This weekend is the penultimate round of league fixtures in the 2025/26 Prem Rugby Next Gen league, and for a few sides their very last games before Finals Day.
This round, and next, are key for sides securing their placings for Finals Day, which will be broadcast LIVE by NextGenLive on the Prem Rugby YouTube Channel. The top two in the league meet in the final, while third plays fourth, fifth plays sixth, and so one.
Bath Rugby secured their place in the final with their 40-22 defeat of Leicester Tigers last time out, their third final in a row – they won it in 2024 and just missed out to Northampton Saints last year. They now cannot finish lower than second, and victory on Saturday would guarantee top spot in what is their final game of the league campaign, they have their bye next week. It’s an emotive fixture though, for they travel to Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in a 12pm kick off to take on the side that beat them in last year’s final, Northampton Saints. Saints will be itching to do the same again, at one stage they were as high as second, but a few tricky results have seen them slip to sixth, yet they can still climb. They will be so eager to do so. Northampton Saints makes plenty of changes as the look to get back on the horse. Captain Sonny Goode of Bloxham shifts from 10 to 13 in an all new centre partnership alongside Northampton School for Boys’ Callum Tarry. That change sees Tarry’s schoolmate Fin Shields moves from 12 to 10, and his half back partner is another NSB pupil, Caelin Chin. Up front City of Oxford College’s Kingsley Gallimore starts at hooker, with Moulton College’s Archie McHarg moving from the back row to the second row. Meanwhile the back row sees plenty of change, Stowe’s Seb Dare comes in at 6, with NSB’s Reuben Williams at 7, which means a shift for his schoolmate Will Hepher from 7 to 8. On the bench Moulton College’s Charlie Utting and Kai Manson both earn call-ups, along with NSB’s Ashton Cox and Oundle’s Harry Nath. Bath make a few changes, having already reached the final, but still keep the core of the side – not least Beechen Cliff co-captains Max Hooper at 10 and Declan Treacey at 12, a day after his brother captains England U20. Around those two there are a few changes, their schoolmate Ollie Lewis is promoted from the bench to start at scrum half, while Kingswood’s Stan Walsh get his opportunity on the left wing, a move that sees Beechen Cliff’s Tom Meredith switch to the right, while Hartpury College’s Cynyr MacRae is promoted from the bench to start at full back. Up front Harrow’s Malachi Randolph is promoted from the bench to start at hooker, likewise Beechen Cliff’s Ned Cartwright at tighthead. There is another shift in the second row, with Gillingham’s Louis Mortimore coming in, meanwhile Wells Cathedral’s Harry Hellier comes into the side on the openside flank. On the bench KES Bath’s Cade Comer gets a call up, likewise Beechen Cliff’s Theo Lewis-Zdybel.
Saracens are the only side that can overtake Bath, but they need to be perfect to do so. They have a game in hand over Bath, meaning they play both this week and next. A huge challenge faces them this weekend though, they travel to Dings Crusaders for a 5.30pm kick off against Bristol Bears. Saracens might sit in second, and could finish top, but Bristol are the form side this side of Christmas and are just three point behind Saracens, a place in the final is very much on for the Bears but they need a victory on Saturday evening in order to do it – bringing it right down to next week’s final games. A compelling fixture awaits, then, on Saturday. Bristol Bears make just one change to the starting side that beat Newcastle Red Bulls last time out. Taunton School’s Monty Wells continues to captain the side from the second row, while his schoolmate Caspar Reeves moves from the right wing to full back, allowing Collegiate’s Harry Randall to be promoted from the bench to start on the right wing. It’s a reduced bench for Bristol Bears this week, 22 rather than 23, Collegiate’s Jamie McKelvey and Hartpury College’s Jack Taylor are both called up after missing out last week. Saracens make a few changes to the side that beat Gloucester last time out. Captain Zac Jones of Mill Hill moves from 10 to 12, with an all-Berkhamsted half back combination promoted from the bench, Charlie Heard starts at scrum half and Austen Burns at fly half. That move also sees St Benedict’s Daniel Lake shift from 12 to 13, while Barney Hooks of Oaklands College is also promoted from the bench. Up front Hooks’ schoolmate Michael Bridge is also promoted from the bench, he starts at 6 with Berkhamsted’s PJ Ludlow switching to 7, the only other change in the pack sees Campion’s Dylan Jenkins promoted from the bench to start at loosehead. On the bench Berkhamsted prop Dan Cadmus-Alakura comes in, likewise Oaklands College’s players player of the season, Obi Spencer.
Like Bath, Exeter Chiefs play their final game of the league campaign on Saturday and are chasing a place in the 3rd place play off. They currently sit in fifth but are just two points behind Bristol Bers. They travel on Saturday to Beaumont Park for a 1.30pm kick off against Leicester Tigers, who are in a tricky run of form, having fallen to defeat in their last three games. Tigers will be determined to stop that slide and know that victories in their final two games could yet see them charge up the table, so expect a hugely competitive game on Saturday. Leicester Tigers shake things up as they aim to get back to winning ways, Oakham number 8 Henry Johnson and City of Oxford centre Ollie Myall remain as co-captains but around them there are changes. England fly half Oscar Talbot, of Rugby School, returns to 10 having been at full back last week, with Bromsgrove’s Nathaniel Robinson moving from wing to full back, with Warwick’s Will Payton promoted from the bench to start on the right wing, as is Joe Henstock of Denstone College, who starts at outside centre, while Coventry College’s Abdul Bah-Bah comes from outside of the 23 to start on the left wing. Up front it’s as you were in the back five, but there are changes at prop, with Loughborough College’s Bailey Saunders promoted from the bench at loosehead and Denstone College’s Joe Edmunds starting at tighthead having not been in the side last week.
Expect one at Keighley RUFC in a 1pm kick off as well as Yorkshire Academy seek their first victory of the campaign. They host Newcastle Red Bulls, who have been strong through this campaign. They will have been frustrated at how their lost to Bristol Bears last week though, and Yorkshire will doubtless look to capitalise on that in what is their final home game of the campaign. Newcastle will be keen to put in a big performance though, so it should be a top fixture. Yorkshire make a couple of changes ahead of this one, up front Grammar School at Leeds’ Tom Croston is promoted from the bench, he starts on the blindside flank, which sees Sedbergh’s George Cameron move across to 7, Barnard Castle’s Alex Fusco continues to lead the side from 8. That is the only change in the pack, and there is just the one in the backline too as Bishop Burton College’s Matous Borecky is promoted from the bench to start at full back. On the bench there are a couple of fresh faces from last week too, with Bradford Grammar School’s Jacob Holmes called in alongside Harry Harlow-Stephenson, who has a burgeoning Rugby League career as well. Newcastle Red Bulls ring the changes for their trip to Yorkshire. Gosforth Academy’s Euan Oakes keeps hold of the captaincy but there is a change alongside him in the back row with schoolmate Sam Parks promoted from the bench to form an all-Gosforth back row. Fellow schoolmate Dom Henderson is also promoted from the bench to start at lock, likewise Mason Proudlock at tighthead. He is part of a completely fresh front row, with Barnard Castle’s Sonny Hooper at loosehead and Sedbergh’s Jack Nesbitt at hooker. There are six changes in the backs, with only Durham’s Ajay Edwards retained from last week as lots of players return after missing a few recent games, including the centre pairing of Gosforth’s Ollie Green and Sedbergh’s Ollie Ashton. Newcastle School for Boys’ Ted Fletcher returns at 10, with Gosforth’s Tommy Scanlan at scrum half, with schoolmate Jonny Douglas back again on the left wing and Durham’s Louis Myers-Lewis on the right. On the bench there are opportunities for Sedbergh pair Freddie Turnbull and Ben Jewsbury.
The weekend’s Prem Rugby Next Gen action rounds off on Sunday in a midday kick off at the CorpAcq Stadium, home of Sale Sharks. Sale Sharks’ U18s will host Harlequins and it should be a cracker. Sale had a bye last week, so are well rested, and they are in good form too prior to the bye they won at Gloucester and the week before they only narrowly lost to the excellent Saracens. They know they have the quality to rise up the table over these next two fixtures. The challenge for them is Harlequins, for whom this is the final league game of the campaign. Quins are third in the table and have a chance of a Top 2 finish and a place in the final, albeit they need results elsewhere to go their way too. They are in great form, winning their last four in a row – they are undefeated since the league resumed after Christmas. It’s a massive game for both sides. Sale Sharks see skipper Charlie Bray of Kirkham Grammar School return from injury and he takes over the captaincy on his return at number 8. He is one of just two changes to their side, with his schoolmate Fergus Hayles also earning a start at tighthead. On the bench Bray’s fellow England and Kirkham teammate Lawrence Ogbonnaya returns, alongside schoolmates Harry Marsh and Henry Bates. Harlequins, unsurprisingly given their form, also keep the changes to a minimum. Henry Laidlow of Trinity remains as skipper in the second and there is just one change around him in the pack, with RGS Guildford’s Harry Chilcott back in the side on the blindside flank, meaning a switch to the openside for Cranleigh’s Jack Kemp. There is just the one change in the backline too, with Seaford College’s Jack Cosgrove returning on the left wing. On the bench Epsom College’s Levi Trystman and Whitgift’s Marcus Grisdale get their opportunities.
Prem Rugby Next Gen Round 8 Fixtures:
Saturday 7th February
Bristol Bears v Saracens – 5.30pm, Dings Crusaders
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs – 1.30pm, Beaumont Park
Northampton Saints v Bath – 12pm, Franklin’s Gardens
Yorkshire Academy v Newcastle Red Bulls – 1pm, Keighley RUFC
Sunday 8th February
Sale Sharks v Harlequins – 12pm, CorpAcq Stadium
Standings:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | Bath | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 33 |
| 2 | Saracens | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 24 |
| 3 | Harlequins | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 24 |
| 4 | Bristol Bears | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 21 |
| 5 | Exeter Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 19 |
| 6 | Northampton Saints | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 17 |
| 7 | Newcastle Red Bulls | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| 8 | Sale Sharks | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 15 |
| 9 | Gloucester | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| 10 | Leicester Tigers | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| 11 | Yorkshire Academy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
Round 8 Team News:
Bristol Bears:
15 Caspar Reeves (Taunton School), 14 Harry Randall (Collegiate), 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 Jamie McKelvey (Collegiate), 20 Evan Russell (SGS College), 21 Malachy Parsons (SGS College), 22 Jack Taylor (Hartpury College).
Saracens:
15 Charlie Morgan (Mill Hill), 14 Rory Humphries (Berkhamsted), 13 Daniel Lake (St Benedict’s), 12 Zac Jones (Mill Hill, captain), 11 Barney Hooks (Oaklands College), 10 Austen Burns (Berkhamsted), 9 Charlie Heard (Berkhamsted), 1 Dylan Jenkins (Campion), 2 Tiane Elone (Mill Hill), 3 Tom Dargan (Harrow), 4 Gus Chukwuemeka (Harrow), 5 Freddie Jones (Sutton Valence), 6 Michael Bridge (Oaklands College), 7 PJ Ludlow (Berkhamsted), 8 Ediz Karsak (The Judd).
Replacements: 16 Charles Rotimi (Campion), 17 Dan Cadmus-Alakura (Berkhamsted), 18 Jesse Gill (Hartpury College), 19 Toju Akinola (Oaklands College), 20 Obi Spencer (Oaklands College), 21 Henry Hodgson (Mill Hill), 22 Rio Bennett (Brighton College), 23 Freddie Stewart (Berkhamsted).
Leicester Tigers:
15 Nathaniel Robinson (Bromsgrove), 14 Will Payton (Warwick), 13 Joe Henstock (Denstone College), 12 Ollie Myall (City of Oxford College, co-captain), 11 Abdul Bah-Bah (Coventry College), 10 Oscar Talbot (Rugby), 9 James Townsend (Warwick), 1 Bailey Saunders (Loughborough College), 2 Oliver Blinkhorn (Loughborough College), 3 Joe Edmunds (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 Joe Woods (Denstone College), 17 Oliver Robinson (Loughborough College), 18 Otto Stone (Oakham), 19 Zack Dodds (Loughborough College), 20 Jack Coles-Mapleston (Loughborough College), 21 Lochie Glackin (Denstone College), 22 Freddie Lomas (Millfield).
Exeter Chiefs:
Northampton Saints:
15 Hardy Linnell (Bloxham), 14 Elijah Jeyes (Wellington College), 13 Sonny Goode (Bloxham, captain), 12 Callum Tarry (Northampton School for Boys), 11 Charlie Tamani (Finborough), 10 Fin Shields (Northampton School for Boys), 9 Caelin Chin ((Northampton School for Boys), 1 Lucas Veevers (Moulton College), 2 Kingsley Gallimore (City of Oxford College), 3 Aiden Reid (Northampton School for Boys), 4 Rafferty Hewitt (Bedford), 5 Archie McHarg (Moulton College), 6 Seb Dare (Stowe), 7 Reuben Williams (Northampton School for Boys), 8 Will Hepher (Northampton School for Boys).
Replacements: 16 Charlie Utting (Moulton College), 17 Toby Seaman (Finborough), 18 Ben Jones (Northampton School for Boys), 19 Harry Nath (Oundle), 20 Kai Manson (Moulton College), 21 Ashton Cox (Northampton School for Boys), 22 Will Howes (Moulton College).
Bath:
15 Cynyr MacRae (Hartpury College), 14 Tom Meredith (Beechen Cliff), 13 Aston Barrington-Hibbert (Millfield), 12 Declan Treacey (Beechen Cliff, co-captain), 11 Stan Walsh (Kingswood), 10 Max Hooper (Beechen Cliff, co-captain), 9 Ollie Lewis (Beechen Cliff), 1 Henry Veale (Beechen Cliff), 2 Malachi Randolph (Harrow), 3 Ned Cartwright (Beechen Cliff), 4 Henry Ball (Beechen Cliff), 5 Louis Mortimore (Gillingham), 6 Alex Yeabsley (Millfield), 7 Harry Hellier (Wells Cathedral), 8 Georgia Faosiliva (Hartpury College).
Replacements: 16 Logan Jarvie (Beechen Cliff), 17 Theo Lewis-Zdybel (Beechen Cliff), 18 Sid Moore (Millfield), 19 Pippo Hurrell (Wellington College), 20 Taotafa Faosiliva (Hartpury College), 21 Oscar Harrison (Marlborough College), 22 Cade Comer (KES Bath), 23 Ryan Carr (The Forest).
Yorkshire Academy:
15 Matous Borecky (Bishop Burton College), 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 Issac Assame (Temple Moore), 5 Josh Bedingfield (Birkdale), 6 Tom Croston (GSAL), 7 George Cameron (Sedbergh), 8 Alex Fusco (Barnard Castle, captain).
Replacements: 16 Will Barber (St Peter’s, York), 17 Zach Oxley (St Peter’s, York), 18 Hamilton Howes (Bishop Burton College), 19 Joe McCann (QEGS Wakefield), 21 Zach Taylor (Woodhouse Grove), 22 Jacob Holmes (Bradford GS), 23 Harry Harlow-Stephenson.
Newcastle Red Bulls:
15 Ajay Edwards (Durham), 14 Louis Myers-Lewis (Durham), 13 Ollie Ashton (Sedbergh), 12 Ollie Green (Gosforth Academy), 11 Jonny Douglas (Gosforth Academy), 10 Ted Fletcher (Newcastle School for Boys), 9 Tommy Scanlan (Gosforth Academy), 1 Sonny Hooper (Barnard Castle), 2 Jack Nesbitt (Sedbergh), 3 Mason Proudlock (Gosforth Academy), 4 Dom Henderson (Gosforth Academy), 5 Joe Browell (Hartlepool 6th form College), 6 Euan Oakes (Gosforth Academy, captain), 7 Sam Parks (Gosforth Academy), 8 Jono Broadbent (Gosforth Academy).
Replacements: 16 Will Graham (Dame Allan’s), 17 Hugo Hodgson (Sedbergh), 18 Myles Adler (Bede Academy), 19 Freddie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 20 Ben Jewsbury (Sedbergh), 21 Josh Dickson (Barnard Castle), 22 Dan Cassap (Durham), 23 Jonny Royle (Barnard Castle).
Sale Sharks:
15 Austin Keogh (Macclesfield Campus, vc), 14 Vojtech Nevicky (ex Mount St Mary’s), 13 Ed Millachip (Kirkham GS), 12 Adam Jacques (Sedbergh), 11 Charlie Fletcher (Ellesmere College), 10 Tom Jacques (Sedbergh), 9 Will Bayston (Sedbergh), 1 Hendro Hattingh (Scarisbrick Hall), 2 Morgan Simmonds (Bishop Heber), 3 Fergus Hayles (Kirkham GS), 4 Nico Jones (Sedbergh), 5 James Moore (Sedbergh), 6 Victor Joulie (Ellesmere College), 7 Ethan Banks (AKS Lytham), 8 Charlie Bray (Kirkham GS, captain).
Replacements: 16 Harry Marsh (Kirkham GS), 17 Olly McCall (Sedbergh), 18 Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Kirkham GS), 19 Alfie Halliday (Kirkham GS), 20 Henry Bates (Kirkham GS), 21 Joe Foulds (Sedbergh), 22 Arthur Scrase (Kirkham GS), 23 Alex Wood (Kirkham GS).
Harlequins:
15 Flynn Roberts (Epsom College), 14 Luc Springate (Epsom College), 13 Jack Tyler (Newman College), 12 Tom Chapman (Wellington College), 11 Jack Cosgrove (Seaford College), 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 Harry Chilcott (RGS Guildford), 7 Jack Kemp (Cranleigh), 8 Leo Dickinson (KCS Wimbledon).
Replacements: 16 Toby Brotherstone (Hampton), 17 Sam Smith (Gordon’s), 18 Levi Trystman (Epsom College), 19 Marcus Grisdale (Whitgift), 20 Ben Hislop (Bishop Wand), 21 Stan Amor (Hampton), 22 Jaiden King (Newman College), 23 Will Courtney (Wellington College).
Prem Rugby Next Gen Results:
Round 7:
Bath 40-22 Leicester Tigers
Bristol Bears 47-12 Newcastle Red Bulls
Exeter Chiefs 43-21 Yorkshire Academy
Harlequins 64-26 Northampton Saints
Saracens 40-17 Gloucester
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 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 on 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
