PREM Rugby: Team News - Lions stars return for Round 3 'Derby Weekend'

There is added bite this weekend in the Gallagher Prem, as the top international stars are back with their clubs following an explosive Summer. The stars of the British & Irish Lions tour reinforce their respective clubs, as Marcus Smith headlines a re-freshed Harlequins back-line, with Ben Earl once again anchoring the Saracens forward pack.

Expect fireworks, flare-ups and fierce on-field fury, with sparks set to fly in the third round of the Gallagher Prem. Here's all the team news for the upcoming five fixtures from across the league.

Sale Sharks will look to build on a strong start to the Gallagher Premiership when they host northern rivals Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night. Alex Sanderson has made four changes to his side, with British and Irish Lion Luke Cowan-Dickie returning to the starting XV in place of Nathan Jibulu. The hooker has not been in action since suffering a concussion upon the Lions tour, which saw the front row stretchered off in a neck brace against the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV.

Summer signing Marius Louw and Sharks Academy graduate Tristan Woodman will make their first Premiership starts, while Scotland winger Arron Reed also earns his first league start of the season. Skipper Ernst van Rhyn marks his 50th appearance for the Sharks and leads the back-row alongside Woodman and Sam Dugdale. The half-back partnership of Gus Warr and England fly-half George Ford will guide a backline completed by Rob du Preez and Louw in midfield, with Joe Carpenter and Roebuck on the wings.

Newcastle Red Bulls make six changes from their last outing, with South African Boeta Chamberlain at fly-half and Max Clark returning in the centres. The forwards see Adam Brocklebank and Richard Palframan join Fergus Lee-Warner in the pack, while George McGuigan captains the side in a challenge-led forward unit. Ethan Grayson starts at full-back with Elliott Obatoyinbo and Alex Hearle on the wings.

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Ben Bamber, 5 Hyron Andrews, 6 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 7 Tristan Woodman, 8 Sam Dugdale

Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Ethan Caine, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Tom O’Flaherty, 23 Sam Bedlow

Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 James Elliott; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Freddie Clarke, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Amanaki Mafi

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Oscar Usher, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Oli Spencer

Bristol Bears welcome back four international stars for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership clash with Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate. Ellis Genge, Pedro Rubiolo, Benjamin Elizalde and Santiago Grondona return after their summer exploits with the British & Irish Lions and Los Pumas. Fitz Harding leads the back row, with Jack Bates partnering Benhard Janse van Rensburg in midfield, and Josh Carrington filling in on the wing for the injured Louis Rees-Zammit.

Exeter Chiefs make one change to their starting pack with club captain Jack Yeandle replacing Joseph Dweba at hooker. Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner continue their half-back partnership, while Ben Hammersley and Henry Slade start in midfield. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe join Dan John in the back three.

Bristol Bears: 15 Benjamin Elizalde, 14 Josh Carrington, 13 Jack Bates, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 George Kloska, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Santiago Grondona, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Viliame Mata

Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 James Dun, 20 Joe Owen, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Max Pepper

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Dan John, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ben Hammersley, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Greg Fisilau, 8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Lewis Pearson, 21 Kane James, 22 Charlie Chapman, 23 Nick Lilley

Tommy Freeman brings up his 100th Saints appearance on the wing as Northampton host East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers on Derby Weekend. Freeman joins George Hendy and Edoardo Todaro in the back three, while Fraser Dingwall and Rory Hutchinson start in midfield. British & Irish Lions Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith partner at half-back. Callum Chick captains the side from No.8, with Alex Coles and Tom Pearson completing the back row. Robbie Smith returns at hooker, and Trevor Davison starts at tighthead prop.

Leicester Tigers make several changes from their win over Harlequins, with Hanro Liebenberg, Harry Wells, Tommy Reffell, and Will Wand coming into the starting XV. Emeka Ilione shifts to No.8, and Solomone Kata moves to inside centre alongside Wand. James O’Connor makes his first appearance for the Tigers, joining Tarek Haffar on the bench. Ollie Chessum leads the forward pack as captain.

Northampton Saints: 15 George Hendy, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Edoardo Todaro, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Robbie Smith, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Tom Lockett, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht, 6 Alex Coles, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Callum Chick (c)

Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Luke Green, 19 Josh Kemeny, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Tom Litchfield

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Will Wand, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Ollie Chessum (c), 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Emeka Ilione

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Joaquín Moro, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Orlando Bailey

Bath welcome back British & Irish Lions Finn Russell and Will Stuart for Derby Weekend at The Rec against Gloucester. Stuart joins Beno Obano and Tom Dunn in the front row, with Ewan Richards and Ross Molony in the second row. Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, and Josh Bayliss make up the back row.

Finn Russell captains from fly-half with Tom Carr-Smith at scrum-half. Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence start in midfield, while Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga, and Tom de Glanville complete the back three.

Gloucester make three changes from their narrow defeat to Northampton Saints. Nepo Laulala starts in the front row alongside Ciaran Knight and Seb Blake, with Matias Alemanno partnering Cam Jordan in the second row. Freddie Thomas, James Venter, and Josh Basham complete the pack. The back-line remains unchanged with Tomos Williams captaining at scrum-half, Ross Byrne at fly-half, Seb Atkinson and Will Joseph in midfield, and Ollie Thorley, Ben Loader, and Charlie Atkinson in the back three.

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell (c), 9 Tom Carr-Smith; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Josh Bayliss

Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Miles Reid, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Neil le Roux, 22 Santi Carreras, 23 Chris Harris

Gloucester Rugby: 15 Charlie Atkinson, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Seb Atkinson (VC), 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Tomos Williams (c); 1 Ciaran Knight, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Cam Jordan, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Freddie Thomas, 7 James Venter, 8 Josh Basham

Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Archie McArthur, 18 Afolabi Fasogbon, 19 Hugh Bokenham, 20 Jack Mann, 21 Harry Taylor, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Josiah Edwards-Giraud

Harlequins welcome back four internationals for Derby Weekend as Saracens travel to The Stoop. Marcus Smith returns at fly-half following his rest period, while Cadan Murley starts on the left wing and captains the side. Rodrigo Isgrò lines up on the right wing after a strong Rugby Championship campaign with Argentina that included victories over New Zealand and Australia.

In the pack, Guido Petti Pagadizábal joins the second row, moving Chandler Cunningham-South to Number 8. Alex Dombrandt is named among the replacements, alongside debutants Boris Wenger, Pedro Delgado, and Stu Townsend.

Saracens make just two changes from their win over Bristol. Hugh Tizard partners Nick Isiekwe in the second row, with Ben Earl returning at openside flanker and Andy Onyeama-Christie shifting to blindside. Tom Willis continues at No.8. In the backs, Ivan van Zyl and Fergus Burke form the half-back pairing, Owen Farrell and Nick Tompkins in midfield, with Lucio Cinti and Jack Bracken on the wings and Max Malins at fullback. Jamie George and Juan Martin Gonzalez return to the bench after international duty.

Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Rodrigo Isgrò, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Jamie Benson, 11 Cadan Murley (c), 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Will Porter; 1 Fin Baxter, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Harry Williams, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizábal, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 6 Jack Kenningham, 7 Will Evans, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South

Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Jonny Green, 20 Zach Carr, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Stu Townsend, 23 Sean Kerr

Saracens: 15 Max Malins, 14 Jack Bracken, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Lucio Cinti, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl (c); 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Olamide Sodeke, 21 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 22 Charlie Bracken, 23 Brandon Jackson