PREM Rugby - Round 7 Preview: Table toppers Bath take on bottom-placed Newcastle Red Bulls

Bath currently top the table, as the defending champions have racked up a stellar run of form once again with five wins in six matches. The blue, black and whites continue to set the standard as the dominant force in England, with Johann van Graan's side out to sit atop the tree for when the calendar ticks over into 2026. The top four picture currently sees a rejuvenated Exeter Chiefs in second, with Northampton Saints in third and their East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers in fourth.

Taking a look at the PREM Rugby season so far and how the respective decade of teams have performed across their European campaigns, here is the preview for the seventh round of the English first division.

The first match of a fresh Gallagher PREM block sees Leicester Tigers host Gloucester for a winter warming firecracker under the Friday Night lights. Fourth placed Leicester welcome their return to the league after a tough start to life in the Champions Cup. The East Midlands side suffered back to back losses to kick off their European venture, with a 39-20 defeat to La Rochelle followed by a 25-15 home defeat to Leinster Rugby.

It was always going to be a tough start to their Champions Cup ambitions as Leicester looked upon their first fortnight against the two recent finalists and winners of the pinnacle competition. The two defeats were by no means landslide losses, yet Geoff Parling's men could soon find themselves seeking out an extended run in the Challenge Cup should they fail to progress out of the group. Leicester's last league outing was the win away to Newcastle, with the Tigers eager to rack up a home win tomorrow night.

Gloucester laid down a statement of intent as they commenced their European campaign, as the Cherry and Whites outlasted Castres Olimpique for a 34-14 win at Kingsholm, after the scores were poised at 14-14 all at half-time. This triumph over the French side marked the third straight win for Gloucester, dating back through their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign. However, Munster would halt the momentum for George Skivington's side, as Gloucester capitulated in the second half to suffer a 31-3 defeat in Cork. With both sides adamant to return to winning ways, expect a real physical clash with the Slater Cup on the line.

Gloucester have been buoyed by a trilogy of significant signings, with two Wales captains and a former England international joining the books at the end of the season. British & Lion Jac Morgan and his Wales teammate Dewi Lake will arrive from the Ospreys, in a desperate sign for the struggling region. Dan Robson also will join up from Pau, to bring the scrum-half's career full circle with a return to Kingsholm.

15. Freddie Steward 14. Adam Radwan 13. Izaia Perese 12. Solomone Kata 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins 10. Billy Searle 9. Tom Whiteley 1. Nicky Smith 2. Jamie Blamire 3. Joe Heyes 4. Cameron Henderson 5. Harry Wells 6. James Thompson 7. Tommy Reffell (C) 8. Joaquin Moro

Replacements: 16. Charlie Clare 17. Tarek Haffar 18. Will Hurd 19. Ollie Chessum 20. Sam Williams 21. Jack van Poortvliet 22. Orlando Bailey 23. Joseph Woodward

15. Charlie Atkinson 14. Rob Russell 13. Will Butler 12. Seb Atkinson (VC) 11. Ollie Thorley 10. Ross Byrne 9. Tomos Williams (C) 1. Val Rapava Ruskin 2. Seb Blake 3. Nepo Laulala 4. Freddie Thomas 5. Arthur Clark (VC) 6. Josh Basham 7. Lewis Ludlow 8. Jack Clement

Replacements: 16. Jack Innard 17. Jamal Ford-Robinson 18. Afo Fasogbon 19. Cam Jordan 20. Harry Taylor 21. Mikey Austin 22. Will Knight 23. Josh Hathaway

We remain in the rugby heartlands of the East Midlands for Saturday afternoon’s opener, as Northampton Saints host Sale Sharks at Franklin’s Gardens. Sitting third in the Premiership, Saints have enjoyed a strong opening block to the league season and return to domestic action full of confidence after an eye-catching Champions Cup window. The return of George Furbank has sharpened their attacking shape, while Ollie Sleightholme’s form on the wing continues to give Northampton real cutting edge in broken-field play.

Phil Dowson’s side could hardly have asked for a better European response, backing up a gritty 35-27 away win over Pau with a thumping 50-5 home victory against a rotated Bulls outfit. Performances across that fortnight underlined the depth and balance in this Saints squad, with George Hendy stealing the headlines against the South Africans thanks to a superb hat-trick. There is also a growing England narrative running through this Northampton side, with Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and the rapidly emerging Henry Pollock all acutely aware that every performance now carries Six Nations implications.

Sale arrive in Northampton desperate to build momentum after a turbulent run of results. Defeats to Bath, Exeter Chiefs and Glasgow Warriors stalled their progress across competitions, a period compounded by the loss of England wing Tom Roebuck to a broken toe. However, Alex Sanderson’s men showed their resilience by ending that slump in emphatic fashion, travelling to Clermont and returning with an impressive 35-14 Champions Cup victory. That result will have steadied the ship, but Sale face a significant examination against one of the league’s most settled and in-form sides.

Saturday’s dual 3pm kick-off then sees Saracens welcome Exeter Chiefs to StoneX Stadium, in a fixture that promises plenty of Premiership drama. Saracens come into this match off a 36-29 home defeat to Bath in their latest league outing, in a defeat which marked their third loss from six league outings as Mark McCall's side sixth in the Premiership table.

Squad rotation and enforced stand-downs for internationals, including the likes of Maro Itoje and Jamie George have contributed to the mixed form, though the Sarries’ 47-10 Champions Cup victory over Clermont earlier this month showed what the squad is capable of when firing on all cylinders.

Exeter Chiefs, meanwhile, have re-established themselves as genuine title contenders after a spell of seasons towards the bottom of the league. Currently sitting at second in the table, the Chiefs have claimed four wins, one draw, and one loss in the league, while their Challenge Cup campaign has also provided positive signs, including a 31-31 thriller in Paris against Racing 92 and a solid opening home win over Toyota Cheetahs. A narrow 27-26 win at Sale underlined their resilience, with plenty of promise for the men from Devon.

The spotlight returns to the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening as Harlequins host 'Big Game 17' Bristol Bears in what promises to be a high-octane Premiership clash. Harlequins come into the fixture following a mixed bag in their recent Champions Cup campaign.

A tough 45-28 defeat at Leinster in Dublin in the opening round tested their mettle, but the London side bounced back emphatically with a 68-14 demolition of Bayonne at the Stoop, Marcus Smith orchestrating the attack with precision and flair. The win showcased Quins’ firepower and depth against the Top 14 outfit, with the likes of Will scrum half Porter and hooker Sam Riley crossing multiple times.

Bristol Bears arrive on the back of an impressive run of form, having won three matches consecutively. Their European campaign mirrored their league resurgence, with a nail-biting 17-16 away win over Scarlets followed by a dominant 61-12 thrashing of Pau. In the Gallagher Premiership, Pat Lam’s men sit fifth, just two points outside the play-off positions, and will be eager to maintain momentum. If there was ever a high-scoring contest expected, this one is it as the Premiership's resident entertainers line up upon the grand stage of HQ.

Kingston Park hosts a stark contrast in the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday, as bottom-placed Newcastle Red Bulls welcome table-topping Bath Rugby. Newcastle have struggled in the league, sitting with zero points after six defeats without securing a single bonus point. Despite their league woes, Alan Dickens’ side has found some joy in European competition, claiming consecutive Challenge Cup victories with a 23-14 road win in Lyon followed by a dramatic 14-10 triumph over Emirates Lions at home last weekend.

New signings such as Liam Williams and Tom Christie have bolstered the squad, giving fans hope for better times ahead, even if the league table paints a grim picture. The city of Newcastle is desperate for a another Red Bulls win, following the football derby day defeat to Sunderland.

Bath, by contrast, continue to set the pace in the Premiership. The defending champions have amassed five wins from six matches, demonstrating the immeasurable depth, balance and power of Johann van Graan’s side. A hard-fought win over Saracens and a dominant 40-14 Champions Cup victory over Munster showcased their strength, although they were held back by a 45-35 loss to Toulon in Europe.

This fixture is heavily weighted in favour of the visitors, but Newcastle will be looking to exploit home advantage and take a shocking upset win against the blue, black and whites, should van Graan decided to send a rotated Bath side up to the North East.