Following the conclusion of round two of the 2026/27 PREM Rugby season, here is the latest Planet Rugby Team of the Week.
There were big wins for Bath, Bristol Bears, Gloucester, Leicester Tigers and Saracens on the first weekend of the season, which also broke the record for most tries across an opening round of fixtures in league history.
Without further ado, here is who made our PREM XV!
PREM Rugby Team of the Week
15 George Barton (Gloucester): A tough call to kick things off, with Sale Sharks’ Joe Carpenter impressing against Saracens, but Gloucester ace George Barton gets the nod after a tidy display. Posed a slightly different threat to the rest of his backline whenever he was given time on the ball, and also came up with a nice assist to help the Cherry and Whites on the way to their thumping win.
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs): He might have been on the losing side at the Rec, but there was an argument he was the best player on the pitch. As we’ve come to expect from the England international, he made consistent inroads through the Bath defence whenever he touched the ball, ending the night with two tries and 133 metres to his name. Tom O’Flaherty can feel hard done to miss out, though.
13 Will Joseph (Gloucester): It seems you can play Will Joseph in any position and he will impress, with the one-cap England international seamlessly transitioning and making a statement of his Test credentials. This felt like a really complete performance from the outside back, providing some electric attacking moments alongside some gritty work in defence, and he ended his shift with a well-deserved score too. Joe Marchant’s defensive work also caught the eye for Sale.
12 Max Ojomoh (Bath): A good weekend for Bath centres, with Cameron Redpath going well too, but we’ve just got Ojomoh sneaking in ahead of him. The England international was a real livewire off the bench in Bath’s win with his introduction injecting a fresh intent and desire to their attack, and that was a major factor in their comeback win. Seb Atkinson also impressed.
11 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears): While Ben Loader impressed again for Gloucester, it’s ex-Cherry and White Louis Rees-Zammit that makes the cut this week. The Welsh wizard just relished every aspect of the game on Saturday against Northampton Saints, causing the champions all sorts of havoc ball-in-hand with a tally of seven defenders beaten, five linebreaks, 79 metres and two tries. Just a really big attacking effort from the back.
10 George Ford (Sale Sharks): Back to his classy best on Sunday, guiding Sale to victory. It was like he had a bird’s-eye view of the pitch at times against Saracens, picking exactly the right spots to either kick into space or send his outside backs through the line, and he effortlessly guided his side around the park and onto victory as a result. Charlie Atkinson went well for Gloucester once more.
9 Caolan Englefield (Gloucester): Continues to look the part for Gloucester this year, with another big display against Harlequins. Had the attack purring all night with his work at the base of the ruck, be it with the boot, running or distribution, and played a key role in their big scoreline thanks to two assists and a try. Harry Randall also shone for Bristol Bears.
8 Will Trenholm (Gloucester): A lot to like about the way Will Trenholm went about his business on Saturday. Never the headline grabber, but his actions really helped lay the foundations for Gloucester’s exciting play against Harlequins with 19 carries for 61 metres gained and nine tackles at a 100% success rate. He also got himself on the scoresheet, which felt fitting. Leicester Tigers’ Olly Cracknell was not far off this squad.
7 Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers): So often been a defensive fiend for Leicester, and that’s exactly what he was in their win over Newcastle Red Bulls. The Welshman was a man on a mission on that side of the ball in an unrelenting effort, posting an eye-watering 29 tackles and three turnovers in the process. Kane James had the shirt until Saturday evening, after a big performance for Exeter.
6 Ewan Richards (Bath): Was handed another opportunity in the run-on squad this weekend, and took it with both hands. Just seemed to have the bit between his teeth all evening in an industrious effort, posting 10 carries for 32 metres ball-in-hand alongside 13 tackles at a 100% success rate, and it was those gritty efforts that helped his side get over the line. Courtney Lawes was not far off.
5 Pedro Rubiolo (Bristol Bears): The Bristol backline normally take the spotlight, but it was Los Pumas lock Pedro Rubiolo who stole the show this weekend. The forward was mega in every aspect in the tight, chucking his hulking frame into every component of the game and posting 10 carries for 13 metres alongside 14 tackles too. Maro Itoje went well in a losing cause for Saracens.
4 Quinn Roux (Bath): Hugely powerful display from the lock forward, who gets the nod just ahead of Jean Kleyn. Like colleague Richards, he simply rolled up his sleeves and went looking for work in the tight, posting a mega stats sheet of 20 tackles and one turnover for his efforts, which in turn got them back on the front-foot and on the way to victory.
3 Will Stuart (Bath): Simply superb, in a reminder to Steve Borthwick of his class. Take your pick of things to look at, scrummaging, tackling, carrying, he was just excellent right across the board, which bodes brilliantly moving forward considering he’s only just come back to full fitness. Joe Heyes was not far off, which shows the depth England have at tighthead now.
2 Nathan Jibulu (Sale Sharks): Big mister stuff from the Sale Sharks hooker against Saracens in a really mature display. Nailed his nuts-and-bolts at the set-piece and especially at the lineout, and once again got heavily involved in the loose with 13 tackles, nine carries for 13 metres and a try. Dan Frost made a big impact off the bench for Bath.
1 Beno Obano (Bath): Joining his prop partner in this Team of the Week is Beno Obano, who edges out Nicky Smith in the process. Could almost copy and paste Stewart’s section into here, really, with Obano putting in a complete display and laying down a marker of his own Test credentials.