Round 15 of PREM Rugby delivered another huge weekend in a fascinating play-off race, with Leicester Tigers continuing their remarkable home form by edging Northampton in the East Midlands derby to maintain a record of dropping just one point all season at Welford Road.
⭐ Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!
Exeter Chiefs boosted their own hopes with a big win over Bath, while Saracens kept themselves firmly in contention. With the run-in gathering momentum, here is the our Team of the Week.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
15 Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
With Harlequins running riot against Newcastle, Benson was always likely to feature after a clinical display at fullback. He crossed for a hat-trick, all close-range finishes, but still showed strong support lines and awareness to be in position each time.
Beyond the tries, he carried for more than 130 metres and linked play effectively throughout. Newcastle’s defence offered little resistance, but Benson still took full advantage with a confident and polished attacking performance.
14 Cameron Anderson (Harlequins)
Another Harlequins back to make the side, Anderson impressed with a lively and hard-working display on the wing. He finished with two assists, three clean breaks and nine tackles in a performance that combined attacking threat with defensive commitment.
The winger looked dangerous whenever he touched the ball and consistently made smart decisions in open play. Across the afternoon, he controlled the right edge superbly and delivered exactly the kind of all-round contribution coaches want from a modern winger.
13 Luke Northmore (Harlequins)
Northmore continued Harlequins’ dominance of the backline selections after a commanding outing at outside centre against Newcastle.
He finished with a try and an assist, repeatedly exposing gaps in a struggling defence with sharp decision-making and direct running.
Carrying strongly throughout, he made over 90 metres and rarely put a foot wrong in attack.
Whether distributing or taking contact himself, Northmore consistently chose the right option and fully deserved his place in the side this week.
12 Len Ikitau (Exeter Chiefs)
Ikitau played a huge role in Exeter’s important win over Bath, producing one of his strongest performances of the season.
The Australian centre scored his first try of the campaign and also added an assist, making his presence felt on both sides of the ball.
Defensively solid and aggressive in contact, he repeatedly broke through tackles and gave Exeter real momentum in midfield.
With the play-off race tightening, his influence could prove crucial during the closing weeks of the season.
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers)
Leicester’s derby victory owed plenty to Hassell-Collins, who tormented Northampton from start to finish with his direct and aggressive running.
The winger threatened and got his side's second try of the game, brushing aside George Furbank to finish brilliantly in the corner.
Saints struggled to contain him all afternoon as he racked up four linebreaks, six defenders beaten and 80 metres carried. He also sparked the move that led to Freddie Steward’s late try with another explosive surge through midfield.
10 Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester)
Atkinson inspired Gloucester’s much-needed win over Sale Sharks with an electric performance at fly-half. He controlled the game brilliantly, constantly delaying passes at the perfect moment or attacking gaps himself to keep defenders guessing.
The playmaker was unlucky not to register multiple assists before half-time, but his influence was eventually rewarded with two second-half tries.
Operating with confidence and composure throughout, Atkinson dictated the tempo superbly and produced a match-winning display that underlined his attacking quality.
9 Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
Facing direct England competition in Alex Mitchell, van Poortvliet rose to the occasion with a composed and influential display for Leicester.
He kept the tempo high with crisp service from the base and regularly tested Northampton around the breakdown with sharp sniping runs.
His standout moment came in the second half when he delicately chipped over the defence for Adam Radwan to gather and score. It was a controlled and creative performance that showed exactly why he remains firmly in the England conversation.
1 Will Hobson (Harlequins)
Props rarely grab the headlines, but Hobson stood out in Harlequins’ dominant victory over Newcastle with a strong all-round contribution.
He capped his afternoon with a try and consistently laid a solid platform up front as Quins controlled the contest.
Around the field, the loosehead carried effectively into contact and worked hard defensively to maintain pressure on Newcastle.
It was not the flashiest display of the weekend, but it was a highly effective and impressive shift from the front rower.
2 Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers)
Sam Riley can feel incredibly hard done by here, as the Quins hooker had a worldie of a game which included some fly-half esque playmaking, but given the stature of the game that Blamire put his performance in, he just edges it.
In a match packed with standout Leicester performances, Blamire emerged as Player of the Match against Saints.
The hooker crossed twice, first from close range before adding another from a driving maul, while also carrying aggressively throughout the contest. His work-rate was immense, finishing with 12 carries, 27 metres and seven tackles.
Although he missed a few tackles, his set-piece work was excellent and his flawless lineout throwing gave Leicester a major advantage in key moments.
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott (Exeter Chiefs)
Iosefa-Scott produced a remarkable display in Exeter’s crucial victory over Bath, contributing both a try and an assist from tighthead prop.
His close-range finish showed good awareness and power, but it was his creativity that really caught the eye.
Near the line, he delivered an audacious no-look pass to put Len Ikitau through for a score, a moment few props would even attempt. It was an inventive and influential performance that highlighted his growing confidence and skill set.
4 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Chessum once again proved why he is such a vital figure in Leicester’s pack with a commanding display against Northampton.
Dominant at the lineout and highly effective around the field, the lock helped send George Martin over for Leicester’s opening score with quick reactions and smart handling.
He then produced a crucial defensive lineout steal near his own try-line to halt Saints momentum. Adding a linebreak and 26 carrying metres, Chessum combined athleticism and physicality superbly throughout the derby victory.
5 George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
After more than a year away from starting rugby because of injury setbacks, Martin returned in style with a hugely physical performance against Northampton.
The Leicester lock wasted little time making an impact, taking his try confidently following excellent work from Chessum. Throughout the game, he carried with real aggression and repeatedly forced his way through contact to generate valuable post-contact metres.
His power and intensity gave Leicester extra edge up front and highlighted just how important his return could be.
6 Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Cunningham-South earns his place after a busy and effective display in Harlequins’ huge win over Newcastle.
While no blindside flanker produced a truly standout performance across the league, he impressed with his work-rate and physicality throughout the contest.
Strong in contact and active around the field, he consistently disrupted Newcastle and helped maintain control for Quins.
His efforts allowed the backs to play with freedom and confidence as Harlequins piled on the points in a dominant attacking display.
7 Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears)
Despite Bristol falling short against Saracens, Harding produced another tireless display that set the tone from the outset.
The Bears captain opened the scoring with a sharp sidestep from the base of the ruck before diving over, immediately bringing energy to his side.
He also won an important turnover at the breakdown and remained a constant nuisance throughout the match.
Relentless in defence and highly competitive at the contact area, Harding once again showed his value as Bristol’s leader.
8 Tom Willis (Saracens)
Willis was central to Saracens’ crucial victory over Bristol as they kept their play-off hopes alive with a powerful all-action display.
The back rower seemed to be involved everywhere, combining relentless defensive work with strong carrying and breakdown presence.
He finished with two turnovers, 16 tackles and a try, underlining his importance across every phase of the game.
It was another classic Willis performance, full of intensity, physicality and consistency from one of Saracens’ most dependable forwards.
EDITORS PICKS:
- Billy Vunipola confirms international future as former England No. 8 becomes eligible for Australia or Tonga
- Best Rugby Games of All Time: Greatest Matches Ever Played
- “Embarrassing…” – Hollie Davidson puts diving Sam Prendergast in his place
- BBC loses another rugby legend as England great departs after 26 years
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
Loading