Following the conclusion of the opening round of the 2026/27 PREM Rugby season, here is the latest Planet Rugby Team of the Week.
There were big wins for Northampton Saints, Bath, Gloucester, Bristol Bears 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 James Pater (Northampton Saints): What a way to announce yourself as Northampton’s new number 15! The youngster has big shoes to fill following the departure of George Furbank, but took to his role superbly well against Newcastle and bagged himself a hat-trick alongside a tally of 58 metres from 10 carries, two linebreaks and two defenders beaten. Santi Carreras was not far behind, and his try alone nearly got him into this side.
14 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints): Simply carried on from where he left off last season for the Saints, in a big effort. Like his full-back colleague, Freeman got himself a tidy hat-trick in a proper poacher’s effort, and showed further flashes of quality in attack with 53 metres from seven carries and a tally of two defenders beaten. Will Joseph went well for Gloucester.
13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears): It’s normally his attacking output that takes the headlines, but against Sale, it was his defence that really came to the fore. Stood tall for his side through a busy midfield channel, ending his shift with 13 tackles in the process, which in turn helped Bristol keep the Sharks at arm’s length. Oscar Beard looked in good touch for Harlequins, which is pleasing considering his injury run.
12 Seb Atkinson (Gloucester): Really grew into the game as it went on against Exeter, becoming an ever-increasing focal point in their win. Bossed proceedings through the midfield, making 19 tackles and really limiting Exeter’s attacking shape in the process, while also making himself busy in attack with 12 carries for 28 metres and getting a nice try too. Fraser Dingwall impressed for Northampton.
11 Ben Loader (Gloucester): Spoilt for choice in the 11 shirt this weekend, with George Hendy, Gabe Hamer-Webb and Rotimi Segun all impressing, but Loader gets the nod after his exploits at Sandy Park. Showed his finishing prowess with two very well-taken tries, beating the covering defence in almost identical ways, and just looked for organic ways to get himself into the game with a nice stats sheet of 12 carries for 56 metres.
10 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints): The beating heart of Northampton Saints’ impressive victory over Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night, which sees him edge out both Charlie Atkinson and Fergus Burke in the process. Played in a dinner jacket at the Gardens with classy touch after classy touch, be it with his distribution, kicking or even running, and was rightly named Player of the Match for his efforts.
9 Tomos Williams (Saracens): Not that we needed it, but this was a proper reminder of Williams’ brilliance. Seemed to really inject a new desire and intent into Saracens’ attack at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Sunday, all while mixing in some flashes of individual flair along the way. Caolan Englefield and Dan Robson both filled their boots well for Gloucester, though.
8 Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears): Ben Earl was really not far off here, but we’ve yet again got Harding in the PREM Rugby Team of the Week! The Bristol skipper was simply sensational for his side in their win over Sale, making 14 tackles, 17 carries for 24 metres and winning three turnovers. When will the England phone call come?
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints): It’s been a big week for the 21-year-old after his new contract, but this was yet again a sign that his on-field exploits remain the big thing. Just worked his absolute socks off on both sides of the ball, ending with a game-high 16 tackles and finished second for both carries (13) and metres made (80) for his side.
6 Jac Morgan (Gloucester): What a PREM debut for the Welsh international, who looked every inch the world-class operator Gloucester hoped he would be. Seemed to spawn at pretty much every breakdown, and crucially at the ones where Exeter were just starting to make dents into the defence, while also serving as their chief defensive enforcer with a staggering 23 tackles. Sensational effort, which sees him just edge out both Josh Kemeny and Josh Bayliss.
5 Charlie Ewels (Bath): Alex Coles can potentially feel hard done by to miss out here, but we’ve opted for the experienced head of Ewels. Was given the big task of leading Bath out as captain in the absence of Ben Spencer, and produced a proper captain’s knock as a result with 14 tackles and three turnovers to his name.
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens): What a way to make your return to the field! Put his body right on the line for his side in the tight, in a game that called for exactly that, posting 16 tackles and seven carries for 19 metres along the way, while also leading the lineout well. Ted Hill was not far off, though.
3 Cleopas Kundiona (Northampton Saints): An understated effort from the tighthead, but there was a lot to like about it too. Put himself about in defence, ending the night with 10 tackles for good measure, while going pretty well at the scrum and looking for touches of the ball wherever possible. Josh Iosefa-Scott looked in good touch for Exeter.
2 Dewi Lake (Gloucester): The Welsh stars really stole the show this weekend, but Lake was arguably the best of the bunch with a mammoth shift against the Chiefs. Set the tone for his side’s efforts in the tight, making 14 carries for 18 metres alongside 12 tackles, was on the money at the lineout and got himself two tries for good measure. Gabe Oghre was not far off.
1 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks): A tough call at loosehead this week, with Emmanuel Iyogun and Beno Obano going well, but Rodd just sneaks in ahead of the chasing pack. Always made himself available for work across the park and ended his shift with a healthy stats sheet of eight tackles and three carries.