PREM(iership) Rugby 25/26 Round 1

[BRSTLDRGN]

We back

25/9/2025 - Sale vs Gloucester
26/9/2025 - Harlequins vs Bath
26/9/2025 - Newcastle F...Red Bulls vs Saracens
28/9/2025 - Northampton vs Exeter
28/9/2025 - Bristol vs Leicester

No game Saturday, presumably due to the Women's World Cup Final

 

[Which Tyler]

The young players to watch at every Prem club
Some eye-catching back rows, centres and wingers are in the running to have standout seasons

 

[PremRugbyScorigami]

Some Scorigami history of these fixtures.

Sale v Glos - Sale have won 6 games ending in unique scores, while Gloucester have won 9 games ending in unique scores. There have been 2 draws, both Sale home games.

Harlequins v Bath - Quins have won 8 games against Bath with a unique score, Bath have won just 5 games with a unique scoreline, including a 77-19 score back in April 2000

Newcastle v Saracens - Newcastle have 7 unique score victories over Saracens. Surprisingly, given recent history, Sarries have just 4 Scorigami wins against the now-Red Bulls.

Northampton v Exeter - Given Exeter's relatively short time in Scorigami, it's not a shock that Northampton have just 2 unique wins against them, both at both ends of the entertainment spectrum, an 8-3 win on New Year's Day 2016 and a 42-36 win in 2024. Exeter, meanwhile, have a sole, 57-7 Scorigami win over the Saints in February 2020

Bristol v Leicester - Bristol have 4 unique result wins over Leicester, the most recent being the 54-24 rout last December. The Tigers have 7 Scorigami wins over the Bristolians, their largest being a 73-3 shellacking in April 2009.

 

[Geordie]

The young players to watch at every Prem club
Some eye-catching back rows, centres and wingers are in the running to have standout seasons

Well i have to say im amazed they listed second row Usher as the one for us as i thought they would have said Oli Spencer or more likely Nathan Greenwood who is the latest rocket heeled winger to come through the academy.

But i completely agree with this. He just looks a tough uncompromising young monster. He was excellent 2 weeks ago against Quins, played a complete role, smashed rucks, tackled, made big carries and was excellent in the lineout. He also showed great hands in more than a few occasions. Lets see how he develops this season...but IF he can progress this season, England "might" have another young bruising TH lock on their hands in the not too distant future.

 

[Geordie]

Newcastle v Saracens - Newcastle have 7 unique score victories over Saracens. Surprisingly, given recent history, Sarries have just 4 Scorigami wins against the now-Red Bulls.
istol have 4 unique result wins over Leicester, the most recent being the 54-24 rout last December. The Tigers have 7 Scorigami wins over the Bristolians, their largest being a 73-3 shellacking in April 2009.

Saracens should be missing quite a few of their big names....certainly the lions boys, but maybe a few of the England lads...depending on their minutes etc.

IF Tom Willis is allowed to play...him v Mafi will be thunderous...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Starting XV:
15.Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Tom Burrow, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Arron Reed, 23. Tristan Woodman.


Like the XV but hate 6:2s, and some concerning absentees too (McElroy, DDP and Louw)
Hanson on the bench is a surprise - presumably Quirke is injured but he is he above Nye Thomas now? Or is Nye injured too?

 

[Geordie]

Starting XV:
15.Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 11. Tom O'Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Tom Burrow, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Arron Reed, 23. Tristan Woodman.


Like the XV but hate 6:2s, and some concerning absentees too (McElroy, DDP and Louw)
Hanson on the bench is a surprise - presumably Quirke is injured but he is he above Nye Thomas now? Or is Nye injured too?

Have to say, i like that front row!

 

[Geordie]

Gloucester Rugby starting XV
15 Charlie Atkinson
14 Ben Loader
13 Max Llewellyn
12 Seb Atkinson (VC)
11 Ollie Thorley
10 Ross Byrne*
9 Tomos Williams (C)
1 Harrison Bellamy*
2 Jack Innard
3 Afolabi Fasogbon
4 Arthur Clark (VC)
5 Matias Alemanno
6 Freddie Thomas
7 James Venter*
8 Jack Clement

16 Kealan Freeman-Price*
17 Archie McArthur
18 Kirill Gotovtsev
19 Cam Jordan
20 Lewis Ludlow
21 Caolan Englefield
22 Will Joseph
23 Josiah Edwards-Giraud*

 

[Scotty]

Starting XV:
15.Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 11. Tom O'Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Tom Burrow, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Arron Reed, 23. Tristan Woodman.


Like the XV but hate 6:2s, and some concerning absentees too (McElroy, DDP and Louw)
Hanson on the bench is a surprise - presumably Quirke is injured but he is he above Nye Thomas now? Or is Nye injured too?

You have a good mix of young players in there as well as experience, but I'm surprised to see Reed on the bench and ToF starting.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

You have a good mix of young players in there as well as experience, but I'm surprised to see Reed on the bench and ToF starting.

Yeah, I don't get it either - on top form TOF is very very good but his form's more erratic that Reed who has been real consistent recently
The coaches have been picking them this way round for a while though so must know/plan for something that we don't know

 

[BPM]

We back

25/9/2025 - Sale vs Gloucester
26/9/2025 - Harlequins vs Bath
26/9/2025 - Newcastle F...Red Bulls vs Saracens
28/9/2025 - Northampton vs Exeter
28/9/2025 - Bristol vs Leicester

No game Saturday, presumably due to the Women's World Cup Final

Yep - no Saturday fixtures for that exact reason.

Predictions wise, I’d go with Sale, Bath, Saracens, Saints and Bristol to win.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Good to have it back.

Despite all its problems and shrinkage, one of the great things is the sheer unpredictability.

In the last 6 seasons there have been 6 different winners and 6 different runners up. 8 separate teams have contested those 6 finals with no team appearing in more than 2.

That’s great.

 

[Which Tyler]

Yep - no Saturday fixtures for that exact reason.

Predictions wise, I'd go with Sale, Bath, Saracens, Saints and Bristol to win.

Would that change if you knew Bath's only fit fly half has only just left school?

 

[BPM]

No. Based upon Quins' last performance against Tigers' academy players, Bath have very little to fear from us.

 

[OllyM97]

Winners in R1:
Sale
Bath
Saracens (I was half tempted to pick an upset)
Northampton
Bristol

 

[Which Tyler]

Quins v Bath
Friday, 7.45
Ref: Karl Dickson
TJs: Richard Gordon and Simon Harding
TMO: Stuart Terheege


Quins:

1. Fin Baxter
2. Jack Walker
3. Harry Williams
4. Chandler Cunningham-South
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. Jack Kenningham
7. Will Evans
8. Alex Dombrandt (C)

09. Will Porter
10. Jarrod Evans
11. Cadan Murley
12. Sean Kerr
13. Oscar Beard
14. Nick David
15. Tyrone Green

16. George Turner, 17. Jordan Els, 18. Ollie Streeter, 19. Jonny Green, 20. Zach Carr
21. Max Green 22. Ludo Kolade, 23. Cameron Anderson


Bath:
1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Vilikesa Sela
4. Quinn Roux
5. Charlie Ewels
6. Josh Bayliss
7. Guy Pepper
8. Miles Reid

09. Ben Spencer ©
10. Max Ojomoh
11. Henry Arundell
12. Cameron Redpath
13. Ollie Lawrence
14. Joe Cokanasiga
15. Tom de Glanville

16. Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17. Francois Van Wyk, 18. Archie Griffin, 19. Ross Molony, 20. Ted Hill, 23. Sam Underhill
21. Tom Carr-Smith, 22. Chris Harris

 

[Geordie]

Newcastle Red Bulls v Saracens (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingston Park, live on Discovery+)

15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Murray McCallum, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Luan de Bruin, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Amanaki Mafi.

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Fergus Lee-Warner, 21 Freddie Lockwood, 22 James Elliott, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo.

Not available for selection: Eduardo Bello, Simon Benitez Cruz, Tim Cardall, Tom Christie, Stefan Coetzee, Joe Davis, Connor Doherty, Joel Grayson.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Hanro Liebenberg will captain the side in the absence of Ollie Chessum, who is unavailable until Round 3 after touring with the British & Irish Lions in the summer. The South African and van Poortvliet were appointed vice captains to Chessum by Parling earlier this week.

Fellow Leicester and England lock George Martin is also unavailable following shoulder surgery this summer. On Martin's rehabilitation, Parling said: "As with any nerve injuries, the timeframe on George's availability is slightly unknown, but to give George the best chance to perform, we know it won't be during the first half of this season."

Other players not available for selection for the PREM opener are: Finn Carnduff, Lewis Chessum, Kesena Izu, Jack Kinder, Tonga Kofe, Tom Manz, Wilf McCarthy, Cameron Myall, Izaia Perese, Tommy Reffell, and Samuel Williams.

 

[Geordie]

Thats not good news about George Martin....

 

[Geordie]

Saracens:

15 Max Malins 14 Brandon Jackson 13 Nick Tompkins 12 Owen Farrell 11 Rotimi Segun 10 Fergus Burke 9 Ivan van Zyl (c)
1 Rhys Carre 2 Theo Dan 3 Marco Riccioni 4 Nick Isiekwe 5 Hugh Tizard 6 Nathan Michelow 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie 8 Tom Willis

Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke 17 Eroni Mawi 18 Alec Clarey 19 Harry Wilson 20 Olamide Sodeke 21 Charlie Bracken 22 Cameron Hutchison 23 Noah Caluori

Unavailable: Lucio Cinti, Ben Earl, Jamie George, Juan Gonzalez, Maro Itoje.
Injured: Jack Bracken, Phil Brantingham, Elliot Daly, Max Eke, Tobias Elliott, Angus Hall, Olly Hartley, Toby Knight, Alex Lozowski, Theo McFarland, Vilikesa Nairau, Sam Spink, Marcus Street.