PREM Cup: Round 9 Team News - Tommy Reffell makes 150th Leicester Tigers cap

The Gallagher PREM Rugby Cup rallies onward this weekend, with the ninth round of pool stage action getting underway tonight, under the Friday night lights of Kingsholm and Kingston Park. Gloucester host Sale Sharks and Newcastle Red Bulls take on Northampton, as we enter the penultimate round of pool stage matches in this season's domestic cup campaign.

Saturday also has two fixtures in store, to keep the on-field action burning after England take on Ireland in the 2026 Six Nations. Harlequins travel up to the East Midlands for a clash with Leicester Tigers, before Exeter Chiefs host West Country derby against defending PREM Cup holders Bath. So, with just hours to go until kick-off, let's run through all the team news ahead of the upcoming matches.

Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks will clash at Kingsholm on Friday night in Round 9 of the Premiership Rugby Cup, with kick-off scheduled for 7.45pm. Gloucester make three changes from their defeat to Exeter Chiefs last weekend, with Josh Hathaway, Lewis Ludlow, and Caolan Englefield stepping up from the bench. Jack Mann returns to the matchday squad, while Jack Clement misses out due to a knock sustained in the previous round.

Captain Lewis Ludlow leads the side, with Max Knight and Charlie Atkinson providing experience in midfield and Ollie Thorley and Josh Hathaway in the back three. Ben Redshaw starts at fullback, and the front row sees Val Rapava Ruskin, Seb Blake, and Afo Fasogbon form a robust platform alongside the second row pairing of Danny Eite and Matias Alemanno. Will Trenholm completes the back row. Gloucester’s replacements include Manaaki Boyle Tiatia, Dian Bleuler, Ciaran Knight, Josh Basham, Jack Mann, Callum Braley, Ross Byrne, and George Barton, providing depth across the park.

Sale Sharks make ten changes following their home defeat to Bath, with captain Ernst van Rhyn returning to lead the side. Rob du Preez and Raffi Quirke start at half-back, while Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Joe Bedlow form the midfield partnership.

Luke James, Arron Reed, and Alex Wills make up the back three. The forwards see Si McIntyre, hooker Nathan Jibulu, and James Harper in the front row, with Ben Bamber and Hyron Andrews in the second row. Van Rhyn, Sam Dugdale, and Jacques Vermeulen complete the back row. The bench includes Tadgh McElroy, Ralph McEachran, Tye Raymont, Reuben Logan, Ethan Caine, Dom Hanson, Tom Curtis, and Tom O’Flaherty.

Gloucester Rugby: 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Josh Hathaway, 13 Josiah Edwards Giraud, 12 Max Knight, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Danny Eite, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 James Venter, 7 Lewis Ludlow (C), 8 Will Trenholm

Replacements: 16 Manaaki Boyle Tiatia, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Josh Basham, 20 Jack Mann, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 George Barton

Sale Sharks: 15. Luke James, 14. Arron Reed, 13. Joe Bedlow, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. James Harper, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Jacques Verrmeulen.

Replacements: 16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Reuben Logan, 20. Ethan Caine, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Tom O’Flaherty.

The Red Bulls welcome back a number of senior players, including captain George McGuigan, Tom Christie, Jamie Hodgson, and Murray McCallum, as they look to build on their 31-14 win over the Saints earlier this season.

Brett Connon and James Elliott form the half-back pairing, with Oli Spencer returning to the wing. Coach Alan Dickens highlighted the importance of finishing the pool phase strongly and giving senior players game time ahead of the league and European fixtures.

Northampton Saints make five changes for the trip north, with Chunya Munga captaining the side from the second row alongside Ed Prowse. Hooker Robbie Smith and No.8 Sam Graham come into the pack, while Tom James earns his first start of the season at scrum-half, partnering fly-half Anthony Belleau.

Centres Tom Litchfield and Toby Thame, along with wings Ollie Sleightholme and Amena Caqusau, remain unchanged. James Martin starts at fullback. Saints’ bench includes a mix of experience and youth, featuring Craig Wright, Joe Cowell, Jack Lewis, Archie McParland, Freddie St John, and George Hendy.

Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Rhys Beeckmans, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 George McGuigan (c), 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Finn Baker, 6 Adam Scott, 7 Tom Christie, 8 Reuben Parsons.

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Oscar Usher, 20 George Bolam, 21 Joe Davis, 22 Max Clark, 23 Ethan Grayson.

Northampton Saints: 15 James Martin, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Toby Thame, 11 Amena Caqusau, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Tom James; 1 Tom West, 2 Robbie Smith, 3 Luke Green, 4 Ed Prowse, 5 Chunya Munga (c), 6 Archie Benson, 7 Charlie Ulcoq, 8 Sam Graham

Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Joe Cowell, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 James Bennett, 20 Jack Lewis, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Freddie St John, 23 George Hendy

Leicester Tigers host Harlequins at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday afternoon in the PREM Rugby Cup. The game carries special significance as captain Tommy Reffell makes his 150th appearance for the Tigers, while Joseph Woodward celebrates his 50th cap.

Assistant coach Alex Davies has made six changes to the side that defeated Saracens last week, including Will Wand returning to the centre and Tom Whiteley joining from the replacements. The Tigers see England ‘A’ pair Archie van der Flier and Jamie Blamire starting, while Ale Loman swaps with Will Hurd. Osian Thomas earns a start in the second row alongside veteran Harry Wells, and the loose forward trio of Joaquin Moro, Reffell, and Harry Palmer remains unchanged.

Harlequins respond with eight changes from their previous match. Short-term props Alessandro Heaney and Joe Jones debut, while Jack Musk continues at hooker. Alex Dombrandt returns to lead the back row at No.8, with Zach Carr and Oisín McCormack completing the trio.

Stu Townsend partners Jamie Benson at half-back, and Ben Waghorn rejoins Bryn Bradley in the centres. The back three remains stable with Cassius Cleaves, Nick David, and Josh Bellamy. Quins travel with a 5-3 bench split including debutants Ben Murphy and Sam Bland, with Jack Walker, Tom Lawday, and others providing finishing options.

Leicester Tigers: 15. Tom Threlfall, 14. Ryan Crowley, 13. Will Wand, 12. Joseph Woodward, 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10. Orlando Bailey, 9. Ollie Allan; 1. Archie van der Flier, 2. Jamie Blamire, 3. Ale Loman, 4. Harry Wells, 5. Osian Thomas, 6. Harry Palmer, 7. Tommy Reffell (c), 8. Joaquin Moro

Replacements: 16. Finn Theobold-Thomas, 17. Tarek Haffar, 18. Will Hurd, 19. Tom Manz, 20. Josh Manz, 21. Tom Whiteley, 22. Wilf McCarthy, 23. Charlie Myall

Harlequins: 15. Josh Bellamy, 14. Nick David, 13. Ben Waghorn, 12. Bryn Bradley, 11. Cassius Cleaves, 10. Jamie Benson, 9. Stu Townsend; 1. Alessandro Heaney, 2. Jack Musk, 3. Joe Jones, 4. Kieran Treadwell, 5. Jonny Green, 6. Zach Carr, 7. Oisin McCormack, 8. Alex Dombrandt (c)

Replacements: 16. Jack Walker, 17. Ben Murphy, 18. Sam Bland, 19. Barny Langton-Cryer, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Jake Murray, 22. Luke Northmore, 23. Cameron Anderson

Exeter Chiefs host Bath Rugby at Sandy Park on Saturday, 21 February, in a crucial pool match that could decide Chiefs’ progression to the semi-finals of the PREM Rugby Cup. Kick-off is at 16:30 local time, with the England vs Ireland Six Nations broadcast showing pre-match in the Powderham Bar.

Chiefs are boosted by the late returns of Greg Fisilau and Henry Slade from England duty, providing depth and versatility to Rob Baxter’s side. There is a single change in the pack, with Lewis Pearson starting in the second row alongside Rusi Tuima, while Will Goodrick-Clarke, Josh Iosefa-Scott, and hooker Max Norey complete the front row.

The back row features Ethan Roots as captain at number eight, flanked by Martin Moloney and Finn Worley Brady. Scrum-half Tom Cairns partners fly-half Harvey Skinner, while the midfield pairing of Ollie Batson and Zack Wimbush looks to provide control and creativity. The back three sees Dan John at full-back, with Paul Brown-Bampoe and Olly Woodburn on the wings.

Bath Rugby make several changes, including Jack Bennett starting in the second row and Tom Carr-Smith making his 50th appearance at scrum-half. Will Butt captains from inside centre, partnered by Chris Harris, while the back three of Charlie Griffin, Austin Emens, and full-back Tom de Glanville provide speed and finishing options. George Timmins, Ethan Staddon, and Arthur Green form the Bath back row, combining experience and recent try-scoring form.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Dan John, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Zack Wimbush, 12 Ollie Batson, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Max Norey, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Rusi Tuima, 6 Martin Moloney, 7 Finn Worley Brady, 8 Ethan Roots (c)

Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Joe Bailey, 20 Greg Fisilau, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Henry Slade

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Austin Emens, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Butt (c), 11 Charlie Griffin, 10 Will Roue, 9 Tom Carr-Smith; 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Jack Bennett, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 George Timmins, 8 Arthur Green

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 James Maloney, 20 Kepu Tuipulotu, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 James Linegar, 23 Tyler Mason