PREM Rugby Cup: Round 8 Team News - England hopefuls return to club action

The PREM Rugby Cup is the ultimate proving ground for the future stars of the English top flight, with the competition often utilised as a launch pad to hand the most promising young talents their first tastes of a senior hit-out in their club colours. The cup also couples as the perfect arena for returning players to test themselves upon their comebacks from injury, and for those out to make an impression for a late push to break into their respective Six Nations squads.

Harlequins have made three changes to their starting XV for Friday night’s PREM Rugby Cup clash with Northampton Saints at The Stoop.

Luke Yendle makes his first start for Quins at tighthead, while Zach Carr comes into the back row. The only alteration in the backs sees Sean Kerr named at inside centre. Ethan Clarke and skipper Jack Musk continue in the front row alongside Yendle, with Harry Browne and Jonny Green again paired in the second row. Oisín McCormack and Tom Lawday retain their spots on the flanks after impressing in Round 5.

Max Green and Jamie Benson continue their half-back partnership, with Ludo Kolade outside Kerr. Cassius Cleaves, Cameron Anderson and Josh Bellamy form the back three. Jerold Gorleku is in line for his debut from the bench, with Alex Dombrandt among the replacements.

Northampton are captained by Tom Lockett, who starts in the second row alongside Chunya Munga. Tom West returns from injury at loosehead, while Anthony Belleau starts at fly-half. Tom Litchfield also returns in midfield, and Fyn Brown comes into the side at No.8. Three potential debutants are named on Saints’ bench.

Harlequins: 15. Josh Bellamy, 14. Cameron Anderson, 13. Ludo Kolade, 12. Sean Kerr, 11. Cassius Cleaves, 10. Jamie Benson, 9. Max Green; 1. Ethan Clarke, 2. Jack Musk (c), 3. Luke Yendle, 4. Harry Browne, 5. Jonny Green, 6. Oisín McCormack, 7. Tom Lawday, 8. Zach Carr

Replacements: 16. Jerold Gorleku, 17. Jamie Miller, 18. Cameron Doak, 19. Barny Langton-Cryer, 20. Alex Dombrandt, 21. Jake Murray, 22. Connor Slevin, 23. Bryn Bradley

Northampton Saints: 15 James Ramm, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Toby Thame, 11 Amena Caqusau, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Archie McParland; 1 Tom West, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Luke Green, 4 Tom Lockett (c), 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Archie Benson, 7 Charlie Ulcoq, 8 Fyn Brown

Replacements: 16 Ben Alexander, 17 Joe Cowell, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 Jack Lewis, 0 Sam Graham, 21 Aidan Pugh, 22 Freddie St John, 23 James Martin

Pool A leaders Gloucester Rugby travel to Sandy Park on Valentine’s Day to face second-placed Exeter Chiefs in a pivotal PREM Rugby Cup clash.

James Venter captains the Cherry & Whites, who sit two points clear of Chiefs with a game in hand. Val Rapava Ruskin comes into the front row alongside Seb Blake and Afo Fasogbon, while Danny Eite partners Matias Alemanno in the second row. Will Trenholm returns to the back row to join Jack Clement and skipper Venter. Mikey Austin and Charlie Atkinson continue at half-back, with Max Knight and Josiah Edwards Giraud again paired in midfield. Ben Redshaw returns from injury to start in the back three.

Ethan Roots captains Exeter a week on from leading England A. Max Norey starts at hooker after scoring twice last weekend, with Will Goodrick-Clarke and Josh Iosefa-Scott either side of him. Richard Capstick shifts into the second row alongside Rusi Tuima, while Charlie Chapman starts at scrum-half with Harvey Skinner at fly-half. Paul Brown-Bampoe returns to the wing in a young backline as Chiefs target a crucial home victory.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Zack Wimbush, 12 Ollie Batson, 11 Campbell Ridl, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Charlie Chapman; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Max Norey, 3 Josh I osefa-Scott, 4 Richard Capstick, 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 Oscar Beckerleg, 20 Joe Bailey, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Dan John

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

Replacements: 16 Manaaki Boyle Tiatia, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Josh Basham, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Josh Hathaway

Bath Rugby return to The Rec for Round 8 of the PREM Rugby Cup, hosting West Country rivals Bristol Bears in a Valentine’s Day derby.

Johann van Graan’s side sees Scott Kirk, Dan Frost and Kieran Verden hold the front row, with Frost fresh from a hat-trick last weekend. Will Jeanes partners returning Ewan Richards in the second row, while Ethan Staddon, Thompson Cowan and Arthur Green complete the back row. Bernard van der Linde and Will Roue continue as half-backs, with Will Butt captaining from inside centre alongside Max Ojomoh. The back three of Will Muir, Charlie Griffin and Austin Emens bring pace and finishing ability out wide.

Bristol Bears name Joe Jenkins at inside centre for his first start since October, partnering Benjamin Elizalde. Max Lahiff returns at tighthead prop with Louie Trevett at loosehead and Harry Thacker at hooker. The back row features John Edwards, Steven Luatua and Benjamin Grondona, while Max Pepper shifts to the wing. Sam Worsley continues at fly-half, with Harry Randall at scrum-half. Ten Academy players feature across the squad, including potential debutant hooker Kieran Hill.

Bath Rugby: 15 Austin Emens, 14 Charlie Griffin, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Will Roue, 9 Bernard van der Linde; 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Thompson Cowan, 8 Arthur Green,

Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Jack Bennett, 20 George Timmins, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 James Linegar, 23 Chris Harris

Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Max Pepper, 13 Benjamin Elizalde, 12 Joe Jenkins, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Louie Trevett, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 James Dun, 5 Steele Barker, 6 Joe Owen, 7 George Taylor, 8 John Edwards

Replacements: 16 Tomas Gwilliam, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Sam Scott, 19 Ethan Surrey, 20 Kieran Hill, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Charlie Powell, 23 Ollie Harris

Nathan Michelow will captain Saracens in a must-win PREM Rugby Cup fixture against pool leaders Leicester Tigers this Saturday. After a narrow loss to Harlequins last weekend, the Men in Black make six changes to the starting XV. The front row sees Phil Brantingham, James Hadfield and Harvey Beaton, while a new second-row partnership pairs Nick Isiekwe with Hugh Tizard. Tayo Adegbemile returns to blindside flanker, Andy Onyeama-Christie joins on the opposite flank, with Michelow at number eight.

Gareth Simpson starts at scrum-half with Louie Johnson at fly-half, while Welsh international Nick Tompkins returns at outside centre alongside Olly Hartley. Rotimi Segun and Brandon Jackson form the wings, with Alex Lozowski at full-back. The bench features Ivan van Zyl, Fergus Burke and Seva Kava among replacements, offering a mix of youth and experience.

Leicester Tigers make a blend of youth and experience, with Joaquin Moro returning alongside Orlando Bailey, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Tarek Haffar and Will Hurd. Tom Threlfall and Charlie Bemand start in the backline, Finn Theobold-Thomas retains his spot at hooker, while Harry Wells and Tom Manz start in the second row. Harry Palmer, Tommy Reffell and Moro complete the back row, with Alex Davies leading the bench.

Saracens: 15 Alex Lozowski, 14 Brandon Jackson, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Louie Johnson, 9 Gareth Simpson; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 James Hadfield, 3 Harvey Beaton, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Tayo Adegbemile, 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 8 Nathan Michelow (c)

Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Alex O’Driscoll, 18 Tietie Tuimauga, 19 Charlie West, 20 Reggie Hammick, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Seva Kava

Leicester Tigers: 15 Tom Threlfall, 14 Ryan Crowley, 13 Joseph Woodward, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Tom Whiteley, 9 Charlie Bemand; 1 Tarek Haffar, 2 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 3 Will Hurd, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Tom Manz, 6 Harry Palmer, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Joaquin Moro

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Archie van der Flier, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Osian Thomas, 20 Josh Manz, 21 Ollie Allan, 22 Wilf McCarthy, 23 Charlie Myall