The Gallagher Premiership returns this week after a two-week Champions/Challenge Cup hiatus, and with teams second through to eighth all on eight wins and separated by just seven points, it’s set to be one of the most exciting rounds in Premiership history.
Billed as the second ‘Derby Day’ of the season, Saturday sees table-toppers Northampton Saints take on Leicester Tigers and second place Bath travel to Exeter Chiefs, whilst Saracens host Gloucester to kick off the weekend’s proceedings.
On Sunday, Harlequins continue their travels far and wide from London as they go to Sale, whilst Bristol, the only side to win both games post-Six Nations, host the still winless Newcastle.
Northampton are in the form of their lives and have won ten games so far, but still only sit five points clear at the top of the table.
Below them, two fixtures will see movement in the mid-table cauldron as teams vie to secure play-off spots with just four games remaining. Tom Jeffreys previews an action-packed round.
Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers, cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, (Saturday, 3:05pm kick off)
Technically the second kick-off behind Saracens vs Gloucester, it’s impossible not to put this game at the top of the priority list.
A lot was said about the Premiership’s honest attempt at marketing with ‘Derby Day’ before Christmas, but this is one of few Premiership fixtures where the players have genuine skin in the game.
Leicester inflicted one of Saints’ four losses in the first fixture in round six at Mattioli Woods Welford Road to pick up just their second win of the season. Since then, Saints have lost just once, reached a Champions Cup semi final, and gone unbeaten at home.
Given their busy schedule, they have rotated their squad, with the headline being Fin Smith‘s move to the bench for the form full-back in the tournament, George Furbank, who last played fly-half in round seven.
Courtney Lawes and player of the month Ollie Sleightholme drop out the squad whilst Tommy Freeman, Trevor Davison, and Sam Graham drop to the bench, but with the likes of Munster match-winner George Hendy and Scotland international Elliot Millar-Mills replacing them, Saints are still strong.
Furbank will have to step up given his opposite man is Handre Pollard – the South African kicked 16 points in Leicester’s win last time out.
There are returns for Ollie Chessum and Tommy Reffell in the pack, whose experience will be vital for England u20s captain Finn Carnduff on his first Premiership start. On the bench, Ben Youngs will extend his record as top-appearance maker in this fixture.
Saracens vs Gloucester, StoneX Stadium, (Saturday, 3:00pm kick-off)
The complexion of this fixture is ambiguous to say the least. Whilst Gloucester sit six places below Saracens, they’re in their best form for potentially years. A Premiership Rugby Cup win, and a run to the semi-finals has invigorated their season and they’ve lost just once in their last nine games.
Meanwhile, Saracens are amidst a difficult period following heavy defeats to Northampton and Bordeaux. Their squad resembles full strength, however, with Owen Farrell recovering from a knock to lead the side containing 18 internationals.
Tom Willis replaces Billy Vunipola for his first start since November – he scored twice in a standout performance in Saracens’ 24-3 win against Gloucester in round three.
For Gloucester, there are 10 changes to the starting lineup that beat Ospreys in the Challenge Cup quarter-final, with Zach Mercer dropping out for Jack Clement, and new signing Charlie Atkinson facing a big chance to make his mark on the ten shirt ahead of Gareth Anscombe’s arrival next season in Adam Hastings’ absence.
Exeter Chiefs vs Bath, Sandy Park, (Saturday, 5:30pm kick-off)
Whilst it’s not as famous a derby as Saints vs Tigers, this will be a fixture full of passion given Chiefs knocked Bath out of the Champions Cup just two weeks ago.
That game was heavily dictated by gusty weather conditions and a man of the match performance from Immanuel Fey-Waboso, who returns to start in an identical starting backline to the one that went toe to toe in the first half against Toulouse last week, and overcame Bath the week before.
The pack is much the same too, with only three changes from the Bath round of 16 fixture as Rush Tuima, Christ Tshiunza and Ross Vintcent make way for Lewis Pearson, Jacques Vermeulen, and Greg Fisilau.
Bath’s side is drastically different, however, with injuries for Finn Russell and Cameron Redpath in that game paving way for starts for Orlando Bailey and Max Ojomoh.
Their pack remains strong, however, with number eight Alfie Barbeary hoping to replicate his two-try performance in Bath’s 41-24 win in the Premiership in December.
Sale Sharks vs Harlequins, Salford Community Stadium, (Sunday, 3:00pm kick-off)
Whilst both sides, like the fixture before this, stand on eight wins, separated by just five points, Quins are firm favourites. They’re high off one of their best wins of all time against Champions Cup giants Bordeaux, which came just a week after their first ever knockout win in the competition against 2nd placed URC club Glasgow.
Meanwhile, Sale’s form has fallen away. After winning seven of their first eight Premiership games they have lost six out of seven games in 2024 and recently crashed out of the Challenge Cup to Ospreys.
Sale’s squad is at near full strength, however, with the backline that took them to last year’s Premiership final back and containing George Ford and Manu Tuilagi.
Opposite them, Will Porter’s two-try performance vs Bordeaux is rewarded with a start over Danny Care, whilst Joe Marler returns to replace another Bordeaux standout, Fin Baxter. Chandler Cunningham-South recovers from a knock last week to start as well.
Bristol Bears vs Newcastle Falcons, Ashton Gate (Sunday, 3:00pm kick-off)
Given both sides exited their respective European competitions at the group stage, they’re well rested having played just twice since January. In those two games in March, Bristol effectively saved their season with a shock 52-21 thumping of Northampton and a 33-24 win over an on-form Gloucester.
Meanwhile, Newcastle, under the stewardship of Steve Diamond, put in some encouraging performances despite narrow losses against Exeter and Leicester.
They are, however, reeling from another significant transfer announcement with Guy Pepper – the player with 171 tackles at 96% success this season – due to join Bath next year, joining their other standout youngsters Phil Brantingham and Louie Johnson on their way out.
Brantingham starts with the other two absent from the 23; Guy Pepper’s brother, Max, however, is due to make a senior debut on the bench alongside loosehead replacement Mark Dormer after their seasons with Durham University in BUCS Super Rugby ended.
Their last fixture, a 21-13 loss in which Virimi Vakatawa scored as well as both hookers Harry Thacker and Gabriel Oghre, was in round nine. Oghre gets a start this time, whilst Benhard Janse van Rensburg replaces Vakatwa. Max Lahiff, fresh off a contract extension, is on the bench, with Ellis Genge starting in the front row for his sixth Premiership game of the season.
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