Exeter Chiefs host Bristol Bears on Saturday in the fifth round of pool stage games in the 2025/26 PREM Rugby Cup

12:04, 21 Nov 2025Updated 12:13, 21 Nov 2025

Bristol Bears prop Max Lahiff on the charge with the ball against Bath (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs are both looking to use their final game of the PREM Rugby Cup block to prepare for a vital run of games in the league and Europe.

Neither side looks likely to progress in the PREM Rugby Cup, but they are now using the competition to get valuable game time for players competing for spots in the first team, while also blooding young up-and-coming players in a competitive first-team environment.

Jimmy Williams, Harry Thacker, Sam Worsely, Max Lahiff and George Taylor return from injury for Bristol Bears, while Exeter hand Richard Capstick a second opportunity in as many weeks to play himself into form having recovered from a knee ligament injury, while young hooker Louie Gulley will captain the home side just a week after making his first team debut.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We’re focused on giving players opportunities to play and that’s what we’re going to do again this weekend. We’ve got to make sure we utilise the squad, especially our home-grown players, as often as we can, and continue to develop players as we go along.

“We’ve got to grow ourselves again into a team that is strong in all three competitions. That doesn’t happen overnight; it takes a little pain, but that’s how you eventually get to where you want to be.”

Bristol Bears head of academy John Barnes added: “I think it’s good that this group get another go, although there are a few additions to the squad this week. But for a three or four week period, they’ve been working hard together and they get another go at Exeter on Saturday.

“It is always good, especially for the youngsters, to play against different teams and face different challenges, and you know Bath was a real big challenge with the team they had out, and then Argentina was a different challenge with the physicality and again the weather, unfortunately. I think it’s great for young players and you hope they improve every week and that’s as part of having these games.”

Bristol face Northampton Saints in the Gallagher PREM next weekend, before turning their attention to Scarlets and Pau in the Investec Champions Cup.

Exeter will resume their league campaign with a difficult trip away to Sale Sharks before facing the Cheetahs and Racing 92 in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Dan John, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Ollie Batson, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Campbell Ridl, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Tom Cairns, 1 Ethan Burger, 2 Louie Gulley (c), 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Rusi Tuima, 6 Joe Bailey, 7 Martin Moloney, 8 Richard Capstick

Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Oscar Beckerleg, 20 Finn Worley Brady, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Harry Ascherl.

Bristol Bears: 15. Noah Heward (29 apps), 14. Jack Bates (57 apps), 13. Victor Worsnip (2 apps), 12. James Williams (56 apps), 11. Aidan Boshoff (8 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (22 apps), 9. Sam Wolstenholme (11 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (111 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (139 apps), 3. Lovejoy Chawatama (14 apps), 4. Ethan Surrey (4 apps), 5. Steele Barker (7 apps), 6. George Taylor (4 apps), 7. Kenzie Jenkins (7 apps), 8. John Edwards (1 app).

Replacements: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (9 apps), 17. Louie Trevett (6 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (15 apps), 19. Will Ramply (2 apps), 20. Sam Grahamslaw (19 apps), 21. Ellis Bevan (2 apps), 22. Mat Protheroe (37 apps), 23. Evan Morris (3 apps).

Referee: Richard Gordon

Assistant referees: Hamish Grant & Iain Kiy