PREM Rugby Team of the Week: Round 14

Monday, 27 April 2026 at 10:57

byCharlie Elliott

Round 14 of the PREM Rugby season delivered drama, late twists and a significant shake-up in the standings.

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Gloucester’s thrilling 34-31 win over Exeter Chiefs blew the play-off race wide open, while Northampton Saints snatched a last-gasp victory over Bath. Elsewhere, Saracens kept their top-four hopes alive.

Here are the standout performers from a gripping weekend of action.

15 Tom O'Flaherty

Sale Sharks put their recent poor form to bed with a strong performance to see off an equally struggling Harlequins at The Stoop.

No one deserved it more than O'Flaherty, who has been one of the few consistent performers in an otherwise underwhelming Sharks squad.

He was outstanding from fullback, carrying frequently, beating five defenders and making two clean breaks.

His try was a simple finish after Tom Roebuck did the hard work, and he also grabbed an assist. His work rate stood out, and he was a deserving Player of the Match.

14 Tommy Freeman

PREM Rugby sometimes looks too easy for Freeman, as he always seems a step ahead of his domestic opposition. He showed that again in Saints' narrow win over Bath.

A hat-trick and five defenders beaten underline his impact, but it was his all-round threat that really stood out. With 141 metres carried and five clean breaks, he was a constant outlet.

Freeman is incredibly difficult to defend when in full flow.

13 Matias Moroni

Bristol Bears eased past Newcastle Red Bulls in a convincing win, with their centre partnership particularly impressive.

First up is Argentina’s Moroni, who created the opening try with excellent play from deep before offloading to Rich Lane.

He was rewarded with a try of his own, gathering a bouncing pass, cutting inside and gliding through weak tackles to score. While helped by poor Red Bulls defence, he looked classy throughout.

12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg

An unstoppable performance from Janse van Rensburg.

He scored twice, made the most tackles in the game, and earned Player of the Match in Bristol’s emphatic win.

Both tries were relatively straightforward and aided by defensive lapses, but his carrying and playmaking were exceptional throughout.

With England eligibility on the horizon, the South African may be catching Steve Borthwick’s eye.

11 Ben Loader

Left wing was fiercely competitive this weekend, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ollie Sleightholme both unlucky to miss out.

Loader gets the nod after Gloucester’s outstanding 34-31 win over Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm, securing just their third win of the season.

A constant threat out wide, he carried for 161 metres and beat 12 defenders. His standout moment came with a superb run, bouncing off tackles before offloading to Max Llewellyn to score. An excellent all-round display, even without a try.

10 George Ford

Whenever Ford faces criticism, he answers it emphatically on the pitch. The Sale fly-half reaffirmed his world-class status against Quins, even scoring a rare try.

His playmaking was excellent, he added an assist, and contributed defensively more than expected. With Sharks scoring over 50 points, Ford was central to everything in attack.

9 Tomos Williams

From the opening minute, Williams played with sharp intent, operating at a noticeably higher tempo that proved decisive for Gloucester.

He delivered what could be the pass of the season to set up Will Joseph in the ninth minute, perfectly weighted and just beyond Exeter’s reach. The move came after Williams drew defenders out of position with a clever lateral run.

He capped his performance with a well-earned try around the fringes in the 22nd minute.

1 Val Rapava-Ruskin

An absolute warrior who looked exhausted by the final whistle, reflecting the immense work he put in.

Alongside his front row partners, Rapava-Ruskin completely nullified Exeter at scrum time. He repeatedly forced Josh Iosefa-Scott into errors, putting on a dominant display at Kingsholm.

2 Alfie Longstaff

Dan Frost deserves a mention, but a 20-year-old scoring his first PREM Rugby try just six minutes into his first league start for Sale is impossible to overlook.

Longstaff looked completely at home, which is impressive given his age and position. He was physical, involved across the pitch, and delivered a solid all-round performance, capped by his try.

3 Afolabi Fasogbon

The second Gloucester prop in this team, Fasogbon continues to improve week by week and dominated Exeter’s front row.

He consistently drove forward in the scrum, winning the majority of his engagements. Strong at the breakdown too, he forced an early second-half turnover that set the platform for Gloucester’s finish.

4 Arthur Clark

Unsurprisingly, another Gloucester forward features, and Clark is not the last.

With few standout lock performances this weekend, he earns his place by executing the fundamentals to a high standard. Seven lineouts won and one steal is a strong return, and he was a constant nuisance. Ernst van Rhyn deserves a mention, but Clark edges it.

5 Ollie Chessum

It was a disappointing outing for Leicester Tigers against Saracens, casting doubt over their play-off hopes, but Chessum stood out.

The captain led from the front, contributed well at the lineout, and brought his usual physical edge. One of the few Leicester players who can take positives from the performance.

6 Freddie Thomas

Usually a lock, Thomas shifted to blindside and brought a lock’s physicality to the back row in a positive way. He kept things ticking over with strong carries into contact.

His 11 tackles underline his defensive work, and he also beat two defenders and made a clean break. An impressive display from the Wales international.

7 Miles Reid

Bath performed admirably against Northampton despite a much-changed side, only losing to a last-minute penalty. While several younger players impressed, Reid’s experience stood out.

He led all players with 21 tackles and produced a crucial try-saving effort on Alex Mitchell. With 16 carries as well, his work rate and physicality were key.

8 Will Trenholm

The first name on the teamsheet this week. While other number eights impressed, Trenholm stood out.

He proved too powerful for Exeter, scoring his first Prem try by simply bulldozing over, before adding a second that ultimately secured the win. With 18 tackles and 22 carries, he topped the match stats and was a clear Player of the Match.

Sometimes, power and work rate are all you need.