The second round of the Gallagher PREM delivered another huge weekend of action, with several players making serious statements early in the 2026/27 season.
Gloucester Rugby are well represented after their stunning 48-0 demolition of Harlequins, while Bristol Bears also provide four players following their impressive victory over reigning champions Northampton Saints.
Sale Sharks earn recognition after their superb 21-17 victory away at Saracens, while Bath, Leicester and Exeter are also represented.
There were some seriously difficult calls, particularly across the back row and back three, but here is our final selection.
It follows RUCK’s Gallagher PREM Team of the Week for Round 1, when Northampton Saints led the way with five selections.
RUCK’s Gallagher PREM Team of the Week – Backs
15. Freddie Steward – Leicester Tigers
A commanding performance from the England full-back.
Steward was once again excellent under the high ball as Leicester picked up an important 24-19 victory away at Newcastle Red Bulls.
His reliability remains one of his biggest strengths and he gets the nod at full-back this week.
14. Louis Rees-Zammit – Bristol Bears
Another huge performance from Rees-Zammit.
The Wales speedster was a constant threat as Bristol got the better of reigning champions Northampton Saints at Ashton Gate.
Rees-Zammit scored another two tries, with Bristol’s official match report describing it as a “brilliant all-round performance” from the Bears.
His pace and ability to create something from very little make him one of the most dangerous players in the Gallagher PREM.
13. Will Joseph – Gloucester Rugby
Joseph continues to make a serious statement at Gloucester.
The England centre was excellent as the Cherry and Whites tore Harlequins apart at Kingsholm, running in 48 unanswered points.
Joseph also crossed for Gloucester’s seventh try of the afternoon during a performance which saw two Cherry and Whites earn 9/10 in our player ratings.
Powerful, athletic and increasingly influential, Joseph is going to be very difficult for England to ignore if this form continues.
12. Cam Redpath – Bath Rugby
A classy performance from the Scotland international.
Redpath played his part as Bath survived a major Exeter fightback to secure a thrilling victory at The Rec.
His footwork, distribution and ability to find space in midfield remain major weapons for Bath.
11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – Exeter Chiefs
Two tries and a constant threat with ball in hand.
Feyi-Waboso almost inspired Exeter to a remarkable comeback against Bath after the Chiefs found themselves with plenty of work to do.
Exeter ultimately fell short, but the England winger was one of the standout individual performers of the entire weekend.
10. Charlie Atkinson – Gloucester Rugby
Another outstanding afternoon for Atkinson.
The Gloucester fly-half was at the heart of a remarkable attacking display as the Cherry and Whites put 48 unanswered points on Harlequins.
Atkinson controlled proceedings superbly and also got himself on the scoresheet. His form is becoming a theme after he also made RUCK’s Round 1 Team of the Week.
Two excellent performances in two rounds have put his name firmly back into the conversation.
9. Harry Randall – Bristol Bears
Randall gets our scrum-half shirt after another influential display for Bristol.
His speed around the breakdown helped the Bears play at the tempo they wanted against Northampton.
Few scrum-halves are more dangerous when a game starts to open up, and Randall continues to thrive in Bristol’s attacking system.
RUCK’s Gallagher PREM Team of the Week – Forwards
1. Beno Obano – Bath Rugby
A big performance from the England international.
Obano played his part in a Bath pack that had to dig deep as Exeter threatened a remarkable second-half comeback at The Rec.
Powerful at scrum time and busy around the field, the loosehead earns our No.1 shirt.
2. Nathan Jibulu – Sale Sharks
One of the easiest selections of the weekend.
Jibulu produced a huge performance as Sale secured a superb 21-17 victory away against Saracens.
The hooker had been promoted into Sale’s starting XV for the trip to StoneX Stadium and took his opportunity in style.
Named Player of the Match after a massive shift, Jibulu demanded his place in our Round 2 XV.
3. George Kloska – Bristol Bears
Another Bristol forward who continues to impress.
Kloska helped provide the platform for the Bears to attack against a Northampton side packed with quality.
The tighthead’s work in the set-piece and around the field earns him our No.3 shirt.
4. Arthur Clark – Gloucester Rugby
Clark was a major part of Gloucester’s dominant forward performance against Harlequins.
The lock helped Gloucester completely shut out their opponents as the Cherry and Whites continued an impressive start to a season which began with significant changes to their playing squad.
Strong defensively and athletic around the field, Clark gets the nod in a very competitive second row.
5. Pedro Rubiolo – Bristol Bears
One of the performances of the round.
The Argentina international was immense against Northampton, bringing serious physicality to Bristol’s pack throughout the contest.
Rubiolo’s carrying and defensive work made him extremely difficult to leave out and he partners Clark in our second row.
His performance was central to a Bristol victory which saw the Bears put 41 points past the reigning champions at Ashton Gate.
6. Guy Pepper – Bath Rugby
Pepper continues to establish himself as one of the Gallagher PREM’s most exciting back-row forwards.
The England international brought his usual energy and physicality as Bath held off Exeter in a thriller at The Rec.
Competition in the back row was fierce this weekend, but Pepper gets the blindside shirt.
7. Tommy Reffell – Leicester Tigers
A typically industrious performance from the Wales international.
Reffell was heavily involved as Leicester secured their first victory of the season with a 24-19 win at Newcastle.
His breakdown work remains among the best in the league and he earns the openside shirt in our Round 2 selection.
8. Jac Morgan – Gloucester Rugby
Morgan is usually found on the flank, but we couldn’t leave him out after another massive performance.
The Wales captain was everywhere as Gloucester dismantled Harlequins at Kingsholm and crossed for his first try in Cherry and White, earning a 9/10 in our Gloucester player ratings.
It is also his second straight appearance in the side after making our Round 1 selection.
His work rate, defensive effort and influence around the breakdown have already made him a major figure in this Gloucester pack.
Honourable mentions
There were plenty of difficult calls when putting together our second Team of the Week.
Finn Russell and Ollie Lawrence both impressed for Bath, while Fitz Harding was again excellent for Bristol and came very close to breaking into an extremely competitive back row.
Joe Batley was another strong contender following Bristol’s win over Northampton, while Tom O’Flaherty deserves recognition after Sale’s excellent victory away at Saracens.
Maro Itoje was considered despite Saracens’ defeat, while Gabriel Oghre also had a strong case at hooker before Nathan Jibulu’s Player of the Match performance got him the shirt.
Very unlucky: Finn Russell, Ollie Lawrence, Fitz Harding, Joe Batley, Tom O’Flaherty, Maro Itoje and Gabriel Oghre.
Yes — that makes more sense because it matches the article itself.
Round 1
Backs: 15. James Pater (Northampton), 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol), 12. Max Ojomoh (Bath), 11. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol), 10. Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester), 9. Tomos Williams (Saracens).
Forwards: 1. Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton), 2. Dewi Lake (Gloucester), 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), 4. Alex Coles (Northampton), 5. Ted Hill (Bath), 6. Jac Morgan (Gloucester), 7. Henry Pollock (Northampton), 8. Fitz Harding (Bristol).
Round 2
Backs: 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester), 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol), 13. Will Joseph (Gloucester), 12. Cam Redpath (Bath), 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), 10. Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester), 9. Harry Randall (Bristol).
Forwards: 1. Beno Obano (Bath), 2. Nathan Jibulu (Sale), 3. George Kloska (Bristol), 4. Arthur Clark (Gloucester), 5. Pedro Rubiolo (Bristol), 6. Guy Pepper (Bath), 7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester), 8. Jac Morgan (Gloucester).
Jac Morgan, Charlie Atkinson and Louis Rees-Zammit are the only players selected in both opening rounds.
