PREM Rugby Cup: Lineups confirmed for semi-finals

Exeter Chiefs host Northampton Saints at Sandy Park, while Leicester Tigers welcome Bath to Mattioli Woods Welford Road. With a trophy within touching distance, both fixtures promise intense contests as teams name their lineups for the decisive stage.

Jack Yeandle will captain Exeter Chiefs when they host Northampton Saints in Sunday’s PREM Rugby Cup semi-final at Sandy Park.

The experienced hooker leads a side that also features senior internationals Henry Slade and Olly Woodburn in the backline.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said:
“Northampton are one of the teams that you have to be able to beat if you want to win the PREM at some stage. Without doubt, if you look at their recent cup games, if they get momentum in the game then they can run pretty much any team off their feet.”

In the front row, Will Goodrick-Clarke starts at loosehead following the strong 80-minute display against Bath Rugby two weeks ago. He is joined by Yeandle at hooker and Jimmy Roots at tighthead.

The second row features academy graduates Lewis Pearson and Rusi Tuima. Behind them, Martin Moloney, Finn Worley Brady and Greg Fisilau form the back-row combination.

Tom Cairns starts at scrum-half alongside fly-half Harvey Skinner. Henry Slade lines up in midfield with the in-form Zack Wimbush.

Olly Woodburn and Paul Brown-Bampoe are selected on the wings, with Josh Hodge completing the starting XV at full-back.

Baxter added:
“Northampton can score tries from almost anywhere if they get momentum and you’re not reactive to the things they’re doing. For me, that’s going to be a really interesting challenge for us.”

Ethan Burger returns from injury to feature among the replacements alongside front-rowers Julian Heaven and Khwezi Mona. Joe Bailey and Oscar Beckerleg provide additional forward cover.

Charlie Chapman, Will Haydon-Wood and Campbell Ridl complete the bench as the backline replacements.

Exeter Chiefs: Josh Hodge, Paul Brown-Bampoe, Henry Slade, Zack Wimbush, Olly Woodburn, Harvey Skinner, Tom Cairns; Will Goodrick-Clarke, Jack Yeandle (c), Jimmy Roots, Lewis Pearson, Rusi Tuima, Martin Moloney, Finn Worley Brady, Greg Fisilau.

Replacements: Julian Heaven, Ethan Burger, Khwezi Mona, Joe Bailey, Oscar Beckerleg, Charlie Chapman, Will Haydon-Wood, Campbell Ridl.

Northampton Saints travel to the South West aiming to reach the PREM Rugby Cup Final, playing in their first semi-final in the competition since 2023.

The match will be the second meeting between the two sides this season after a dramatic 33-33 draw in the Gallagher Premiership opener in September.

Exeter reached last season’s final and won the competition in 2022/23, while Saints’ most recent triumph came in 2019 when they defeated Saracens 23-9 at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Callum Chick captains Northampton from No.8 at Sandy Park. Josh Kemeny returns to the side for the first time since January, joining 19-year-old flanker Charlie Ulcoq in the back row.

Tom Lockett comes back into the second row and partners JJ van der Mescht, who carried for 56 metres in Saints’ previous outing.

Two changes are made in the front row, with Henry Walker starting at hooker and Luke Green at tighthead alongside loosehead prop Tom West.

Archie McParland and Anthony Belleau reunite at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Rory Hutchinson returns from Scotland duty to partner Tom Litchfield in midfield – only the second time the pair have started together this season.

James Ramm and James Martin continue their partnership on the wings, while George Hendy – scorer of last week’s match-winning try – moves into the starting lineup at full-back.

Curtis Langdon is set for his first appearance of the season after recovering from a shoulder injury and is named among the replacements.

Chunya Munga, Tom James and Toby Thame also feature on the bench, while Cardiff loanees Joe Cowell and Will Davies-King provide additional front-row cover.

Northampton Saints: George Hendy, James Martin, Tom Litchfield, Rory Hutchinson, James Ramm, Anthony Belleau, Archie McParland; Tom West, Henry Walker, Luke Green, Tom Lockett, JJ Van Der Mescht, Josh Kemeny, Charlie Ulcoq, Callum Chick (c).

Replacements: Curtis Langdon, Joe Cowell, Will Davies-King, Chunya Munga, Archie Benson, Tom James, Toby Thame, Amena Caqusau.

Billy Searle returns to the starting lineup as Leicester Tigers host Bath Rugby in the second PREM Rugby Cup semi-final at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The fly-half has not played for the club since the 34-7 victory away to Harlequins in January, but recently impressed with a Player of the Match performance for England A against Ireland in Limerick.

Elsewhere in the backline, James O’Connor, Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Tom Whiteley all return. Orlando Bailey shifts to inside centre where he partners Will Wand.

In the pack, Will Hurd comes back into the starting front row, replacing Ale Loman who is named among the replacements.

Tom Manz rejoins Harry Wells in the second row, while the back row remains unchanged with Harry Palmer, Tommy Reffell and Joaquin Moro starting together for the third successive match.

The bench features several experienced options including Josh Manz – who is set to reach 20 appearances for the club – along with Hanro Liebenberg and Izaia Perese.

Head coach Geoff Parling said:
"It’s great to have a home semi-final at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. It's come off the back of lots of hard work and togetherness throughout the competition."

"We’ll prepare exactly as we would do for any other game and look forward to expressing our game against a quality Bath outfit.”

Leicester Tigers: James O’Connor, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Will Wand, Orlando Bailey, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Billy Searle, Tom Whiteley; Archie van der Flier, Jamie Blamire, Will Hurd, Harry Wells, Tom Manz, Harry Palmer, Tommy Reffell (c), Joaquin Moro.

Replacements: Finn Theobold-Thomas, Tarek Haffar, Ale Loman, Hanro Liebenberg, Josh Manz, Charlie Bemand, Joseph Woodward, Izaia Perese.

Bath travel to the East Midlands aiming to reach the PREM Rugby Cup Final after making the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.

Johann van Graan has rotated heavily throughout the competition, selecting 51 players and handing out 11 debuts during the campaign.

Scott Kirk starts at loosehead prop for the fourth time in Bath’s last five matches. He is joined in the front row by hooker Dan Frost and tighthead prop Kieran Verden, whose contract extension with the club was confirmed earlier this week.

Jack Bennett and Ewan Richards combine in the second row, while the back row features Ethan Staddon, George Timmins and Arthur Green.

Ieuan Davies starts at scrum-half with Will Roue at fly-half.

Captain Butt lines up in midfield alongside Chris Harris, providing experience in the centre partnership. Charlie Griffin and Austin Emens are named on the wings, with Sam Winters starting at full-back. Among the replacements, Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel and Mikey Summerfield provide front-row cover. James Maloney and Alex Ridgway are included as additional forward replacements.

Bath Rugby: Sam Winters, Austin Emens, Chris Harris, Will Butt (c), Charlie Griffin, Will Roue, Ieuan Davies, Scott Kirk, Dan Frost, Kieran Verden, Jack Bennett, Ewan Richards, Ethan Staddon, George Timmins, Arthur Green.

Replacements: Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel, Mikey Summerfield, James Maloney, Alex Ridgway, Neil le Roux, James Linegar, Jack Harrison.