O'Connor at full-back in exciting Tigers back three, Slade starts for Chiefs - PREM Rugby Cup semi-final team news
Published 06/03/2026 at 14:37 GMT
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James O'Connor will start for Leicester Tigers in a hugely exciting back three, alongside internationals Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Ollie Hassell-Collins. Tigers face a youthful Bath side missing a lot of key players to the Six Nations. Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, Henry Slade starts for Exeter Chiefs against a Northampton Saints side armed with top points scorer Anthony Belleau at fly-half.
Highlights: Bath defeat Gloucester in West Country Derby thriller
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Spring has sprung and with it comes our first set of knockout matches of the domestic calendar in the form of the Prem Rugby Cup.
Exeter Chiefs host Northampton Saints, before the old rivalry between Leicester Tigers and Bath is renewed in what is set to be a cracking double header.
And there is international quality on the field in both games, as Henry Slade starts in an exciting backline full of pace and power for Exeter Chiefs, while Leicester Tigers name a stacked team which sees Australia legend James O’Connor line up at full-back.
Alongside Slade for Chiefs in the backline is in-form England A winger Paul Brown-Bampoe, with the competition’s top try scorer Campbell Ridl restricted to a spot on the replacements bench such is the strength of their side.
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‘Sharp eye for a gap!' - Brown-Bampoe's strong season continues with fine try
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Jack Yeandle leads the side from hooker, in a pack that contains England squad member Greg Fisilau, who packs down at No.8 behind a sizeable second-row duo of Lewis Pearson and Rusi Tuima.
Their opponents, Northampton Saints come equipped with the tournament’s joint-top point scorer in French fly-half Anthony Belleau.
He starts outside former England U20 scrum-half Archie McParland, with a back three that know their way to the try line, comprised of George Hendy, James Martin and James Ramm, as well as Scotland international Rory Hutchinson at inside centre.
The side is captained by England back row Callum Chick, while in the 145kg JJ van der Mescht, Saints have their own powerful weapon.
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Try of the season contender? Saints sprint from own 22 to score stunner
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Into the derby and Bath, missing more players than most teams due to the Six Nations, have fielded a largely youthful side, with a few experienced heads to steady the ship.
Will Butt captains the team at inside centre inside Harris, while hooker Dan Frost will guide a pack that is heavily depleted. Kepu Tuipulotu is an incredible talent to watch for on the bench.
They must take on a Leicester Tigers side that has star names throughout, with O’Connor joined by recent Wales cap Gabriel Hamer-Webb and England winger Ollie Hassell-Collins in an all international back three.
Former Bath starlet Orlando Bailey starts at inside centre, while Billy Searle will look to continue his excellent season from fly-half.
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'Sometimes you have to win ugly' - O'Connor admits Tigers went to war against Red Bulls
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In the pack, snubbed Wales flanker Tommy Reffell leads the side from openside flanker with a point to prove, in a back row that contains the youthful Harry Palmer at blindside flanker and Argentina international Joaquin Moro at No.8.
Wallaby Izaia Perese can bring additional ball-carrying to the backline off the replacement bench.
Ahead of all the live coverage on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Sunday, check out all four line-ups as knockout rugby arrives for 2026.
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Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints line-ups
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Zack Wimbush, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 3 Jimmy Roots, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Rusi Tuima, 6 Martin Moloney, 7 Finn Worley Brady, 8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 Joe Bailey, 20 Oscar Beckerleg, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Campbell Ridl
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Northampton Saints: 15 George Hendy, 14 James Martin, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 James Ramm, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Archie McParland; 1 Tom West, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Luke Green, 4 Tom Lockett, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Charlie Ulcoq, 8 Callum Chick (c)
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Joe Cowell, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Archie Benson, 21 Tom James, 22 Toby Thame, 23 Amena Caqusau
Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby line-ups
Leicester Tigers: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Will Wand, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Tom Whiteley; 1 Archie van der Flier, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Will Hurd, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Tom Manz, 6 Harry Palmer, 7 Tommy Reffell (c), 8 Joaquin Moro
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobold-Thomas, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Hanro Liebenberg, 20 Josh Manz, 21 Charlie Bemand, 22 Joseph Woodward, 23 Izaia Perese
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Bath Rugby: 15 Sam Winters, 14 Austin Emens, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Butt (c), 11 Charlie Griffin, 10 Will Roue, 9 Ieuan Davies; 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Jack Bennett, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 George Timmins, 8 Arthur Green.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 James Maloney, 20 Alex Ridgway, 21 Neil le Roux, 22 James Linegar, 23 Jack Harrison
Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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