The Big Combined Premiership Rugby Cup Thread

[Which Tyler]

My knowledge of the quality of Baths squad players is pretty lacking, so whilst I've heard of a good chunk of them, outside of the likes of de Glanville, Schoeman etc how strong a line up is that compared to previous PRC teams this season?

I'm much the same looking at yours.

Of that 23, only TdG would both the first teams 23; and even then would probably miss out (Due to JvG's fondness of a 6:2 bench split).

15 Sam Harris - yes, made his debut for England U20 in the summer; 19 yoa and very promising, don't know what position he'll settle into yet
14 Tom de Glanville - probably 2nd choice FB (pre-season I'd have said 1st, but Gallagher has been brilliant)
13 Jordan Venter - 3rd choice OC, 20 yoa. They build them big in SA - especially if their "scientists" get hold of them early enough
12 Max Wright - 3rd/4th choice IC, everyone was surprised he was offered a contract for this season
11 Will Butt - 21 yoa, big winger come centre; has had some game time through injuries to others, probably 4th, maybe 5th choice winger
10 George Worboys - academy FH
9 Tom Carr-Smith - academy SH

1 Juan Schoeman - big Saffer, but dissapointing given that, 4th choice LHP
2 Tom Doughty - 3rd choice hooker, second year out of the academy, good lad, but probably never be more than a backup
3 Archie Griffin - academy THP
4 Michael Etete - recently signed as a gamble from the championship, 5/6 hybrid type lock, probably 8th/9th choice lock
5 JJ Tonks - played far more for Saints than he has for us, another 5/6 hybrid, probably 8th/9th choice lock, so about the 4th choice lock pairing
6 Tom Ellis - never quite lived up to his potential - partially through injury when called up to an England squad, slipping down the pecking order to 3rd choice BSF
7 Wesley White - Jake White's kid, signed as a gamble from the championship, not seen much of him, and I thought he was a #8
8 Richard de Carpentier - has been getting a decent amount of game time this season - but that's because Barbeary, Coetzee and Bayliss have been largely unavailable.

Bench are all further down the pecking order, not a hint of cavalry waiting to come on. Spandler and Hennessey are ones to watch for future excitement.

[Margin_Walker]

Cheers. Since you went to the effort and I'd rather not expend too much effort in my first day back at work today, I'll do the same

15 Logan Trotter - Signed this season. Was knocking around on the fringes of Scottish pro setups without breaking through anywhere
14 Matt Williams - Huge promise early on, but has had a horrific time with injuries. Fairly experienced option though.
13 Eddie Poolman - Just signed from Sydney Uni, trying to repeat the Guy Porter trick Leicester pulled.
12 Tom Hitchcock - First season as a pro after playing BUCS for Exeter Uni. Big direct option
11 Michael Dykes - One of two decent academy wings on the books. Scored a hat trick and was MOM in one of the earlier PRC games
10 Jacob Atkins - Perennial third choice FH in a team where the 1st choice guy plays every minute.
9 Caolan Englefield - Broken through a bit this season with a decent amount of Prem gametime. Nice pass

1 Facundo Gigena - Most experienced guy in the 15. Third choice loosehead with Fischetti's arrival, but still fairly decent.
2 Matt Cornish - Coming back from injury. Lots of Prem experience in the last couple of years. Was 2nd choice behind Creevy last year
3 Ciaran Parker - Fairly experienced, but squad filler really.
4 Josh Caulfield - 5th choice lock signed from Pirates in the summer. Another 5/6 hybrid
5 Ed Scragg - 6th choice lock, also signed from Pirates
6 Jack Cooke (c) - Often captains these teams. Has always been pretty skinny for a forward at this level, but seems to get by and is a lineout threat.
7 Ben Donnell - Has fallen back in the last year with the emergence of Pearson and Gonzales' signing.
8 Ben Atkins - The fly half's little brother. In the process of converting from hooker to 8.

Replacements are all academy apart from Green, Smart and O'Sullivan. Even then, the latter is the only one with any real experience to speak of.

[FKAS]

Ed Scragg the big unit LI signed in the summer, I have vague recollections of him being noted as a potential gem from the Championship with a couple of Prem clubs interested on taking a punt?

[Puja]

Ed Scragg the big unit LI signed in the summer, I have vague recollections of him being noted as a potential gem from the Championship with a couple of Prem clubs interested on taking a punt?

He comes from the rugby club that I play for, if that helps (albeit not the 3rd XV like me!). Wales U20s and a mobile big unit.

Puja

[Margin_Walker]

Yeah, I think Bath were in for him from memory. He's been decent in the PRC. Caulfield has got the odd bit of Prem gametime off the bench due to his versitility, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Scragg get a shot at some point.

[fivepointer]

Liked the look of Tom Hitchcock. He cant be far off getting a chance in the 1st team.

[FKAS]

Liked the look of Tom Hitchcock. He cant be far off getting a chance in the 1st team.

Just a bit unlucky to be sat behind one of the most consistent and all round 12s in the league.

[Margin_Walker]

He's another who wil get a chance at some point. He's been a fixture of the PRC games and is playing regularly for Ampthill which has likely been a good experience for him.

With Joseph seemingly injured he may get a shot in Jan with the Jennings/BJvR centre partnership not quite looking right at the weekend

[Margin_Walker]

Game finishes 26 - 7 to LI. Fairly scrappy affair, but they just about managed to grab the bonus point needed to go through as top seeds.

Result slightly overshadowed by a serious sounding ankle injury for Logan Trotter.

[jimKRFC]

Bristol 43 - 19 Sale
Both clubs playing a mix of experience and youth, with Sale featuring Quirke & Ford perhaps having the edge in experience/first team numbers. With an edge of both Sale locks (Bamber & Groves) having left Bristol recently. Bristol seemed to have the edge in the scrum with Rice voted MoM) showing why he was kept over Bamber & Groves. Naoh Hewrd scoring the try of the match but Ioan LLoyd getting 3 (the first after going through 3 Sale defenders).

No idea what is going on with the Cup now though, so haven't a clue what stage it is or who's still in...

[Puja]

No idea what is going on with the Cup now though, so haven't a clue what stage it is or who's still in...

Yeah, just an absolute mystery as to what's happening. Worse structure than the European comps, and that's saying something.

Good to see Ford back. We miss him at Leicester and I'm so sad that he left, but I hope he goes on to win the league with Sale this year.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Good win for Bristol. Sale looked a lot stronger on paper. Getting Ford a start and more game time into Quirke will be plus points for Sale.

[Mellsblue]

Good win for Bristol. Sale looked a lot stronger on paper. Getting Ford a start and more game time into Quirke will be plus points for Sale.

and England.

[Margin_Walker]

LI through to the final for the second year running after beating Saints last night. Hopefully won't see a choke to rival last year this time. Decent reward for the players involved.

Highlights don't really tell the story, but the game was won in the set piece. Saints' scrum buckled throughout and the lineout was also shaky.

[fivepointer]

Teams for tomorrows final (2pm)
Looks like 2 evenly matched teams so might be a lively affair.

London Irish: 15 James Stokes, 14 Matt Williams, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Tom Hitchcock, 11 Michael Dykes, 10 Jacob Atkins, 9 Hugh O’Sullivan, 1 Facundo Gigena, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 4 Josh Caulfield, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Jack Cooke (c), 7 Josh Basham, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o.

Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Ed Scragg, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Eddie Poolman, 23 Alex Harmes.

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Tom Wyatt, 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13. Sean O’Brien, 12. Tom Hendrickson, 11. Rory O’Loughlin, 10 Iwan Jenkins, 9. Tom Cairns; 1. Danny Southworth, 2. Jack Innard ©, 3. Patrick Schickerling, 4. Mike Williams, 5. Jack Dunne, 6. Christ Tshiunza, 7. Aidon Davis, 8.Rus Tuima.

Replacements: 16. Iestyn Harris, 17. James Kenny, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Cory Teague, 20. Jannes Kirsten, 21. Will Becconsall, 22. Ollie Devoto, 23. Dan John.

[Banquo]

Teams for tomorrows final (2pm)
Looks like 2 evenly matched teams so might be a lively affair.

London Irish: 15 James Stokes, 14 Matt Williams, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Tom Hitchcock, 11 Michael Dykes, 10 Jacob Atkins, 9 Hugh O’Sullivan, 1 Facundo Gigena, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 4 Josh Caulfield, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Jack Cooke (c), 7 Josh Basham, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o.

Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Ed Scragg, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Eddie Poolman, 23 Alex Harmes.

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Tom Wyatt, 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13. Sean O’Brien, 12. Tom Hendrickson, 11. Rory O’Loughlin, 10 Iwan Jenkins, 9. Tom Cairns; 1. Danny Southworth, 2. Jack Innard ©, 3. Patrick Schickerling, 4. Mike Williams, 5. Jack Dunne, 6. Christ Tshiunza, 7. Aidon Davis, 8.Rus Tuima.

Replacements: 16. Iestyn Harris, 17. James Kenny, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Cory Teague, 20. Jannes Kirsten, 21. Will Becconsall, 22. Ollie Devoto, 23. Dan John.

I'd forgotten Will Joseph, has he been crocked?

[Which Tyler]

An Open Letter from Coventry's Chairman
https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/an-open ... jon-sharp/

Includes the paragraph:

Next season will be the biggest in recent memory. In addition to the league programme there will be a cup competition with all premiership and championship clubs participating. Whilst the full details of the season structure are being worked out by the RFU, that will result in more games at Butts Park Arena that will be covered by your Season Membership and will produce some must-watch matches.

If only someone had thought of that 15-20 years ago; maybe writing to the RFU's director of elite rugby at the time, to mention the idea?

[Tigersman]

Tigers fixtures leaked


V Caldy (Home)
V Sale (Away)
V Ampthill (Home)
V falcons (Home)
V Bedford (Away)

[Puja]

Tigers fixtures leaked

V Caldy (Home)
V Sale (Away)
V Ampthill (Home)
V falcons (Home)
V Bedford (Away)

Ooft. So we'll have to earn our points in the first four fixtures if we want to qualify from that group.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

[Banquo]

I wasn't going to comment on this but....what PRL and the RFU are doing is just unfair. There was a perfectly good regional model to be had, but oh no, lets not do that and make clubs struggling financially (but note, not going bust) to make the Championship' constraints' work travel large distances (with associated costs)....and penalise the two teams most in need of a commercial boost by not letting them have a home fixture via a prem side. And btw, not share any of the sponsorship or TV money with the Champ sides.

[Which Tyler]

Here here.
IMO, we need this competition, and it should be great.
But it would need to not be half-arsed, PRL autocracy that's nothing but an annoyance for all involved.
Not sharing the money it draws in is just.... typically PRL really.

[FKAS]

Not giving the Championship clubs a cut of the cash seems spectacularly short sighted. All the talk of Prem 2 etc going on, they'll need buy in from the Championship clubs for that and it really only works if those clubs are competitive. That's before we get into how beneficial the Championship clubs are as a finishing school for talent.

[Mellsblue]

Not giving the Championship clubs a cut of the cash seems spectacularly short sighted. All the talk of Prem 2 etc going on, they'll need buy in from the Championship clubs for that and it really only works if those clubs are competitive. That's before we get into how beneficial one Championship club is as a finishing school for talent.

FTFY