PREM Cup: Round 4 Team News - England duo make Northampton Saints returns this weekend

The format for the PREM Rugby Cup has once again changed for the 2025/26 season, following the pre-tournament departures of the CHAMP Rugby sides who competed throughout last year's campaign. The 10 PREM clubs have been split into two pools of five, with the respective quintets facing off in home and away fixtures throughout 10 weekends of pool stage action.

Then after all the group games have been concluded, the top two clubs in Pools A and B will progress into the semi-final stages. The latter stage play-off matches are scheduled to take place during the next international window, when the 2026 Men's Six Nations runs throughout February and March, as the 2025/26 PREM Rugby Cup Final is booked in for Saturday, March 14th. Here's all the team news and the story so far, as we preview the fourth round of the PREM Rugby Cup pool stages.

Gloucester Rugby host Bath Rugby in Round Four of the PREM Rugby Cup in what promises to be a high-octane West Country derby. The Cherry and Whites welcome front-row addition Dian Bleuler for his first start at Kingsholm, partnering Kealan Freeman-Price and Nepo Laulala in a reshaped pack. The engine room features Cam Jordan and Hugh Bokenham in the second row, while Deian Gwynne, Will Trenholm, and captain Harry Taylor anchor the back row.

In the halves, scrum-half Mikey Austin pairs with fly-half George Barton, while the midfield sees brothers Max and Will Knight combine once again. Jack Cotgreave, Josh Hathaway, and Jake Morris form a dynamic back three, with Morris at full-back. Notable inclusions on the bench include Caio James, on loan from Cardiff University, and Rob Russell, making his Gloucester Rugby debut after joining from Leinster over the summer. Head coach will be hoping that this blend of youth and experience provides continuity after a busy schedule.

Bath arrive on the back of a 49-19 triumph over Bristol Bears, with Will Butt captaining a youthful side averaging just 21.3 years. Jasper Spandler, Scott Kirk, and Keiran Verden start in the front row, with Will Jeanes and Harvey Cuckson in the second row.

The back row features Ethan Staddon, Thompson Cowan, and George Timmins, while Neil le Roux and James Linegar manage the half-backs. Butt and Charlie Griffin form the centre pairing, with Sam Winters, Tyler Offiah, and Austin Emens completing the back three. Several players are set for their senior debuts, including Ioan Emanuel, Connor Treacey, and University of Bath centre Will Roue, highlighting Bath’s strategy of integrating emerging talent.

Both sides will be looking to maintain momentum in the Cup, with Gloucester eager to defend home turf and Bath aiming to continue their impressive recent form.

GLOUCESTER RUGBY STARTING XV
15 Jake Morris, 14 Josh Hathaway, 13 Will Knight, 12 Max Knight, 11 Jack Cotgreave, 10 George Barton, 9 Mikey Austin, 1 Dian Bleuler, 2 Kealan Freeman-Price, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Cam Jordan, 5 Hugh Bokenham, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Harry Taylor (C), 8 Will Trenholm

REPLACEMENTS
16 George Knowles, 17 Archie McArthur, 18 Jono Benz-Salomon, 19 Freddie Stevens, 20 Caio James**, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Harrison James**, 23 Rob Russell*

*Denotes Gloucester Rugby debut
**Denotes loan player

BATH RUGBY STARTING XV
15 Austin Emens, 14 Tyler Offiah, 13 Charlie Griffin, 12 Will Butt (C), 11 Sam Winters, 10 James Linegar, 9 Neil le Roux, 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Keiran Verden, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Harvey Cuckson, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Thompson Cowan, 8 George Timmins

REPLACEMENTS
16 Max Pearce, 17 Ioan Emanuel*, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Arthur Green, 20 Connor Treacey*, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Will Roue*, 23 Jack Woods

*Denotes Bath Rugby debut

Sale Sharks welcome Exeter Chiefs to the CorpArcq Stadium in Round Four of the PREM Rugby Cup, with both sides eager to build momentum in the competition. The Sharks make 11 changes from their last outing, welcoming back skipper Ernst van Rhyn, Rob du Preez, and scrum-half Gus Warr, providing experience to a youthful side. The front row sees James Harper at tighthead, Ethan Caine at hooker, and Simon McIntyre at loosehead, while the second row combines Tom Burrow and van Rhyn. Jacques Vermeulen, Sam Dugdale, and Dan du Preez complete a powerful back row, with du Preez making his first start of the season at number eight.

In the backs, Warr partners Rob du Preez at fly-half, with Marius Louw and Joe Bedlow forming the midfield, and Tom O’Flaherty, Alex Wills, and Luke James complete an attacking back three. Sale’s bench features promising young talent including Tadgh McElroy, Tumy Onasanya, Patreece Bell, and backs Nye Thomas and Tom Curtis.

Exeter Chiefs also bring a blend of youth and experience, with five debutants including Louie Gulley, Khwezi Mona, Finn Worley-Brady, Ollie Batson, and Jimmy Roots. England U20s fly-half Ben Coen captains the side, with Charlie Chapman at scrum-half and a new centre pairing of Will Rigg and Harry Ascherl. The back three features Ben Hammersley, Dan John, and Will Haydon-Wood at full-back. Exeter’s replacements include local talent and University-linked players, reflecting the club’s pathway focus. Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter is optimistic about the squad’s energy and tactical approach against a formidable Sale side.

SALE SHARKS STARTING XV
15 Luke James, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Joe Bedlow, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Alex Wills, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Sam Dugdale, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Tom Burrow, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (C), 3 James Harper, 2 Ethan Caine, 1 Simon McIntyre

REPLACEMENTS
16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Tumy Onasanya, 18 Patreece Bell, 19 Patrick Hogg, 20 Tristan Woodman, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Jos Gilmore

EXETER CHIEFS STARTING XV
15 Will Haydon-Wood, 14 Dan John, 13 Harry Ascherl, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Ben Coen (C), 9 Charlie Chapman, 1 Ethan Burger, 2 Julian Heaven, 3 Jimmy Roots, 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Lewis Pearson, 6 Richard Capstick, 7 Martin Moloney, 8 Kane James

REPLACEMENTS
16 Louie Gulley*, 17 Khwezi Mona*, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze*, 19 Joe Bailey, 20 Finn Worley-Brady*, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ollie Batson*, 23 Paul Brown-Bampoe

*Denotes Exeter Chiefs debut

Northampton Saints host Newcastle Red Bulls at Franklin’s Gardens for Round Four of the PREM Rugby Cup, aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the competition. Saints welcome back England internationals George Furbank and Ollie Sleightholme, both making their first appearances of the season after lengthy injury layoffs. Furbank starts at fullback, while Sleightholme joins 18-year-old James Pater on the wings, who impressed with a try-scoring display against Harlequins two weeks ago.

Toby Thame and Henry Lumley resume their centre partnership, with scrum-half Jonny Weimann and fly-half Anthony Belleau continuing in the half-backs. Northampton’s front row features Tom West, Henry Walker, and Sonny Tonga’uiha making their first starts of the season, while loanee lock James Bennett partners Ed Prowse in the second row. Chunya Munga leads the back row from blindside flanker, with Archie Benson at openside and Fyn Brown at number eight.

Newcastle Red Bulls arrive determined to return to winning ways, with Stewart Moore making his club debut at outside centre on loan from Ulster. Ethan Grayson starts at fullback, Alex Hearle returns on the wing, and the forwards feature Richard Palframan, Jamie Hodgson, and Cameron Hutchison. Captain George McGuigan leads the pack, with Brett Connon at fly-half and Sam Stuart at scrum-half. Newcastle’s bench blends experience and youth, with Hame Faiva, Adam Brocklebank, Luan de Bruin, and Max Clark among the impact players.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS STARTING XV
15 George Furbank, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Henry Lumley, 12 Toby Thame, 11 James Pater, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Jonny Weimann, 1 Tom West, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 4 Ed Prowse, 5 James Bennett*, 6 Chunya Munga (C), 7 Archie Benson, 8 Fyn Brown

REPLACEMENTS
16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Oliver Scola, 18 Luke Green, 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 20 Sam Graham, 21 Tom James, 22 Tom Litchfield, 23 Amena Caqusau

*Denotes guest player

NEWCASTLE RED BULLS STARTING XV
15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 13 Stewart Moore*, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart, 1 Murray McCallum, 2 George McGuigan (C), 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 8 Freddie Lockwood

REPLACEMENTS
16 Hame Faiva, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Adam Scott, 20 Tom Gordon, 21 James Elliott, 22 Max Clark, 23 Sam Waugh

*Denotes Newcastle Red Bulls debut

Harlequins welcome Saracens to The Stoop for the Round Four clash of the PREM Rugby Cup, with both sides fielding youthful squads eager to impress. Jack Musk captains a reshaped Quins starting XV, leading from the front row alongside returning Jordan Els at loosehead and Will Hobson at tighthead. Academy prospects Harry Browne and Jonny Green form the second row, while Elliot Williams makes his first senior start on the blindside flank, joined by Seb Driscoll and Lucas Schmid to complete the back row.

In the backs, Jake Murray takes the scrum-half role with Connor Slevin at fly-half. Bryn Bradley partners Sean Kerr in midfield, while Hayden Hyde and Frank McMillan operate on the wings and Cameron Anderson occupies full-back. The bench is packed with emerging talent, including Tate Williams, who is set for his first senior appearance, alongside Conor Byrne and Theo Povey, both of whom can earn their debuts if called upon.

Saracens travel to west London determined to repeat last year’s dramatic victory at the Stoop. Hugh Tizard captains a young Sarries side in the engine room alongside Harry Wilson, with first competitive starts for Alex O’Driscoll in the front row and Tayo Adegbemile at blindside. Reggie Hammick and Tom Willis complete the back row, while Gareth Simpson and Louie Johnson control the half-backs. Olly Hartley and Sam Spink return to midfield, with Brandon Jackson, Jack Bracken, and Max Malins in the back three. The bench features potential senior debuts for Lewis Young and Finn Keylock.

HARLEQUINS STARTING XV
15 Cameron Anderson, 14 Frank McMillan, 13 Sean Kerr, 12 Bryn Bradley, 11 Hayden Hyde, 10 Connor Slevin, 9 Jake Murray, 1 Jordan Els, 2 Jack Musk (c), 3 Will Hobson, 4 Harry Browne, 5 Jonny Green, 6 Elliot Williams, 7 Seb Driscoll, 8 Lucas Schmid

REPLACEMENTS
16 Jimmy Staples, 17 Jamie Miller, 18 Ollie Streeter, 19 Zach Carr, 20 Tate Williams, 21 Josh Bellamy, 22 Conor Byrne* 23 Theo Povey*

*Denotes Harlequins Debut

SARACENS STARTING XV
15 Max Malins, 14 Jack Bracken, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Brandon Jackson, 10 Louie Johnson, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Alex O’Driscoll, 2 James Hadfield, 3 Marcus Street, 4 Harry Wilson, 5 Hugh Tizard (c), 6 Tayo Adegbemile, 7 Reggie Hammick, 8 Tom Willis

REPLACEMENTS
16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Lewis Young*, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Kennedy Sylvester, 20 Charlie West, 21 Charlie Bracken, 22 Luke Davidson, 23 Finn Keylock*

*Denotes Saracens debut