginning of his career, his development will be fascinating to follow this season.
4. Alex Coles – Northampton Saints
Another Saint who enjoyed an excellent opening night.
Coles offered his usual combination of athleticism and work rate and also got himself on the scoresheet as Northampton overwhelmed Newcastle.
The backs grabbed plenty of headlines, but Saints' forwards provided the platform for them to run riot.
5. Ted Hill – Bath Rugby
Hill started in the second row at the Stoop and played his part in an excellent Bath forward performance.
Bath's pack caused Harlequins considerable problems, particularly through their driving game, as the champions opened their title defence with an away victory.
Hill's ability to operate in the second row or back row remains a major asset.
6. Jac Morgan – Gloucester Rugby
A massive shift from Gloucester's new signing.
Morgan seemed to cover every blade of grass at Sandy Park and immediately demonstrated why his arrival was viewed as such a significant signing for the Cherry and Whites.
His defensive work, engine and influence around the breakdown were all on show as Gloucester secured an eye-catching victory on the road.
7. Henry Pollock – Northampton Saints
You couldn't really leave him out.
Pollock was once again at the centre of everything for Northampton as Saints started their Gallagher PREM campaign in emphatic fashion.
His pace and athleticism caused Newcastle problems throughout and he starts at openside in our first Team of the Week of the season.
8. Fitz Harding – Bristol Bears
One of Bristol's standout performers at Sale.
Harding produced a huge workload, carrying repeatedly while also making his presence felt at the breakdown.
In a contest featuring some seriously decorated back-rowers, the Bristol captain more than held his own and helped the Bears secure an excellent away victory.
Gallagher PREM Team of the Week – club breakdown
Northampton Saints lead the way with five selections after their dominant start to the new campaign.
Bristol Bears and Gloucester Rugby have three players each, reflecting two of the most impressive away performances of the opening weekend.
Bath Rugby have two selections, while Saracens and Sale Sharks complete the XV with one apiece.
Northampton Saints (5): James Pater, Tommy Freeman, Emmanuel Iyogun, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock
Bristol Bears (3): Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Louis Rees-Zammit, Fitz Harding
Gloucester Rugby (3): Charlie Atkinson, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan
Bath Rugby (2): Max Ojomoh, Ted Hill
Saracens (1): Tomos Williams
Sale Sharks (1): Asher Opoku-Fordjour
Honourable mentions
There were plenty of tough calls when putting together our opening Team of the Week.
Gabriel Hamer-Webb was perhaps the unluckiest omission after scoring a hat-trick for Leicester against Saracens, while Bath star Santi Carreras produced one of the individual performances of the weekend at Harlequins.
Harry Randall also pushed Tomos Williams hard for the No.9 shirt after scoring twice in Bristol’s win at Sale, while Gloucester duo Will Joseph and Seb Atkinson were both serious contenders in midfield.
Up front, Arthur Clark narrowly missed out in the second row, while Northampton No.8 Callum Chick was another strong contender.
And despite Newcastle's difficult afternoon against Saints, Werner Kok deserves a mention after being one of the Red Bulls’ standout performers.
Very unlucky: Hamer-Webb, Carreras, Randall, Joseph, Atkinson, Clark, Chick and Kok.
