After a week’s break, the Prem Rugby Next Gen league returns for Round 7 this weekend, and it is a crucial weekend in each team’s bid for a placing for Finals Day.
Taking place on Sunday 22nd February, Finals Day will see 1st in the league face 2nd in the league in the final, with third playing fourth, fifth taking on sixth, and so on, with a guest side facing the 11th placed team. The Finals will be broadcast LIVE on PREM Rugby’s YouTube Channel by NextGenLive.
There are two full rounds two play ahead of finals day, this weekend’s Round 7 and next weekend’s Round 8, with Round 9 featuring four games, leaving every side having played eight games over the league campaign.
Bath Rugby sit at the top of the table, nine points clear of the chasing pack as they seek a third final on the trot. They host Leicester Tigers in a 1pm kick off at Chippenham RFC on Saturday and Leicester are looking for a quick return to form after a tricky outing at Saracens last time out. They currently sit in 10th, but so close is the table that a victory could see them shoot up the ladder. For Bath, victory would take them to within touching distance of the final. Bath aim to continue their unbeaten record with a few changes to the side that defeated Newcastle Red Bulls last time out. Beechen Cliff’s Max Hooper and Declan Treacey co-captain the side once again from 10 and 12, but there are a couple of changes around them in the backs. Schoolmate Sam Bunch is fit again to start at full back, while Marlborough College’s Oscar Harrison is promoted from the bench to start at scrum half. Up front Logan Jarvie of Beechen Cliff and Sid Moore of Millfield are both promoted from the bench to the front row, while it’s a fresh second row pairing, the Beechen Cliff partnership of Charlie Greenhough and Henry Ball. KES Bath’s Ali Aljawabra also comes into the side, starting at openside. On the bench Hartpury College’s Taotafa Faosiliva is again called into action, the back row forward will wear 23. Leicester Tigers make a number of changes from the side that went down to Saracens. City of Oxford College centre Ollie Myall and Oakham number 8 Henry Johnson continue to co-captain, but there is change elsewhere. England fly half Oscar Talbot, of Rugby School, moves from 10 to 15, with Denstone College’s Lochie Glackin promoted from the bench to start at 10. Myall actually moves from 13 to 12, with Millfield’s Freddie Lomas coming in at 13, meanwhile Hartpury College’s Christian Gordon-Astbury returns on the left wing. Up front it’s a new front row, Loughborough College’s Alex Catcheside moves from hooker to loosehead, with two of last week’s U17s promoted to start for the U18s alongside him, his schoolmate Oliver Blinkhorn starts at hooker, with Denstone College’s Joe Woods at tighthead. There are new faces on the bench too as Loughborough College’s Bailey Saunders and Jack Coles-Mapleston are called in, likewise Oakham’s Otto Stone.
Leading the chase are Saracens, who host Gloucester in a midday kick off at StoneX on Saturday. Sarries sit in second place, nine points back from Bath but with a game in hand. Victory would be key for them and their momentum is currently superb after that stunning performance against Leicester Tigers last time out. Glocuester, meanwhile, are looking to seize back momentum after four defeats on the bounce have got in the way of what was a brilliant start to the campaign. With the league so tight, they are still right in the mix and have every chance of a high finish with a strong performance on Saturday. Saracens make just a handful of changes from the side that was so impressive against Leicester Tigers last time out. Mill Hill’s Zac Jones again captains the side and is at 10 for the second game running. Outside him Brighton College’s Rio Bennett returns to fitness to line up at 13, which sees Berkhamsted’s Rory Humphries move out from 13 to the right wing, and schoolmate Freddie Stewart switch from the right to the left. Up front there is just the one change as well, with Harrow’s Tom Dargan back in the starting lineup at tighthead. On the bench Oaklands College’s Toju Akinola gets his opportunity. Gloucester make plenty of changes, particularly in the backline where Tomos Evans returns to the side after injury, coming in at outside centre. The Hartpury College man takes over the captaincy too, in the absence of King’s Worcester’s Henry Horsfall. Cheltenham College’s Zach Nicholson is promoted from the bench to start at full back, which sees Bromsgrove’s Oli Hewitt return to the 10 shirt from full back last week. St Edward’s Oxford’s Kai Wilkinson also returns after an absence, his is straight back in the side on the left wing, which see’s King’s Worcester’s Ollie Mason switch to the right. Up front Dean Close’s Jamie Wallace comes in for absent skipper Henry Horsfall, while Clifton College’s Teddy Smith-Milne returns at hooker, with Hartpury College’s Sam Bryant back in the starting lineup alongside him. On the bench Szymon Zuczkowski returns, with fellow City of Oxford College pupils Ernie Sanders and Will Hodgson also promoted to the bench alongside St Edward’s Oxford’s Mukeah Turay.
Level on points with Saracens are their London rivals, Harlequins. Quins have a huge game on Saturday at their home venue, Gordon’s School, hosting reigning champions Northampton Saints in a 2.30pm kick off. Quins are on a run, they have won three on the spin and beating last year’s champs would be a huge statement as they chase a spot in the final. Saints are a tough nut to crack though, they had been second in the table and only a bye last week saw them slip to fourth. Victory could well see them back in second, it should be a spectacular game. Harelquins’ bid for four victories in a row sees them again skippered by Trinity and England second row Henry Laidlow. He is part of a pretty settled pack from the side that beat Exeter Chiefs, with the only changes on the flank, with Cranleigh’s Jack Kemp moving from 6 to 8, allowing KCS Wimbledon’s Leo Dickinson a start at 8, like Dickinson openside Ben Hislop of Bishop Wand is promoted from the bench to start at 7. In the backline the only change is at 12, where Wellignton College’s Tom Chapman is promoted from the bench. That promotion allows his schoolmate Will Courtney onto the bench, where Hampton’s Stan Amor also returns along with spots on the bench for Christ’s Hospital’s Max Johnson and Halliford’s Veer Gill. Following their training game last week, Northampton Saints make a number of changes to the side that was last in Prem Rugby Next Gen League back in Round 5 in that defeat at Newcastle Red Bulls. Bloxham’s Sonny Goode continues the captaincy from fly half, but there are fresh faces either side of him, with Northampton School for Boys’ Fin Shields starting at 12 and Impington College’s Jack Woods back to start at 9. Up front Lucas Veevers of Moulton College is promoted from the bench to start at loosehead, which sees Northampton School for Boys and England prop Aiden Reid switch to tighthead. Moulton College’s Archie McHarg meanwhile comes in on the blindside flank. On the bench there are plenty of players that come into the 23, Northampton School for Boys due Ben Jones and Callum Tarry, along with City of Oxford College’s Kingsley Gallimore, Finborough’s Toby Seaman, and St Joseph’s College’s Finn Westley.
Exeter Chiefs, meanwhile, looking to jump up the table from 8th when they hosts Yorkshire Academy in a 12pm kick off at Ivybridge RFC on Saturday. The hosts are only five point off second place so they are right in touch with those above as they hunt a high finish. Yorkshire, meanwhile, are still chasing a first victory of the campaign despite some excellent performances. They will be throwing everything at this as they aim for that elusive victory. Exeter Chiefs keep the changes to a minimum after a good outing last time. They are again skippered by the outstanding Exeter College loosehead, Mawgan Talling. Last time out he led a starting fifteen entirely compromised of his schoolmates, however this week Harry Firggens of Truro College comes into the starting lineup at blindside flanker, a move that sees Exeter College’s Oisin Smith move from 6 to 7. Alongside Talling in the front row is the other change in the pack, with Theo McKay, often skipper of Exeter College in Talling’s absence, starting at hooker rather than his usual position of prop. There is one change in the backline as Exeter College’s Bailey Stapleton is promoted from the bench to start on the right wing, which sees schoolmate Archie Guyver switch to the left. On the bench two Ivybridge College players get their opportunity, Louis Tour and Olly Bertie, Truro College’s Brandon Mua is also called onto the bench. Yorkshire make just three changes to the side that lost out to Bristol Bears last time out, all in the pack. They are led again by number 8 Alex Fusco of Barnard Castle, with Bishop Burton College and England fly half Caylen Umaga again vice captain. Two of the changes come in the front row, where Wath Academy’s Sam Smith and Grammar School at Leeds’ Sam Johnson are both promoted from the bench to start at loosehead and hooker respectively, likewise Sedbergh’s George Cameron, who comes in on the blindside flank. There are a couple of fresh faces on the bench as well, with Matous Borecky of Bishop Burton College, previously at Mount St Mary’s, returning alongside another Bishop Burton pupil, Hamilton Howes.
Bristol Bears’ recent form has been absolutely fantastic and they will look to make it four in a row in the final game of the day, they host Newcastle Red Bulls in a 3pm Kick Off at Bristol University. Newcastle are just a point behind Bristol, having won three of their five games, including a defeat of last year’s champions, Northampton Saints. Bristol Bears make two changes to their starting lineup from the side that won at Yorkshire last time out. Monty Wells of Taunton School leads them once more and has regular second row partner Will Papp of SGS College make alongside him after playing at 6 last week, with Clifton College’s Jake Smith this week returning at 6. In the backs UCS College’s George Williams is promoted from the bench to start on the left wing. The bench sees a few new faces from Round 6, with Clifton College’s Joe Chamber, SGS College’s Ben Willoughby-Smith and his schoolmate Ned Hill, and Collegiate’s Harry Randall all getting their opportunity. Newcastle Red Bulls make a number of changes to the side that lost out to the champions Bath last time out. Gosforth Academy’s Euan Oakes again skippers the side but ahead of him there is a change as Park View’s Adam Rocks returns to the side. In the backs Gosforth Academy’s Kian Ameer-Beg makes his U18 debut, starting at 10, and there is a return to the starting XV for England and Durham School full back Ajay Edwards. Gosforth Academy’s Sam Owens also returns, he starts at 13, which sees Sedbergh’s Harry Hawkins move out to the right wing. On the bench there is a potential debut for Durham’s Dan Cassap, while Sedbergh’s Hugo Hodgson and Barnard Castle’s Jonny Royle return to the 23.
Prem Rugby Next Gen Round 7 Fixtures:
Saturday 31st January
Bath v Leicester Tigers – 1pm, Chippenham RFC
Bristol Bears v Newcastle Red Bulls – 3pm, Bristol Uni
Exeter Chiefs v Yorkshire Academy – 12pm, Ivybridge RFC
Harlequins v Northampton Saints – 2.30pm, Gordon’s School
Saracens v Gloucester – 12pm, StoneX
Standings:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | Bath | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 28 |
| 2 | Saracens | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 19 |
| 3 | Harlequins | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 19 |
| 4 | Northampton Saints | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 16 |
| 5 | Bristol Bears | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 16 |
| 6 | Newcastle Red Bulls | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| 7 | Sale Sharks | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 15 |
| 8 | Exeter Chiefs | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| 9 | Gloucester | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| 10 | Leicester Tigers | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 11 | Yorkshire Academy | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Round 7 Team News:
Bath:
15 Sam Bunch (Beechen Cliff), 14 Ryan Carr (The Forest), 13 Aston Barrington-Hibbert (Millfield), 12 Declan Treacey (Beechen Cliff, co-captain), 11 Tom Meredith (Beechen Cliff), 10 Max Hooper (Beechen Cliff, co-captain), 9 Oscar Harrison (Marlborough College), 1 Henry Veale (Beechen Cliff), 2 Logan Jarvie (Beechen Cliff). 3 Sid Moore (Millfield), 4 Charlie Greenhough (Beechen Cliff), 5 Henry Ball (Beechen Cliff), 6 Alex Yeabsley (Millfield), 7 Ali Aljawabra (KES Bath), 8 Georgia Faosiliva (Hartpury College).
Replacements: 16 Malachi Randolph (Harrow), 17 Jack Williams (Kingswood), 18 Ned Cartwright (Beechen Cliff), 19 Ben Allen (Wellington College), 20 Pippo Hurrell (Wellington College), 21 Ollie Lewis (Beechen Cliff), 22 Cynyr MacRae (Hartpury College), 23 Taotafa Faosiliva (Hartpury College).
Leicester Tigers:
15 Oscar Talbot (Rugby), 14 Nathaniel Robinson (Bromsgrove), 13 Freddie Lomas (Millfield), 12 Ollie Myall (City of Oxford College, co-captain), 11 Christian Gordon-Astbury (Hartpury College), 10 Lochie Glackin (Denstone College), 9 James Townsend (Warwick), 1 Alex Catcheside (Loughborough College), 2 Oliver Blinkhorn (Loughborough College), 3 Joe Woods (Denstone College), 4 Fin Charles (Denstone College), 5 Kwame Bekoe (Norwich), 6 Dylan Chessum (Loughborough College), 7 Josh Poyser (Loughborough College), 8 Henry Johnson (Oakham, co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Oliver Robinson (Loughborough College), 17 Bailey Saunders (Loughborough College), 18 Otto Stone (Oakham), 19 Zack Dodds (Loughborough College), 20 Jack Coles-Mapleston (Loughborough College), 21 Joe Henstock (Denstone College), 22 Will Payton (Warwick).
Bristol Bears:
15 Glen Gammell (Clifton College), 14 Caspar Reeves (Taunton School), 13 Will Moore (Clifton College), 12 Bruno Lamb (SGS College), 11 George Williams (UCS College), 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 Theo Prole (Clifton College), 17 Michael Whittaker (Collegiate), 18 Joe Chambers (Clifton College), 19 Ben Willoughby-Smith (SGS College), 20 Ned Hill (SGS College), 21 Evan Russell (SGS College), 22 Malachy Parsons (SGS College), 23 Harry Randall (Collegiate).
Newcastle Red Bulls:
15 Ajay Edwards (Durham), 14 Harry Hawkins (Sedbergh), 13 Sam Owens (Gosforth Academy), 12 Matty Dunn (Gosforth Academy), 11 Alfie Warwick (Gosforth Academy), 10 Kian Ameer-Beg (Gosforth Academy), 9 Josh Dickson (Barnard Castle), 1 Josh Doran (Gosforth Academy), 2 Will Graham (Dame Allan’s), 3 Myles Adler (Bede Academy), 4 Adam Rocks (Park View), 5 Joe Browell (Hartlepool 6th form College), 6 Euan Oakes (Gosforth Academy, captain), 7 Charlie Evans (Hartlepool 6th form College), 8 Jono Broadbent (Gosforth Academy).
Replacements: 16 Jack Nesbitt (Sedbergh), 17 Hugo Hodgson (Sedbergh), 18 Mason Proudlock (Gosforth Academy), 19 Dom Henderson (Gosforth Academy), 20 Sam Parks (Gosforth Academy), 21 Tommy Scanlan (Gosforth Academy), 22 Dan Cassap (Durham), 23 Jonny Royle (Barnard Castle).
Exeter Chiefs:
15 Will McIntosh (Exeter College), 14 Bailey Stapleton (Exeter College), 13 Jack McIntosh (Exeter College), 12 Charlie Bosanko (Exeter College), 11 Archie Guyver (Exeter College), 10 Will Lane (Exeter College), 9 Alex Evans (Exeter College), 1 Mawgan Talling (Exeter College, captain), 2 Theo McKay (Exeter College), 3 Josh Bratt (Exeter College), 4 Hudson Edkins (Exeter College), 5 Jeremy Keys (Exeter College), 6 Harry Friggens (Truro College), 7 Oisin Smith (Exeter College), 8 Alfie Johns (Exeter College).
Replacements: 16 Diero Lerro (Exeter College), 18 Louis Tout (Ivybridge College), 19 Tyler Knightley (Truro College), 20 Harrison Riley (Exeter College), 21 Olly Bertie (Ivybridge College), 22 Ruben Chugg (Exeter College), 23 Brandon Mua (Truro College).
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, vc), 9 Seb Jeffers (Worksop College), 1 Sam Smith (Wath Academy), 2 Sam Johnson (Woodhouse Grove), 3 Ben Smith (Wath Academy), 4 Isaac Assame (Temple Moore), 5 Josh Bedingfield (Birkdale), 6 George Cameron (Sedbergh), 7 Will Barber (St Peter’s, York), 8 Alex Fusco (Barnard Castle, captain).
Replacements: 16 Oliver Whyte (QEGS Wakefield), 17 Zach Oxley (St Peter’s, York), 18 Hamilton Howes (Bishop Burton College), 19 Tom Croston (GSAL), 20 Joe McCann (QEGS Wakefield), 21 Zach Taylor (Woodhouse Grove), 22 Matous Borecky (Bishop Burton College), 23 Dan Hughes (Harrogate GS).
Harlequins:
15 Flynn Roberts (Epsom College), 14 Luc Springate (Epsom College), 13 Jack Tyler (Newman College), 12 Tom Chapman (Wellington College), 11 Louis Elsom (Gordon’s), 10 Sam Marshall (Whitgift), 9 Max Rawlinson (KCS Wimbledon), 1 Josh Andrews (Seaford College), 2 Jakob Thompson (Gordon’s), 3 Josh Steel (Newman College), 4 Ellis Woolrych (St John’s, Leatherhead), 5 Henry Laidlow (Trinity, captain), 6 Jack Kemp (Cranleigh), 7 Ben Hislop (Bishop Wand), 8 Leo Dickinson (KCS Wimbledon).
Replacements: 16 Toby Brotherstone (Hampton), 17 Sam Smith (Gordon’s), 18 Mikey Leybourne (Gordon’s), 19 Veer Gill (Halliford), 20 Max Johnson (Christ’s Hospital), 21 Stan Amor (Hampton), 22 Jaiden King (Newman College), 23 Will Courtney (Wellington College).
Northampton Saints:
15 Hardy Linnell (Bloxham), 14 Elijah Jeyes (Wellington College), 13 Will Catley (Stowe), 12 Fin Shields (Northampton School for Boys), 11 Charlie Tamani (Finborough), 10 Sonny Goode (Bloxham, captain), 9 Jack Woods (Impington College), 1 Lucas Veevers (Moulton College), 2 Ferdi Barnett-Vincent (Northampton School for Boys), 3 Aiden Reid (Northampton School for Boys), 4 Rafferty Hewitt (Bedford), 5 George Tonga’uiha (Northampton School for Boys), 6 Archie McHarg (Moulton College), 7 Will Hepher (Northampton School for Boys), 8 Charlie Hammick (Harrow).
Replacements: 16 Kingsley Gallimore (City of Oxford College), 17 Toby Seaman (Finborough), 18 Ben Jones (Northampton School for Boys), 19 Ted Warner (St Joseph’s College), 20 Callum Tarry (Northampton School for Boys), 22 Will Howes (Moulton College), 23 Finn Westley (St Joseph’s College).
Saracens:
15 Charlie Morgan (Mill Hill), 14 Rory Humphries (Berkhamsted), 13 Rio Bennett (Brighton College), 12 Daniel Lake (St Benedict’s), 11 Freddie Stewart (Berkhamsted), 10 Zac Jones (Mill Hill, captain), 9 Henry Hodgson (Mill Hill), 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 Toju Akinola (Oaklands College), 20 Michael Bridge (Oaklands College), 21 Charlie Heard (Berkhamsted), 22 Austen Burns (Berkhamsted) ,23 Barney Hooks (Oaklands College).
Gloucester:
15 Zach Nicholson (Cheltenham College), 14 Oli Mason (King’s Worcester), 13 Tomos Evans (Hartpury College, captain), 12 Giovanni Nostro (Hartpury College), 11 Kai Wilkinson (St Edward’s, Oxford), 10 Oli Hewitt (Bromsgrove), 9 Theo Rogers (Hartpury College), 1 Sam Bryant (Hartpury College), 2 Teddy Smith-Milne (Clifton College), 3 Ben Koolen (Bloxham), 4 Jack Bennett (Cheltenham College), 5 Ed Bowyer (The Piggot), 6 Rakhat Clarkson (Hartpury College), 7 Felix Baker (Hartpury College), 8 Jamie Wallace (Dean Close).
Replacements: 16 Rowan Fortey (Hartpury College), 17 Szymon Zuczkowski (City of Oxford College), 18 Will Geary (Cheltenham College), 19 Josh De Waal (St Edward’s, Oxford), 20 Harry Haigh (Cheltenham College), 21 Ernie Sanders (City of Oxford College), 22 Will Hodgson (City of Oxford College), 23 Mukeah Turay (St Edward’s, Oxford).
Prem Rugby Next Gen Results:
Round 6:
Gloucester 24-29 Sale Sharks
Harlequins 24-14 Exeter Chiefs
Newcastle Red Bulls 7-26 Bath
Saracens 69-12 Leicester Tigers
Yorkshire Academy 14-48 Bristol Bears
Round 5:
Exeter Chiefs 32-35 Bath
Gloucester 17-35 Bristol Bears
Harlequins 67-17 Yorkshire Academy
Newcastle Red Bulls 38-24 Northampton Saints
Sale Sharks 33-36 Saracens
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 8
Saturday 7th February
Bristol Bears v Saracens – 3pm, Dings Crusaders
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
Sunday 22nd February – Finals Day, Kingsholm Stadium – LIVE by NextGenLive
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
