Round 5 of the Prem Rugby Next Gen league takes place this weekend, following on from an enthralling fourth round last weekend.
Yorkshire Academy return to the fray after having the bye last round, their first competitive outing since October. Meanwhile Leicester Tigers have the bye this week, following on from a tough outing against East Midlands rivals Northampton Saints last time out.
Yorkshire are aiming for a first victory of the campaign, Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears each picked up their first victories last time out, meanwhile Bath are top of the pile and unbeaten, a draw with Saracens is their only blemish on the card. Reigning champions Northampton Saints are in second, while Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, Gloucester, Harlequins, and Newcastle Red Bulls are all within two point of each other from 3rd to 7th.
Four of the five games take place on Saturday, beginning at 1pm at Hartpury College as Gloucester take on Bristol Bears in a crucial game. Gloucester are looking to bounce back after losing a thriller at Bath last time out, victory will keep them up with the Top 4 but defeat might see a bit of separation. Meanwhile Bristol Bears arrive at the 4Ed Hartpury Stadium with Vodafone full of confidence after their first victory of the campaign, an epic 55-20 home victory over high-flying Exeter Chiefs. Gloucester are again skippered by England number 8 Henry Horsfall of King’s Worcester and make a some changes to the side that lost out to Bath, Bromsgrove’s Krystof Wood moves from 13 to 15 with Hartpury College’s Gio Nostro coming in at 13, meanwhile Bloxham and England wing Junior Denny returns to the side on one wing with Luca Stickings of Hartpury College coming in on the other. Up front Abingdon’s Ned Holt is promoted from the bench to start at hooker, likewise St Edward’s Oxford’s Josh de Waal, who starts in the second row. On the bench Will Guess, City of Oxford’s Szymon Zuczkowski and Harry Cow, and Warwick School’s Tom Whorrod all come in. Bristol Bears are once again skippered by Taunton School second row Monty Wells, in a pack that only sees once change from last week’s victory as Clifton College’s Noah Williams comes in at number 8. In the backline there is just the one change as well as George Williams of UCS College moves from the wing to outside centre, Collegiate’s Harry Randall is promoted from the bench to the left wing. Coming onto the bench this week are SGS College’s Malachy Parsons and Hartpury College’s Jardel Furness as Bristol Bears look to go back to back.
At 2.30pm Gordon’s School once again is the host venue for Harlequins, who look to back up that dramatic late victory over Saracens. Yorkshire Academy are, as mentioned, in search of a first victory of the campaign as they get back underway following the bye last week. Harlequins are again skippered by Trinity second row Henry Laidlow, who is joined in the row by schoolmate Kaiden Watson, who moves from 6 last week. Elsewhere in the pack Hampton’s Toby Brotherstone comes in at hooker and Cranleigh’s Alfie Perrett comes in on the blindside flank. In the backline Whitgift’s Sam Marshall is again at fly half after last weeks heroic, but outside him Bishop Wand’s Ben Perkins moves to 12 from 15, with Epsom College’s Flynn Roberts in at full back and Seaford College’s Jack Cosgrove moving out from 12 to 13 and Newman College’s Jack Tyler moving from 13 to wing. On the bench KCS Wimbledon’s Leo Dickinson comes in as does Dan Bowen of Wellington College. Yorkshire Academy meanwhile are led by Barnard Castle number 8 Alex Fusco, with England’s Caylen Umage of Bishop Burton College at fly half. In total thirteen different schools are represented in the starting fifteen, with a further three on the bench as well.
At 3.30pm the action continues, down at Exeter College where table-toppers Bath are the visitors to take on third placed Exeter Chiefs. Again it’s a crucial game, victory for the visitors would really solidify their position, while for Exeter victory keeps them in touch while a defeat could well see them slip. Exeter Chiefs are again led by Exeter College loosehead Mawgan Talling, leading a fourteen strong Exeter College contingent in the starting side, broken up by Truro College’s Harry Friggens in the second how. The Chiefs make a few changes from last week’s defeat, though the pack is unchanged, coming into the backline are Exeter College scrum half Alex Evans and four of his schoolmates, Troy Jackson and Bailey Stapleton on the wings, Jack McIntosh at outside centre, and Will McIntosh at full back. Bath are again co-captained by Beechen Cliff pair Max Hooper and Declan Treacey, at 10 and 12 respectively. The only change in the backline sees Hartpury College’s Cynyr MacRae promoted from the bench to start at full back, meanwhile up front Logan Jarvie of Beechen Cliff comes in at hooker, while Taotafa Faosiliva of Hartpury College is promoted from the bench in a formidable back row alongside his brother Georgia and Millfield’s Alex Yeabsley. Louis Mortimore of Gillingham School and Cade Comer of KES Bath are on the bench after missing out last week.
The Saturday action concludes at 4.30pm at Kingston Park, where Newcastle Red Bulls host Northampton Saints. It’s a fascinating game, Newcastle won their opening two games of the campaign, both at home, but lost out to Sale away from home last time out. Back at home, they will feel confident. However Northampton Saints are the reigning champions and a stunning 33-0 away win at Leicester Tigers last time out was a statement performance and one that moved them up to second in the table, it could be a cracker of a game. Newcastle Red Bulls are this week led by Gosforth Academy wing Jonny Douglas, elsewhere in the backline there are a number of changes as Sedbergh’s Charlie Dineen moves from 10 to 15, allowing Newcastle School for Boys’ Ted Fletcher into the side at 10. He is partnered in the half backs by Hartlepool 6th form College’s Joe Syson, while it’s an all new centre pairing as Gosforth Academy’s Ollie Green and Sedbergh’s Ollie Ashton come in. Up front Sedbegh’s Jack Nesbitt and Gosforth’s Mason Proudlock are promoted from the bench last week to the starting front row this, while Park View’s Adam Rocks comes in to the second row, likewise Gosforth’s Sam Parks in the back row. Alex Dickie of Gosforth Academy and Barnard Castle Josh Dickson are both promoted to the bench, it will be a debut for Dickson, the son of former England scrum half Lee. Northampton Saints have meanwhile made a handful of changes, Bloxham’s Sonny Goode again skippers them from fly half, but alongside him Northampton School for Boys’ Caelin Chin is promoted from the bench to start at scrum half, likewise on the right wing Wellington College vice captain Elijah Jeyes. Up front the injury to NSB’s Jack Lewis sees a rejig, his Northampton School for Boys teammate Will Hepher moves from 8 to 7, with Harrow’s Charlie Hammick in at 8. On the bench Moulton College’s Charlie Utting gets a chance, likewise St Joseph’s College skipper Ted Warner, and NSB’s Reuben Williams, Bloxham’s Harry Sturla also comes in.
Sunday’s sole fixture is a 2pm kick off at Lymm RFC as Sale Sharks host Saracens, Sale Sharks are full of confidence having secured their first victory of the campaign, defeating the previously unbeaten Newcastle Red Bulls last time out and moving with a bonus point victory of third place despite lying in 9th in the table. Saracens are a place and a point ahead of them after that losing bonus point in heart-breaking circumstances for them at Harlequins last time out. Sarries have a game in hand though and will feel that victory could put them in a very healthy position. Sale Sharks are led by Stockport Grammar number 8 Jordan Ikeh in the absence of Kirkham Grammar School’s Charlie Bray, which sees AKS Lytham’s Ethan Banks move from 6 to 7 with Ellesmere College’s Victor Joulie promoted from the bench to start at 6 while the rest of the pack is unchanged. In the backline things are unchanged, while on the bench there is a return for Scarisbrick Hall’s Hendro Hattingh, with Ashton on Mersey’s Jayden Suffell and Sedbergh’s Joe Foulds also called up. Meanwhile Saracens are captained once again by Mill Hill inside centre Zac Jones, but around him the backline is rejigged. St Benedict’s Daniel Lake comes in alongside him, which sees Rory Humphries of Berkhamsted shift to the wing, in turn Oaklands College’s Barney Hooks shift to full back and Berkhamsted’s Austen Burns moves from full back to fly half. Up front, meanwhile, it’s as you were in the defeat to Harlequins last time out. On the bench Haberdashers’ Elstree’s Ore Adebayo comes in.
Prem Rugby Next Gen Round 5 Fixtures:
Saturday 10th January
Exeter Chiefs v Bath – 3.30pm, Exeter College
Gloucester v Bristol Bears – 1pm, 4Ed Hartpury Stadium with Vodafone
Harlequins v Yorkshire Academy – 2.30pm, Gordon’s School
Newcastle Red Bulls v Northampton Saints – 4.30pm, Kingston Park
Sunday 11th January
Sale Sharks v Saracens – 2pm, Lymm RFC
Standings:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | Bath | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 18 |
| 2 | Northampton Saints | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
| 3 | Exeter Chiefs | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| 4 | Leicester Tigers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| 5 | Gloucester | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
| 6 | Harlequins | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Newcastle Red Bulls | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 8 | Saracens | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 9 | Sale Sharks | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| 10 | Bristol Bears | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 11 | Yorkshire Academy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Round 5 Team News:
Exeter Chiefs:
15 Will McIntosh (Exeter College), 14 Bailey Stapleton (Exeter College), 13 Jack McIntosh (Exeter College), 12 Charlie Bosanko (Exeter College), 11 Troy Jackson (Exeter College), 10 Will Lane (Exeter College), 9 Alex Evans (Exeter College), 1 Mawgan Talling (Exeter College, captain), 2 Diego Lerro (Exeter College), 3 Josh Bratt (Exeter College), 4 Harry Friggens (Truro College), 5 Jeremy Keys (Exeter College), 6 Oisin Smith (Exeter College), 7 Harry Westlake (Exeter College), 8 Alfie Johns (Exeter College).
Replacements: 16 Theo McKay (Exeter College), 17 Louis Tout (Ivybridge College), 19 Hudson Edkins (Exeter College), 20 Harrison Riley (Exeter College), 21 Alistair Kennedy (Truro College), 22 Ruben Chugg (Exeter College).
Bath:
15 Cynyr MacRae (Hartpury College), 14 Harry Jones (Beechen Cliff), 13 Aston Barrington-Hibbert (Millfield), 12 Declan Treacey (Beechen Cliff, co-captain), 11 Ryan Carr (The Forest), 10 Max Hooper (Beechen Cliff, co-captain), 9 Ollie Lewis (Beechen Cliff), 1 Henry Veale (Beechen Cliff), 2 Logan Jarvie (Beechen Cliff), 3 Ned Cartwright (Beechen Cliff), 4 Ben Allen (Wellington College), 5 Henry Ball (Beechen Cliff), 6 Alex Yeabsley (Millfield), 7 Taotafa Faosiliva (Hartpury College), 8 Georgia Faosiliva (Hartpury College).
Replacements: 16 Malachi Randolph (Harrow), 17 Theo Lewis-Zydbel (Beechen Cliff), 18 Sid Moore (Millfield), 19 Louis Mortimore (Gillingham), 20 Harry Hellier (Wells Cathedral), 21 Oscar Harrison (Marlborough College), 22 Cade Comer (KES Bath), 23 Tom Meredith (Beechen Cliff).
Gloucester:
15 Krystof Wood (Bromsgrove), 14 Junior Denny (Bloxham), 13 Gio Nostro (Hartpury College), 12 Max Jefferies (Stourport HS), 11 Luca Stickings (Hartpury College), 10 Oli Hewitt (Bromsgrove), 9 Luca Woodyatt (Wycliffe College), 1 Sam Bryant (Hartpury College), 2 Ned Holt (Abingdon), 3 Ben Koolen (Bloxham), 4 Josh de Waal (St Edward’s, Oxford), 5 Ed Bowyer (The Piggot), 6 Rakhat Clarkson (Hartpury College), 7 Felix Baker (Hartpury College), 8 Henry Horsfall (King’s Worcester, captain).
Replacements: 16 Will Guess (Old Cryptians), 17 Dan Jones (Cheltenham College), 19 Szymon Zuczkowski (City of Oxford College), 19 Jack Bennett (Cheltenham College), 20 Harry Cow (City of Oxford College), 21 Theo Rogers (Hartpury College), 22 Tom Whorrod (Warwick), 23 Mukeah Turay (St Edward’s, Oxford).
Bristol Bears:
15 Glen Gammell (Clifton College), 14 Caspar Reeves (Taunton School), 13 George Williams (UCS College), 12 Bruno Lamb (SGS College), 11 Harry Randall (Collegiate), 10 Lewis Popple (Clifton College), 9 Monty Jones (King’s Gloucester), 1 Kaiden Corbett (SGS College), 2 Casper Wheeler (Hartpury College), 3 Evan Davies (Clifton College), 4 Will Papp (SGS College), 5 Monty Wells (Taunton School, captain), 6 Jake Smith (Clifton College), 7 Austin Parsons (SGS College), 8 Noah Williams (Clifton College).
Replacements: 16 Harry Edwards (Wellington School), 17 Ben Thomas (Hartpury College), 18 Jamie McKelvey (Collegiate), 19 Ned Hill (SGS College), 20 Michael Whittaker (Collegiate), 21 Evan Russell (SGS College), 22 Malachy Parsons (SGS College), 23 Jardel Furness (Hartpury College).
Harlequins:
15 Flynn Roberts (Epsom College), 14 Luc Springate (Epsom College), 13 Jack Cosgrove (Seaford College), 12 Ben Perkins (Bishop Wand), 11 Jack Tyler (Newman College), 10 Sam Marshall (Whitgift), 9 Max Rawlinson (KCS Wimbledon), 1 Josh Andrews (Seaford College), 2 Toby Brotherstone (Hampton), 3 Josh Steel (Newman College), 4 Kaiden Watson (Trinity), 5 Henry Laidlow (Trinity), 6 Alfie Perrett (Cranleigh), 7 Harry Chilcott (RGS Guildford), 8 Jack Kemp (Cranleigh).
Replacements: 17 Louca Harrison (Bishop Wand), 18 Sam Smith (Gordon’s), 19 Leo Dickinson (KCS Wimbledon), 20 Ben Hislop (Bishop Wand), 21 Jaiden King (Newman College), 22 Dan Bowen (Wellington College), 23 Louis Elsom (Gordon’s).
Yorkshire Academy:
15 Theo Roberts (Pocklington), 14 Keiji Ashaolu (Hymers College), 13 Connor Dale (Bishop Burton College), 12 Ben Stephens (Prince Henry’s GS), 11 Lewis Jalal (Harrogate GS), 10 Caylen Umaga (Bishop Burton College), 9 Seb Jeffers (Worksop College), 1 Zach Oxley (St Peter’s, York), 2 Oliver Whyte (QEGS Wakefield), 3 Ben Smith (Wath Academy), 4 Isaac Assame (Temple Moor), 5 Josh Beddingfield (Birkdale), 6 Joe McCann (QEGS Wakefield), 7 Ethan Britton (Woodhouse Grove), 8 Alex Fusco (Barnard Castle, captain).
Replacments: 16 Will Barber (St Peter’s, York), 17 Sam Smith (Wath Academy), 18 Max Green (Bishop Burton College), 19 Tom Croston (GSAL), 20 George Cameron (Sedbergh), 21 Zach Taylor (Woodhouse Grove), 22 Daniel Hughes (Harrogate GS), 23 Jacob Holmes (Bradford GS).
Newcastle Red Bulls:
15 Charlie Dineen (Sedbergh), 14 Alfie Warwick (Gosforth Academy), 13 Ollie Ashton (Sedbergh), 12 Ollie Green (Gosforth Academy), 11 Jonny Douglas (Gosforth Academy, captain), 10 Ted Fletcher (Newcastle School for Boys), 9 Joe Syson (Hartlepool 6th form College), 1 Sonny Hopper (Barnard Castle), 2 Jack Nesbitt (Sedbergh), 3 Mason Proudlock (Gosforth Academy), 4 Joe Browell (Hartlepool 6th form College, vc), 5 Adam Rocks (Park View), 6 Sam Parks (Gosforth Academy), 7 Charlie Evans (Hartlepool 6th form College), 8 Jono Broadbent (Gosforth Academy).
Replacements: 16 Will Graham (Dame Allan’s), 17 Josh Doran (Gosforth Academy), 18 Myles Alder (Bede Academy), 19 Dom Henderson (Gosforth Academy), 20 Ben Jewsbury (Sedbergh), 21 Josh Dickson (Barnard Castle), 22 Ajay Edwards (Durham), 23 Alex Dickie (Gosforth Academy).
Northampton Saints:
15 Hardy Linnell (Bloxham), 14 Elijah Jeyes (Wellington College), 13 Will Catley (Stowe), 12 Ashton Cox (Northampton School for Boys), 11 Charlie Tamani (Finborough), 10 Sonny Goode (Bloxham, captain), 9 Caelin Chin (Northampton School for Boys), 1 Aiden Reid (Northampton School for Boys), 2 Ferdi Barnett-Vincent (Northampton School for Boys), 3 Noah Buxton (Moulton College), 4 Rafferty Hewitt (Bedford), 5 George Tonga’uiha (Northampton School for Boys), 6 Ronan Perkins (Bedford Modern), 7 Will Hepher (Northampton School for Boys), 8 Charlie Hammick (Harrow).
Replacements: 16 Charlie Utting (Moulton College), 17 Lucas Veevers (Moulton College), 19 Ted Warner (St Joseph’s College), 20 Reuben Williams (Northampton School for Boys), 21 Harry Sturla (Bloxham), 22 Fin Shields (Northampton School for Boys), 23 Will Howes (Moulton College).
Sale Sharks:
15 Austin Keogh (Macclesfield Campus, vc), 14 Alex Wood (Kirkham GS), 13 Ed Millachip (Kirkham GS), 12 Adam Jacques (Sedbergh), 11 Charlie Fletcher (Ellesmere College), 10 Tom Jacques (Sedbergh), 9 Will Bayston (Sedbergh), 1 Fergus Hayles (Kirkham GS), 2 Morgan Simmonds (Bishop Heber), 3 Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Kirkham GS), 4 Nico Jones (Sedbergh), 5 James Moore (Sedbergh), 6 Victor Joulie (Ellesmere College), 7 Ethan Banks (AKS Lytham), 8 Jordan Ikeh (Stockport GS, captain).
Replacements: 16 Ben Rosenthal (Sedbergh), 17 Hendro Hattingh (Scarisbrick Hall), 18 Archie Blackburn (Kirkham GS), 19 Alfie Halliday (Kirkham GS), 20 Jayden Suffell (Ashton on Mersey), 21 Joe Foulds (Sedbergh), 22 Cieran Milligan (Kirkham GS), 23 Vojtech Nevicky.
Saracens:
15 Barney Hooks (Oaklands College), 14 Rory Humphries (Berkhamsted), 13 Daniel Lake (St Benedict’s), 12 Zac Jones (Mill Hill, captain), 11 Freddie Stewart (Berkhamsted), 10 Austen Burns (Berkhamsted), 9 Charlie Heard (Berkhamsted), 1 Ben Beadle (Sedbergh), 2 Tiane Elone (Mill Hill), 3 Tom Dargan (Harrow), 4 Gus Chukwuemeka (Harrow), 5 Freddie Jones (Sutton Valence), 6 PJ Ludlow (Berkhamsted), 7 AJ Henry (Mill Hill), 8 Ediz Karsak (The Judd).
Replacements: 16 Charles Rotimi (Campion), 17 Dylan Jenkins (Campion), 18 Jesse Gill (Hartpury College), 19 Oli Knight (Berkhamsted), 20 Obi Spencer (Oaklands College), 21 Henry Hodgson (Mill Hill), 22 Ore Adebayo (Haberdashers’ Elstree), 23 Charlie Morgan (Mill Hill).
Prem Rugby Next Gen Results:
Round 4:
Bath 50-31 Gloucester
Bristol Bears 55-20 Exeter Chiefs
Leicester Tigers 0-33 Northampton Saints
Harlequins 15-14 Saracens
Sale Sharks 31-17 Newcastle Red Bulls
Round 3:
Bath 31-5 Bristol Bears
Exeter Chiefs 27-14 Gloucester
Leicester Tigers 31-10 Yorkshire Academy
Northampton Saints 67-40 Sale Sharks
Newcastle Red Bulls 26-19 Harlequins
Round 2:
Bath 38-19 Harlequins
Exeter Chiefs 62-7 Sale Sharks
Gloucester 33-7 Northampton Saints
Newcastle Red Bulls 29-22 Leicester Tigers
Yorkshire Academy 12-52 Saracens
Round 1:
Bristol Bears 33-66 Harlequins
Leicester Tigers 38-31 Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints 64-51 Exeter Chiefs
Saracens 45-45 Bath
Yorkshire Academy 26-40 Gloucester
Prem Rugby Next Gen Fixture List 2025/26:
Round 6
Saturday 17th January
Gloucester v Sale Sharks – 1pm, 4Ed Hartpury Stadium with Vodafone
Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs – 3pm, Gordon’s School
Newcastle Red Bulls v Bath – 3pm, TBC
Saracens v Leicester Tigers – 1pm, StoneX
Yorkshire Academy v Bristol Bears – 2pm, TBC
Round 7
Saturday 31st January
Bath v Leicester Tigers – 2pm, Allington Fields
Bristol Beas v Newcastle Red Bulls – 3pm, Bristol Uni (Coombe Dingle)
Exeter Chiefs v Yorkshire Academy – 12.30pm, Flowerpot Playing Fields
Harlequins v Northampton Saints – 3pm, Gordon’s School
Saracens v Gloucester – 1pm, StoneX
Round 8
Saturday 7th February
Bristol Bears v Saracens – 3pm, Shaftesbury Park
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs – 2pm, TBC
Northampton Saints v Bath – 3pm, TBC
Sale Sharks v Harlequins – 3pm, TBC
Yorkshire Academy v Newcastle Red Bulls – 1pm, Keighley RUFC
Round 9
Saturday 14th February
Gloucester v Leicester Tigers – 11am, 4Ed Hartpury Stadium with Vodafone
Northampton Saints v Bristol Bears – 3pm, TBC
Sale Sharks v Yorkshire Academy – 3pm, TBC
Saracens v Newcastle Red Bulls – 11am, StoneX
Round 10
Saturday 21st February – Finals Day
Past Champions:
2025 Northampton Saints
2024 Bath Rugby
2023 London Irish
2022 Bristol Bears
2021 N/A
2020 Leicester Tigers/London Irish
2019 Leicester Tigers
2018 Leicester Tigers
2017 Harlequins
2016 London Irish
2015 Saracens
2014 Northampton Saints
2013 Northampton Saints
