PREM Cup: Round 1 - Louis Rees-Zammit makes Bristol debut as Newcastle begin Red Bulls era

Formerly the Anglo-Wesh Cup, then the Premiership Rugby Cup, the 2025/26 PREM Rugby Cup has undergone a format change ahead of the new campaign. Whilst last season witnessed the Premiership and Championship clubs combine into the competition, this upcoming tournament will only feature the 10 clubs from the top division.

The 10 CHAMP Rugby sides withdrew from this year's competition in protest, because they were not made equal partners in the development of the competition. As a result, the tournament has been split into two Pools of five teams, with Northampton Saints and Bath handed the bye week for the opening round of the fresh season.

Gloucester Rugby open their 2025/26 season at Kingsholm with a squad blending experience and youth. Up front, Ciaran Knight, Jack Singleton, and Afo Fasogbon anchor the scrum, with Freddie Thomas and Cam Jordan completing a strong pack. Lewis Ludlow leads the back row alongside James Venter and Jack Clement.

In the backs, Caolan Englefield and Ross Byrne direct play from half-back, with Will Butler and Max Llewellyn in midfield, and Ollie Thorley, Will Joseph, and Charlie Atkinson providing pace and finishing power in the back three. The replacements include Jack Innard, Archie McArthur, Kirill Gotovtsev, Matias Alemanno, Josh Basham, Mikey Austin, George Barton, and Josiah Edwards-Giraud.

Exeter Chiefs bring five debutants, including Joseph Dweba, Harry Ascherl and Stephen Varney, with scrum half Varney taking on his former club. Will Goodrick-Clarke and Josh Iosefa-Scott add front-row strength, while Lewis Pearson and Rusi Tuima continue their second-row partnership. The back row features Christ Tshiunza, captain Ethan Roots, and Ross Vintcent. Varney pairs with fly-half Harvey Skinner, and Ben Hammersley links with Ascherl in midfield. Full-back Will Haydon-Wood completes a backline with pace and creativity.

Gloucester Rugby Starting XV:
15 Charlie Atkinson, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Will Butler, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Caolan Englefield, 1 Ciaran Knight, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Afolabi Fasogbon, 4 Freddie Thomas, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 James Venter, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Jack Clement

Gloucester Rugby Replacements:
16 Jack Innard, 17 Archie McArthur, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Josh Basham, 21 Mikey Austin, 22 George Barton, 23 Josiah Edwards-Giraud

Exeter Chiefs Starting XV:
15 Will Haydon-Wood, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Ben Hammersley, 12 Harry Ascherl, 11 Nick Lilley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Joseph Dweba, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Rusi Tuima, 6 Christ Tshiunza, 7 Ethan Roots (c), 8 Ross Vintcent

Exeter Chiefs Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Kane James, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Zack Wimbush

Newcastle Red Bulls launch a new era at Kingston Park on Friday evening, with George McGuigan captaining a squad eager to make an immediate impression. The 7:45pm kick-off is set to break the previous cup attendance record at the ground, reflecting growing excitement following the Red Bull takeover.

Up front, the pack blends experience and new faces: Murray McCallum, McGuigan, and Luan de Bruin form a formidable front row, while debutants Amanaki Mafi and Jamie Hodgson add fresh power in the back five. Cameron Neild, Tom Gordon, and McGuigan’s leadership complete the dynamic back row. In the backs, Brett Connon and Sam Stuart guide proceedings, supported by Joel Grayson and Max Clark in midfield, with Cameron Anderson, Cassius Cleaves, and Nick David providing finishing threat out wide.

Harlequins field a youthful yet talented side under captain Stephan Lewies, with Jack Walker, Jordan Els, and debutant Cameron Doak anchoring the forwards. The back row of Zach Carr, Tom Lawday, and Lucas Schmid complements a half-back pairing of Max Green and Jamie Benson, while Bryn Bradley and Sean Kerr marshal the centres. Cameron Anderson, Cassius Cleaves, and Nick David complete the back three.

Newcastle Red Bulls Starting XV:
15 Alex Hearle, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Max Clark, 11 Joel Grayson, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart, 1 Murray McCallum, 2 George McGuigan (c), 3 Luan de Bruin, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Amanaki Mafi

Newcastle Red Bulls Replacements:
16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Callum Hancock, 19 Seb de Chaves, 20 Freddie Lockwood, 21 James Elliott, 22 Rhys Beeckmans, 23 Nathan Greenwood

Harlequins Starting XV:
15 Nick David, 14 Cassius Cleaves, 13 Bryn Bradley, 12 Sean Kerr, 11 Cameron Anderson, 10 Jamie Benson, 9 Max Green, 1 Jordan Els, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Cameron Doak, 4 Jonny Green, 5 Stephan Lewies (c), 6 Zach Carr, 7 Tom Lawday, 8 Lucas Schmid

Harlequins Replacements:
16 Sam Riley, 17 Jamie Miller, 18 Ollie Streeter, 19 Harry Browne, 20 Joe Launchbury, 21 Elliot Williams, 22 Jake Murray, 23 Hayden Hyde

Leicester Tigers open their 2025/26 campaign at Welford Road with a youthful and exciting squad, including four players making their club debuts. Orlando Bailey, Jamie Blamire, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, and James Thompson start, while Joaquin Moro, Harry Palmer, and Charlie Titcombe are on the bench in line for first appearances. Hanro Liebenberg leads the side at blindside flanker, combining leadership with a high-tempo back row alongside Emeka Ilione and Olly Cracknell.

In the backs, Tom Whiteley and Bailey direct play from half-back, with Joseph Woodward and Hamer-Webb forming midfield partners. The back three of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Adam Radwan, and Izaia Perese offers speed and finishing power, with replacements adding depth including Ale Loman on loan from Nottingham.

Saracens bring a youthful squad with an average age of 24, highlighted by the Bracken brothers lining up together competitively for the first time. Charlie Bracken starts at scrum-half alongside Louie Johnson, with Jack Bracken on the wing. The pack includes Rhys Carre, James Hadfield, and Marco Riccioni up front, while Charlie West, Nathan Michelow, and Olamide Sodeke complete a dynamic back row. Max Malins returns at full-back, and the bench combines promising young talent with experienced internationals.

Leicester Tigers Starting XV:
15 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Tom Whiteley, 1 Archie van der Flier, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Will Hurd, 4 Tom Manz, 5 James Thompson, 6 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 7 Emeka Ilione, 8 Olly Cracknell

Leicester Tigers Replacements:
16 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 17 Tubuna Maka, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Harry Palmer, 20 Joaquin Moro, 21 Ollie Allan, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Will Wand

Saracens Starting XV:
15 Max Malins, 14 Jack Bracken, 13 Nick Tompkins (c), 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Noah Caluori, 10 Louie Johnson, 9 Charlie Bracken, 1 Rhys Carre, 2 James Hadfield, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Harry Wilson, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Olamide Sodeke, 7 Charlie West, 8 Nathan Michelow

Saracens Replacements:
16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Tietie Tuimauga, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Kennedy Sylvester, 20 Reggie Hammick, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Brandon Jackson, 23 Rotimi Segun

Sale Sharks open their 2025/26 campaign at Salford with a squad boosted by summer recruits. Ollie Davies starts at full-back, with wingers Tom O’Flaherty and Obi Ene completing an attacking back three. Tom Curtis directs play from fly-half alongside scrum-half Nye Thomas, while Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and returning captain Rob du Preez form a dynamic midfield.

The pack features front-row trio Simon McIntyre, Nathan Jibulu, and James Harper, with Ernst van Rhyn and Ben Bamber in the second row. Jacques Vermeulen, Sam Dugdale, and du Preez complete a powerful back row. The bench adds depth with homegrown talent and versatile backs.

Bristol Bears hand competitive debuts to four players, including full-back Josh Carrington and blindside flanker Luka Ivanishvili, with seven Academy players also featuring. Notably, Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit returns to rugby after brief stints in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, joining from the bench for his long-awaited competitive comeback.

Skipper Fitz Harding leads the back row alongside Ben Grondona, with a midfield of Joe Jenkins and Benhard Janse van Rensburg and a back three of Carrington, Aidan Boshoff, and Gabriel Ibitoye.

Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15 Ollie Davies, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Rob du Preez (c), 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Obi Ene, 10 Tom Curtis, 9 Nye Thomas, 1 Simon McIntyre, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 3 James Harper, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Ben Bamber, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Sam Dugdale, 8 Dan du Preez

Sale Sharks Replacements:
16 Ethan Caine, 17 Tumy Onasanya, 18 Patreece Bell, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jos Gilmore, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Tristan Woodman

Bristol Bears Starting XV:
15 Josh Carrington, 14 Aidan Boshoff, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 George Kloska, 4 Joe Owen, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Luka Ivanishvili, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Ben Grondona

Bristol Bears Replacements:
16 Tomas Gwilliam, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Kenzie Cripps, 20 Kofi Cripps, 21 Max Pepper, 22 James Williams, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit