Pre-Season Thread

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale Sharks vs Connaught

Starting XV:

15. Tom Curtis
14. Tom O’Flaherty
13. Rob du Preez ©
12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White
11. Obi Ene
10. Ollie Davies
9. Rafi Quirke
1. Simon McIntyre
2. Tadgh McElroy
3. James Harper
4. Ben Bamber
5. Hyron Andrews
6. Jacques Vermeulen
7. Tristan Woodman
8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements:

16. Ethan Caine
17. Tom Davis
18. Tumy Onasanya
19. Patreece Bell
20. Patrick Hogg
21. Jos Gilmore
22. Frank Chatterton
23. Dom Hanson
24. Nye Thomas
25. Sam Bedlow
26. Joe Bedlow
27. Toby Wilson
28. Albert Bradshaw.

Obvious call out is Ollie 'the messiah' Davies at 10.

Also worth noting Tom Davis at 17. He was a hooker at schoolboy from the same age group as Kepu Tuipolotu and Alfie Longstaff and is very good. Didn't get capped, but that's kind of understandable when you have those two plus Jimmy Staples ahead of you. Four top class hooking talents in one school year is a bit special!

Hogg you've probably heard about. Lock or backrow from Falcons academy who signed senior terms with Sale out of the blue! Captained England age groups and is very highly rated, and another ginger.

Gilmore was in the U20s squad. Decent backrower, but will find it hard to break into this Sale side.

Toby Wilson is another U20 squad member. He was a very good winger at age grade.

[FKAS]

Geoff Parling has named a 29-man squad for Saturday’s Pre-Season fixture against Nottingham Rugby.

The group includes six of the summer signings in Orlando Bailey, Jamie Blamire, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Tarek Haffar, Joaquin Moro, and Charlie Titcombe.

Ale Loman and Osian Thomas, on loan from Nottingham Rugby, will feature, while Ryan Crowley (Chinnor RFC) and Joe Taylor (Loughborough University) are included as part of a trial period with the club.

Ollie Allan, Archie van der Flier, Joshua Manz, and Cameron Miell - who were promoted to the Senior Squad during the off-season - have been named, while 25/26 Senior Academy squad members - George Marsh, Harry Palmer, George Pearson, and Tom Threlfall - will also feature.

FORWARDS
Jamie Blamire, Charlie Clare, Olly Cracknell, Archie van der Flier, Tarek Haffar, Emeka Ilione, Hanro Liebenberg, Ale Loman (Nottingham Rugby), Tubuna Maka, Joshua Manz, George Marsh, Cameron Miell, Joaquin Moro, Harry Palmer, Osian Thomas (Nottingham Rugby), Harry Wells

BACKS
Ollie Allan, Orlando Bailey, Ryan Crowley (Chinnor RFC), Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Ollie Hassell-Collins, George Pearson, Izaia Perese, Joe Taylor (Loughborough University), Tom Threlfall, Charlie Titcombe, Will Wand, Tom Whiteley, Joseph Woodward

Thing to note here is who isn't available. No Carnduff or Chessum Jnr perhaps both under going rehab or having a heavier pre season with the S&C team trying to bulk them up.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Tigers squad for Nottingham:

FORWARDS
Jamie Blamire
Charlie Clare
Olly Cracknell
Archie van der Flier
Tarek Haffar
Emeka Ilione
Hanro Liebenberg
Ale Loman (Nottingham Rugby)
Tubuna Maka
Joshua Manz
George Marsh
Cameron Miell
Joaquin Moro
Harry Palmer
Osian Thomas (Nottingham Rugby)
Harry Wells

BACKS
Ollie Allan
Orlando Bailey
Ryan Crowley (Chinnor RFC)
Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Ollie Hassell-Collins
George Pearson
Izaia Perese
Joe Taylor (Loughborough University)
Tom Threlfall
Charlie Titcombe
Will Wand
Tom Whiteley
Joseph Woodward

George Marsh is fresh out of Denstone College and a cracking backrow prospect. Can play 6, 7 or 8.

Pearson got a taste of last years U20s and Threlfall is another of that age group who spent most of the season with Notts. Previously capped at U18 level.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Gloucester teams for Munster

First half:
15 Atkinson C
14 Loader
13 Joseph
12 Butler
11 Thorley
10 Byrne
9 Englefield
1 Kight
2 Singleton
3 Gotovtsev
4 Thomas
5 Jordan
6 Basham
7 Ludlow
8 Mann

2nd half:
15 Hathaway
14 Morris
13 Edwards-Giraud
12 Knight
11 Cotgreave
10 Barton
9 Austin
1 Bellamy
2 Innard
3 Benz-Salomon
4 Gwynne
5 Alemanno
6 Trenholm
7 Venter
8 Clement

Travelling reserves:
Knowles
Mcarthur
Allport
Taylor
James
Price

[Epaminondas Pules]

Saracens Men’s team to play Hollywoodbets Sharks Invitational:

Rhys Carre
Eoghan Clarke
Marcus Street
Olamide Sodeke
Hugh Tizard
Harry Wilson
Reggie Hammick
Nathan Michelow
Gareth Simpson
Louie Johnson
Rotimi Segun
Cam Hutchison
Nick Tompkins (c)
Tobias Elliott
Jack Bracken

Replacements:
16. James Hadfield
17. Phil Brantingham
18. Tietie Tuimauga
19. Kennedy Sylvester
20. Charlie West
21. Charlie Bracken
22. Luke Davidson
23. Oscar Wilson

[Epaminondas Pules]

Saints for Bedford:

BEDFORD BLUES vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Friday 5 September, 2025
Goldington Road
Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 James Pater
14 Tom Rowe
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Toby Thame
11 Edoardo Todaro
10 Anthony Belleau
9 Archie McParland

1 Oliver Scola
2 Henry Walker
3 Luke Green
4 Ed Prowse
5 Chunya Munga (c)
6 Archie Benson
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
Craig Wright
Ben Murphy*
Cleopas Kundiona
Jack Lawrence
Emeka Atuanya
Aiden Ainsworth-Cave
Siep Walta
Fyn Brown
Jonny Weimann
Tom James
James Martin
Henry Lumley
Amena Caqusau

*Denotes guest

Not considered for selection:
Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, George Hendy, Emmanuel Iyogun, Josh Kemeny, Curtis Langdon, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock, Charlie Ulcoq, Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith and Tom West.


Couple of school leavers in the starting backline and another couple on the bench.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Exeter vs Ospreys:

Exeter Chiefs first half:

15 Will Haydon-Wood
14 Paul Brown-Bampoe
13 Ben Hammersley
12 Nick Lilley
11 Campbell Ridl
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Lewis Pearson
5 Rusi Tuima
6 Christ Tshiunza
7 Ethan Roots (c)
8 Ross Vintcent


Replacements:

16 Julian Heaven
17 Scott Sio
18 Isaac Godfrey
19 Luke Evans
21 Tom Cairns
22 Nic Allison

Exeter Chiefs second half:

15 Jed Findlay
14 Kian Gentry
13 Zack Wimbush
12 Harry Ascherl
11 Noah Fenton
10 Ben Coen
9 Charlie Chapman
1 Kwenzo Blose
2 Jack Yeandle (c)
3 Jimmy Roots
4 Oscar Beckerleg
5 Andrea Zambonin
6 Martin Moloney
7 Jack Forsythe
8 Kane James

[Epaminondas Pules]

Not seen any Bristol, Bath, Falcons or Harlequins teams yet

[FKAS]

Interesting that Glaws are playing Barton at 10 whilst Atkinson starts at 15. Was more the other way round previously.

[jimKRFC]

Not seen any Bristol, Bath, Falcons or Harlequins teams yet

Bristol have played Hartpury and Connacht - no squad details have been shared and Bristol haven't put anything about the result.

Connacht shares some highlights and it seems they won 54 -12.

[Puja]

Ale Loman and Osian Thomas, on loan from Nottingham Rugby, will feature, while Ryan Crowley (Chinnor RFC) and Joe Taylor (Loughborough University) are included as part of a trial period with the club.

Googled to see if any of those was a tighthead and it turns out that Loman is actually a Swedish international prop who can play both sides, but has been 3 for Nottingham generally. Responsible for this try for Sweden:

https://x.com/T2Rugby/status/1853070266915557664

BEDFORD BLUES vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Friday 5 September, 2025
Goldington Road
Kick-off: 7.45pm

8 Sam Graham

Fantastic news! Hope he goes well.

Puja

[FKAS]

Ale Loman and Osian Thomas, on loan from Nottingham Rugby, will feature, while Ryan Crowley (Chinnor RFC) and Joe Taylor (Loughborough University) are included as part of a trial period with the club.

Googled to see if any of those was a tighthead and it turns out that Loman is actually a Swedish international prop who can play both sides, but has been 3 for Nottingham generally. Responsible for this try for Sweden:

https://x.com/T2Rugby/status/1853070266915557664

I think he did a bit of PRC stuff for Tigers last season as well didn't he? I'm sure he's been in and around Oval Park. One we are keeping an eye on I suspect.

Incidentally I used to play with his head coach for Sweden, Alex Laybourne.

[Mr Mwenda]

Ale Loman and Osian Thomas, on loan from Nottingham Rugby, will feature, while Ryan Crowley (Chinnor RFC) and Joe Taylor (Loughborough University) are included as part of a trial period with the club.

Googled to see if any of those was a tighthead and it turns out that Loman is actually a Swedish international prop who can play both sides, but has been 3 for Nottingham generally. Responsible for this try for Sweden:

https://x.com/T2Rugby/status/1853070266915557664

BEDFORD BLUES vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Friday 5 September, 2025
Goldington Road
Kick-off: 7.45pm

8 Sam Graham

Fantastic news! Hope he goes well.

Puja

I've seen Loman play here in Sweden. He carved up for my old team, Lugi lions, which is by no means a traditional powerhouse. It is wonderful to see him continue to develop continually. Let us know how he goes, please.

[Danno]

Googled to see if any of those was a tighthead and it turns out that Loman is actually a Swedish international prop who can play both sides, but has been 3 for Nottingham generally. Responsible for this try for Sweden:

https://x.com/T2Rugby/status/1853070266915557664

Puja

That last pass was forwards

[Epaminondas Pules]

This was the Quins team from the Castres game last week. Castres won 42 v 19

Harlequins Starting XV

1.⁠ ⁠Els, 2.⁠ ⁠Riley, 3.⁠ ⁠Williams (H), 4.⁠⁠Green (J), 5.⁠ ⁠Treadwell, 6.⁠⁠Lawday, 7.⁠ ⁠Driscoll, 8.⁠⁠Schmid, 9.⁠ ⁠Townsend, 10.⁠⁠Benson, 11.⁠ ⁠Hyde, 12.⁠⁠Bradley, 13.⁠ ⁠Kolade, 14.⁠⁠Cleaves, 15.⁠ ⁠Anderson

Impact Players: Miller, Musk, Staples, Doak, Carr, Browne, Williams E, Driscoll, Schmid, Everett

[Scrumhead]

Yeah - very callow team so not overly surprising result.

Here’s the team playing Benetton tomorrow:

1. Els
2. Musk
3. Delgado
4. J. Green
5. Treadwell
6. Kenningham
7. W. Evans (c)
8. Schmid
9. Porter
10. Slevin
11. Cleaves
12. Bradley
13. Kolade
14. David
15. T. Green

Plus a big bench I can’t be bothered to add.

Slight worry that Benson is not included. I hope he’s not injured.

[Which Tyler]

Bath squad for Glasgow:
1 Scott Kirk
2 Jasper Spandler
3 Kieran Verden
4 Will Jeanes
5 Harvey Cuckson
6 Ewan Richards ©
7 Thompson Cowan
8 Arthur Green

09 Bernard van der Linde
10 Ciaran Donoghue
11 Charlie Griffin
12 Will Butt
13 Chris Harris
14 Austin Emens
15 Sam Winters

Replacements:
1 Francois van Wyk, Claudius Wheeler
2 Tom Dunn, Max Pearce
3 Mikey Summerfield, Alfie Griffin
4 Ross Molony
5 Quinn Roux
6 Jack Bennett, James Maloney
7 Ethan Staddon
8 Miles Reid

09 Tom Carr-Smith, Neil le Roux
10 James Linegar
11 Joe Cokanasiga
12 Jack Harrison
13 Henry Bartlett
14 Henry Arundell
15 Tom de Glanville

[Epaminondas Pules]

Winters and Linegar is awesome to see! I know it’s only preseason, but still ace!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale Sharks vs Connaught

Starting XV:

15. Tom Curtis
14. Tom O’Flaherty
13. Rob du Preez ©
12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White
11. Obi Ene
10. Ollie Davies
9. Rafi Quirke
1. Simon McIntyre
2. Tadgh McElroy
3. James Harper
4. Ben Bamber
5. Hyron Andrews
6. Jacques Vermeulen
7. Tristan Woodman
8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements:

16. Ethan Caine
17. Tom Davis
18. Tumy Onasanya
19. Patreece Bell
20. Patrick Hogg
21. Jos Gilmore
22. Frank Chatterton
23. Dom Hanson
24. Nye Thomas
25. Sam Bedlow
26. Joe Bedlow
27. Toby Wilson
28. Albert Bradshaw.

Obvious call out is Ollie 'the messiah' Davies at 10.

Also worth noting Tom Davis at 17. He was a hooker at schoolboy from the same age group as Kepu Tuipolotu and Alfie Longstaff and is very good. Didn't get capped, but that's kind of understandable when you have those two plus Jimmy Staples ahead of you. Four top class hooking talents in one school year is a bit special!

Hogg you've probably heard about. Lock or backrow from Falcons academy who signed senior terms with Sale out of the blue! Captained England age groups and is very highly rated, and another ginger.

Gilmore was in the U20s squad. Decent backrower, but will find it hard to break into this Sale side.

Toby Wilson is another U20 squad member. He was a very good winger at age grade.

Sale lose 40 points to 5.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sarries win 38 v 26. Elliott and Caluori both got a pair and Jack Bracken scored a beauty!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Gloucester won 14 v 12 scoring with the last play of the game

[Epaminondas Pules]

Saints beat Bedford 40 v 28

[FKAS]

STARTING XV
15 George Pearson
14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
13 Will Wand
12 Joseph Woodward
11 Ollie Hassell- Collins
10 Charlie Titcombe
9 Ollie Allan
1 Archie van der Flier
2 Charlie Clare
3 Ale Loman *
4 Harry Palmer
5 Hanro Liebenberg
6 Joaquin Moro
7 Emeka Ilione
8 Olly Cracknell

REPLACEMENTS
Jamie Blamire
Tarek Haffar
Tubuna Maka
Osian Thomas *
Harry Wells
Joshua Manz
George Marsh
Charlie Bemand
Orlando Bailey
Ryan Crowley *
Joe Taylor *
Izaia Perese
Tom Threlfall

* Loan/guest/trial player

[FKAS]

I'd expected Titcombe to be deployed as a 15 today, perhaps he'll move back to there in the second half. Given his previous experience covering 10 and 15 with Tigers otherwise lack of specialist fullbacks it seemed likely. Good to see Pearson back from his injury and starting there though, he's a bright talent. Outside of the wingers it's a youthful backline.

Up front is more experienced from the start so the younger guys should have plenty of ball and a stable platform to play off of.

[Which Tyler]

Bath 47 - 14 Glasgow