PREM Rugby: Team News for Round 14

The standout encounter sees table-toppers clash as Bath travel to Franklin’s Gardens to face Northampton Saints, but there are plenty of other compelling matchups that could prove crucial in determining how the standings take shape.

Here is a look at each lineup for this weekend.

Newcastle Red Bulls host Bristol Bears on Friday night, with Brett Connon returning at fly-half for the home side. Full-back Josh Hodge makes his first start at Kingston Park, while Murray McCallum and Adam Brocklebank come back in at prop.

Lock Finn Baker is also handed his first PREM Rugby start. Newcastle’s bench is strengthened by the return of Amanaki Mafi.

Bristol include Argentina international Matias Moroni at outside centre, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg moving to inside centre. Harry Randall starts at scrum-half alongside Tom Jordan, and Noah Heward is named on the wing.

The Bears keep the same forward pack that beat Gloucester last weekend, with captain Fitz Harding making his 118th appearance. On the bench, George Taylor is included, while Kofi Cripps could make his Prem debut, alongside experienced players James Williams and Kalaveti Ravouvou.

Newcastle Red Bulls team to face Bristol Bears:

Starting XV: 15. Josh Hodge, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Rhys Beeckmans, 11 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Ollie Fletcher, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Finn Baker, 6 Freddie Clarke, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 8 Reuben Parsons.

Replacements: 16 Samson Adejimi, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Amanaki Mafi, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Ben Healy, 23 George Bolam.

Starting XV: 15. Rich Lane, 14. Noah Heward, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. Tom Jordan, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. George Kloska, 4. James Dun, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Joe Owen, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Benjamin Grondona

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. George Taylor, 20. Kofi Cripps, 21. Sam Wolstenholme, 22. James Williams, 23. Kalaveti Ravouvou

The Harlequins front row of Will Hobson, Joe Jones and George Turner remains intact, while Joe Launchbury partners Chandler Cunningham-South in the second row after announcing his upcoming retirement.

The back three is reshuffled, with Hayden Hyde and Cameron Anderson on the wings and Jamie Benson at full-back.

Quins again opt for a six-two bench split, with Sam Riley and several academy forwards among the replacements.

Sale Sharks make four changes, with Tristan Woodman coming into the back row and Asher Opoku-Fordjour switching back to tighthead.

Academy hooker Alfie Longstaff starts alongside Ralph McEachran, while Ernst van Rhyn captains the side with Ben Bamber in the second row and Jacques Vermeulen and Sam Dugdale completing the pack.

Arron Reed returns on the wing opposite Tom Roebuck, and Tom O’Flaherty starts at full-back with Joe Carpenter still injured. The bench features a five-three split, including Ethan Caine and Dom Hanson among the replacements.

Starting XV: 15. Jamie Benson, 14. Cameron Anderson, 13. Luke Northmore, 12. Bryn Bradley, 11. Hayden Hyde, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Lucas Friday; 1. Will Hobson, 2. George Turner, 3. Joe Jones, 4. Chandler Cunningham-South, 5. Joe Launchbury, 6. Guido Petti Pagadizábal, 7. Jack Kenningham, 8. Alex Dombrandt (c)

Replacements: 16. Sam Riley, 17. Ethan Clarke, 18. Ollie Streeter, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Zach Carr, 21. Will Evans, 22. Jack Grant, 23. Sean Kerr

Starting XV: 15. Tom O’Flaherty, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Ralph McEachran, 2. Alfie Longstaff, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Tristan Woodman, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements: 16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Seb Kelly, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Ollie Davies.

Saracens host Leicester Tigers at the StoneX Stadium in a key PREM Rugby clash, naming an unchanged starting XV from their 13-try win over Sale Sharks.

Fergus Burke continues at fly-half, with Rhys Carre, Marcus Street and Jamie George in the front row and Maro Itoje captaining alongside Hugh Tizard in the second row.

The back row remains intact with Theo McFarland, Ben Earl and Tom Willis, while Charlie Bracken continues at scrum-half.

Olly Hartley and Nick Tompkins keep their midfield partnership, and the back three of Rotimi Segun, Noah Caluori and Max Malins is unchanged. Saracens again go with a settled, in-form lineup under Mark McCall.

Leicester Tigers make three changes from their win over Newcastle Red Bulls. Hanro Liebenberg returns at blindside flanker, Izaia Perese comes into the centres, and Ollie Hassell-Collins starts on the wing, with Gabriel Hamer-Webb shifting across the back three.

Joaquin Moro moves to openside flanker to accommodate Liebenberg in the back row. The changes are otherwise limited as Tigers stick close to the side that impressed last weekend at Welford Road.

Starting XV: 15. Max Malins, 14. Noah Caluori, 13. Nick Tompkins, 12. Olly Hartley, 11. Rotimi Segun, 10. Fergus Burke, 9. Charlie Bracken; 1. Rhys Carre, 2. Jamie George, 3. Marcus Street, 4. Maro Itoje (c), 5. Hugh Tizard, 6. Theo McFarland, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Tom Willis

Replacements: 16. Theo Dan, 17. Eroni Mawi, 18. Marco Riccioni, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20. Nathan Michelow, 21. Ivan Van Zyl, 22. Owen Farrell, 23. Lucio Cinti

Leicester Tigers team to face Saracens:

Starting XV: 15. Freddie Steward, 14. Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13. Izaia Perese, 12. Orlando Bailey, 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10. Billy Searle, 9. Jack van Poortvliet; 1. Nicky Smith, 2. Jamie Blamire, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Cameron Henderson, 5. Ollie Chessum, 6. Hanro Liebenberg, 7. Joaquin Moro, 8. Olly Cracknell

Replacements: 16. Charlie Clare, 17. Archie van der Flier, 18. Will Hurd, 19. George Martin, 20. Samuel Williams, 21. Tom Whiteley, 22. Will Wand, 23. Adam Radwan

Northampton Saints make three changes for Saturday’s top-of-the-table PREM Rugby clash with Bath at Franklin’s Gardens.

Fraser Dingwall captains the side, while Tommy Freeman returns on the wing, prompting George Hendy to move to full-back with George Furbank unavailable. Ollie Sleightholme joins Freeman out wide, with Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith unchanged at half-back.

Up front, Luke Green returns at tighthead alongside Emmanuel Iyogun and Craig Wright, while Tom Lockett and Ed Prowse continue in the second row.

Henry Pollock is the only change in the back row, joining Josh Kemeny and Sam Graham. Saints again opt for a six-two bench split.

Bath are led by Miles Reid and name Scott Kirk, Dan Frost and Kieran Verden in the front row, with Ewan Richards and Ross Molony behind them. Reid is joined in the back row by Josh Bayliss and Arthur Green.

In the backs, Bernard van der Linde and Ciaran Donoghue form the half-backs, with Will Muir, Will Butt and Chris Harris in the midfield and back three alongside Louie Hennessey and Tom de Glanville.

The bench includes Kepu Tuipulotu, Ted Hill and Sam Underhill, with Sam Winters set for his PREM Rugby debut.

Starting XV: 15. George Hendy, 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Tom Litchfield, 12. Fraser Dingwall (c), 11. Ollie Sleightholme, 10. Fin Smith, 9. Alex Mitchell; 1. Emmanuel Iyogun, 2. Craig Wright, 3. Luke Green, 4. Tom Lockett, 5. Ed Prowse, 6. Josh Kemeny, 7. Sam Graham, 8. Henry Pollock

Replacements: 16. Robbie Smith, 17. Danilo Fischetti, 18. Cleopas Kundiona, 19. JJ Van Der Mescht, 20. Chunya Munga, 21. Callum Chick, 22. Archie McParland, 23. Rory Hutchinson

Starting XV: 15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Louie Hennessey, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Will Butt, 11. Will Muir, 10. Ciaran Donoghue, 9. Bernard van der Linde; 1. Scott Kirk, 2. Dan Frost, 3. Kieran Verden, 4. Ewan Richards, 5. Ross Molony, 6. Josh Bayliss, 7. Miles Reid, 8. Arthur Green

Replacements: 16. Kepu Tuipulotu, 17. Francois van Wyk, 18. Archie Griffin, 19. Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu, 20. Ted Hill, 21. Tom Carr-Smith, 22. Sam Winters, 23. Sam Underhill

Gloucester Rugby head into Sunday’s Kingsholm clash with Exeter Chiefs having made eight changes after their defeat to Bristol Bears.

George Skivington brings Val Rapava Ruskin, Jack Innard and Afo Fasogbon into the front row, with Matias Alemanno and Arthur Clark behind them. Lewis Ludlow remains in the back row alongside Freddie Thomas and Will Trenholm.

Captain Tomos Williams returns at scrum-half to partner Charlie Atkinson, while Seb Atkinson and Max Llewellyn keep their midfield partnership. George Barton starts at full-back, with Ben Loader and Will Joseph on the wings.

Exeter Chiefs respond with Wallabies centre Len Ikitau returning from injury to start, while Will Goodrick-Clarke and Josh Iosefa-Scott also come into the front row. Hooker Joseph Dweba starts after Jack Yeandle’s injury, with Rusi Tuima and Lewis Pearson in the second row.

The back row features Ethan Roots, Ross Vintcent and Greg Fisilau, while Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner continue at half-back. Campbell Ridl moves to full-back with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe on the wings.

Exeter again use a 6-2 bench split, with Christ Tshiunza among the forwards and Tom Cairns and Ben Hammersley covering the backs.

Starting XV: 15. George Barton, 14. Will Joseph, 13. Max Llewellyn, 12. Seb Atkinson (VC), 11. Ben Loader, 10. Charlie Atkinson, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Val Rapava Ruskin, 2. Jack Innard, 3. Afo Fasogbon, 4. Arthur Clark (VC), 5. Matías Alemanno, 6. Freddie Thomas, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Will Trenholm

Replacements: 16. George Knowles, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Danny Eite, 20. Jack Clement, 21. James Venter, 22. Caolan Englefield, 23. Ollie Thorley

Starting XV: 15. Campbell Ridl, 14. Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13. Henry Slade (c), 12. Len Ikitau, 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10. Harvey Skinner, 9. Stephen Varney; 1. Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2. Joseph Dweba, 3. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4. Rusi Tuima, 5. Lewis Pearson, 6. Ethan Roots, 7. Ross Vintcent, 8. Greg Fisilau

Replacements: 16. Max Norey, 17. Ethan Burger, 18. Jimmy Roots, 19. Christ Tshiunza, 20. Tom Hooper, 21. Finn Worley Brady, 22. Tom Cairns, 23. Ben Hammersley