2025–26 PREM Rugby Cup
| 2025–26 PREM Rugby Cup | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Date | 12 September 2025 –15 March 2026 |
| Champions | Leicester Tigers (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Exeter Chiefs |
| Matches played | 36 |
| Tries scored | 288 (average 8 per match) |
| Top point scorer | Louie Johnson (Saracens) Anthony Belleau (Northampton) – 51 points |
| Top try scorer | Campbell Ridl (Exeter) – 8 tries |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The 2025–26 PREM Rugby Cup is the 53rd season of England's national rugby union cup competition and the first in two season without clubs from the second tier, Champ Rugby.[1][2][3]
Leicester Tigers won the PREM Rugby Cup defeating Exeter Chiefs 66–14 in the final at Welford Road, Leicester on 14 March 2026.
Competition format
The format features all ten clubs from the 2025–26 Premiership Rugby. The ten teams are divided into two pools, each made up of five teams, playing eight games (four home, and four away) over ten rounds. The top two teams from each pool progress to the semi-finals, with the final being held one week after the semi-finals.[1][3] After two seasons, the Champ Rugby clubs withdrew in protest, because they were not made equal partners in the development of the competition.[2]
Teams
All ten clubs from 2025–26 Premiership Rugby competed.
Pools
Each team play home and away matches against the other teams in the pool.
League points follow normal rules, 4 for a win, 2 for a draw, 0 for a loss, and bonus points for 4 tries or more and/or losing by 7 or less match points.
- On completion of the pool stage, each club will be ranked within its pool according to the following criteria:[4]
- The club with the greater number of league points will be ranked higher.
- If league points are equal, the club with the most wins will be ranked higher.
- If the number of wins is equal, the club with the superior points difference (points for minus points against) will be ranked higher.
- If the points difference is equal, the club with the greater number of points scored will be ranked higher.
- If points scored are equal, the club with the greater number of tries will be ranked higher.
- If the number of tries is equal, the club with the fewest red cards will be ranked higher.
- If the number of red cards is equal, the club that scored more points in the match between the tied clubs will be ranked higher.
- If that match was also tied on points, the tournament director will conduct a draw between the tied clubs, with the first club drawn deemed the higher‑ranked.
Pool A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exeter Chiefs | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 247 | 176 | +71 | 39 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 28 | Qualifies for play-offs |
| 2 | Bath | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 250 | 161 | +89 | 40 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 26 | |
| 3 | Gloucester | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 200 | 211 | −11 | 30 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 25 | |
| 4 | Sale Sharks | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 177 | 265 | −88 | 28 | 42 | 4 | 1 | 17 | |
| 5 | Bristol Bears | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 194 | 255 | −61 | 29 | 39 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
Updated to match(es) played on 28 February 2026. Source: PREM Rugby[4]
Round 1
| 12 September 2025 19:30 |
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 29–15 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Ludlow 21' c Llewellyn 36' c Edwards-Giraud 55' m Innard 62' c Con: Byrne (3/4) 21', 37', 63' Pen: Barton (1/1) 75' | Report | Try: Pearson 12' m Tuima 33' m Roots 40+1' m |
| Kingsholm |
| 13 September 2025 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Sale Sharks | 24–15 | Bristol Bears |
| Try: O'Flaherty 27' m Jibulu 49' c Hanson 53' c Davies 75' m Con: Curtis (2/4) 50', 54' | Report | Try: Jenkins 24' c Carrington 40' m Con: MacGinty (1/2) 24' Pen: MacGinty (1/1) 70' |
| CorpAcq Stadium Referee: Matthew Carley |
| Bye/s: Bath |
Round 2
| 19 September 2025 19:30 |
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 24–40 | Bristol Bears (1 BP) |
| Try: W. Knight 3' m M. Knight 57' c Davies 63' c Caven 74' m Con: Barton (2/4) 58', 63' | Report | Try: Oghre (2) 12' m, 41' c Rees-Zammit 20' c Grahamslaw 25' c Owen 33' c Pearce 51' c Con: MacGinty (3/4) 22', 26', 34' Worsley (2/2) 42' c, 52' |
| Kingsholm |
| 20 September 2025 15:05 |
| Bath | 14–23 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Cowan 31' c Hennessey 63' c Con: Linegar (2/2) 32', 64' | Report | Try: John 58' m Dweba 75' m Varney 78' c Con: Slade (1/3) 79' Pen: Slade (2/2) 3', 34' |
| Recreation Ground Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| Bye/s: Sale Sharks |
Round 3
| 31 October 2025 19:45 |
| Bristol Bears | 19–49 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: Gwilliam (2) 11' m, 64' c Bevan 45' c Con: Weston (2/3) 46', 64' | Report | Try: Tuipulotu (2) 14' c, 60' c Sela 17' c Green 38' c C. Griffin (2) 41' c, 55' c Butt 72' c Con: de Glanville (7/7) 15', 17', 39', 42', 55', 61', 73' |
| Ashton Gate Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| 2 November 2025 15:00 |
| (2 BP) Sale Sharks | 28–29 | Gloucester (1 BP) |
| Try: Wilson 15' c Roberts 36' c Harper 56' c Thomas 80+2' c Con: Curtis (4/4) 16', 37', 37', 80+3' | Report | Try: James (2) 5' c, 75' m Cotgreave 29' c Trenholm 39' c Con: Barton (3/4) 6', 30', 40' Pen: Barton (1/1) 70' |
| CorpAcq Stadium Referee: Sara Cox |
| Bye/s: Exeter Chiefs |
Round 4
| 14 November 2025 19:30 |
| Gloucester | 19–17 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: Hathaway 13' c Freeman-Price 27' c W. Knight 40+2' m Con: Barton (2/3) 15', 28' | Report | Try: Emens 2' c Staddon 20' m Offiah 55' m Con: Linegar (1/3) 3' |
| Kingsholm Referee: Hamish Grant |
| 14 November 2025 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Sale Sharks | 34–3 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Dugdale (2) 33' m, 42' c Caine 53' c McElroy 61' c O'Flaherty 65' m Con: R. du Preez (3/5) 43', 54', 62' Pen: R. du Preez (1/1) 29' | Report | Pen: Coen (1/1) 23' |
| CorpAcq Stadium Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| Bye/s: Bristol Bears |
Round 5
| 22 November 2025 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bath | 20–0 | Sale Sharks |
| Try: Frost 2' m de Glanville 24' m Green 34' m Butt 69' m | Report |
| Recreation Ground Referee: Joe James |
| 22 November 2025 15:00 |
| Exeter Chiefs | 22–17 | Bristol Bears (1 BP) |
| Try: Rigg 2' c Gulley 30' m Ridl 58' c Con: Haydon-Wood (2/3) 3', 59' Pen: Haydon-Wood (1/1) 66' | Report | Try: Boshoff (2) 34' c, 72' c Con: Worsley (2/2) 35', 73' Pen: Worsley (1/1) 38' |
| Sandy Park Referee: Richard Gordon |
| Bye/s: Gloucester |
Round 6
| 31 January 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs | 59–14 | Sale Sharks |
| Try: Rigg 5' c Heaven 29' c Goodrick-Clarke 31' c Pearson 33' m Tuima (2) 47' c, 66' c Iosefa-Scott 50' c Moloney 60' c Ridl 78' m Con: Hodge (7/9) 6', 30', 32', 48', 51', 61', 67' | Report | Try: Wehr 14' c J. Bedlow 20' c Con: Curtis (2/2) 15', 21' |
| Sandy Park Referee: Jamie Parr |
| 1 February 2026 15:00 |
| Bristol Bears | 8–16 | Gloucester |
| Try: Lane 16' m Pen: Worsley (1/1) 34' | Report | Try: Austin 10' c Con: Barton (1/1) 11' Pen: Barton (3/4) 45', 52', 79' |
| Ashton Gate Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| Bye/s: Bath |
Round 7
| 7 February 2026 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Bristol Bears | 35–46 | Exeter Chiefs (1 BP) |
| Try: Owen 40' c Pepper 47' c Lane 51' c Gwilliam 70' c Worsley 80' c Con: Worsley (5/5) 40+1', 48', 52', 71', 80+1' | Report | Try: Ridl (3) 4' m, 32' m, 55' c John 11' c Norey (2) 28' m, 43' m Brown-Bampoe 64' m Pearson 76' c Con: Hodge (1/4) 12' Haydon-Wood (2/4) 56', 77' |
| Ashton Gate Referee: Sara Cox |
| 8 February 2026 15:00 |
| Sale Sharks | 19–60 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: Jibulu (2) 26' c, 45' c Bradshaw 80+2' m Con: Curtis (2/3) 27', 46' | Report | Try: Green (2) 14' c, 58' c Frost (3) 20' m, 31' c, 48' m C. Griffin 35' c Timmins (2) 66' m, 74' m Spandler 71' c Mason 78' m Con: Roue (5/8) 15', 32', 36', 59', 72' |
| CorpAcq Stadium |
| Bye/s: Gloucester |
Round 8
| 14 February 2026 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs | 48–14 | Gloucester |
| Try: Ridl (3) 5' c, 55' m, 59' c Wimbush (2) 40' c, 69' c Goodrick-Clarke 43' m E. Roots 67' m Brown-Bampoe 71' m Con: Skinner (4/8) 6', 40+1', 60', 70' | Report | Try: M. Knight 18' c Alemanno 37' c Con: Barton (2/2) 19', 38' |
| Sandy Park Referee: Richard Gordon |
| 14 February 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bath | 33–24 | Bristol Bears |
| Try: Green (2) 27' c, 68' c Timmins 30' c C. Griffin (2) 57' m, 59' c Con: Emens (1/1) 28' Roue (3/4) 31', 60', 69' | Report | Try: Pepper 23' c Ibitoye 34' c Randall 65' c Con: Worsley (3/3) 24', 35', 66' Pen: Worsley (1/1) 44' |
| Recreation Ground Referee: Hamish Grant |
| Bye/s: Sale Sharks |
Round 9
| 20 February 2026 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 43–17 | Sale Sharks |
| Try: Redshaw (2) 7' m, 62' c Blake 18' c C. Atkinson 36' c Eite 51' m Trenholm 59' c Hathaway 75' m Con: C. Atkinson (4/5) | Report | Try: Wills (2) 50' m, 78' m Caine 65' c Con: Curtis (1/2) 66' |
| Kingsholm Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| 21 February 2026 16:30 |
| (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs | 31–19 | Bath |
| Try: John (2) 17' m, 29' c Woodburn 21' c Wimbush 50' m J. Roots 72' c Con: Skinner (2/4) 22', 30' Slade (1/1) 74' | Report | Try: Butt 7' c Winters 54' c Frost 78' m Con: Roue (2/2) 8', 55' |
| Sandy Park Referee: Joe James |
| Bye/s: Bristol Bears |
Round 10
| Bye/s: Exeter Chiefs |
Pool B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester Tigers | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 203 | 166 | +37 | 31 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 34 | Qualifies for play-offs |
| 2 | Northampton Saints | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 275 | 216 | +59 | 40 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 30 | |
| 3 | Saracens | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 264 | 211 | +53 | 41 | 33 | 7 | 3 | 22 | |
| 4 | Harlequins | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 198 | 250 | −52 | 32 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 13 | |
| 5 | Newcastle Red Bulls | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 131 | 228 | −97 | 20 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
Updated to match(es) played on 28 February 2026. Source: PREM Rugby[4]
Round 1
| 12 September 2025 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Red Bulls | 26–14 | Harlequins |
| Try: McGuigan 15' c McCallum 40+1' c Spencer 53' c Hearle 62' c Con: Connon (3/4) 16', 40+1', 54' | Report | Try: Bradley 35' c Riley 67' c Con: Benson (1/1) 36' c Kerr (1/1) 67' |
| Kingston Park Referee: George Selwood |
| 13 September 2025 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 20–7 | Saracens |
| Try: Blamire (2) 31' m, 52' m Ilione 63' m Wand 71' m | Report | Try: Michelow 3' c Con: Johnson (1/1) 4' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road |
| Bye/s: Northampton Saints |
Round 2
| 19 September 2025 19:30 |
| (1 BP) Saracens | 34–49 | Northampton Saints (1 BP) |
| Try: Segun (2) 8' c, 39' c Malins 18' m J. Bracken (2) 45' c, 55' m Con: Johnson (3/5) 9', 40', 46' Pen: Johnson (1/1) 6' | Report | Try: Chick (3) 3' c, 31' c, 37' c van der Mescht 21' c Wright 49' c Ramm (2) 56' c, 78' c Con: Belleau (7/7) 4', 22', 32', 38', 50', 57', 79' |
| StoneX Stadium Referee: Adam Leal |
| 19 September 2025 19:45 |
| Harlequins | 17–25 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Els 4' m Walker (2) 44' m, 50' c Con: Evans (1/3) 51' c | Report | Try: Pearson 13' c Clare 37' c Crowley 66' m Con: Titcombe (2/2) 13', 37' Pen: Titcombe (1/2) 23' Woodward (1/1) 57' |
| Twickenham Stoop Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| Bye/s: Newcastle Red Bulls |
Round 3
| 31 October 2025 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Red Bulls | 8–10 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Fletcher 6' m Pen: Connon (1/1) 67' | Report | Try: Pearson 48' c Con: Bailey (1/1) 49' Pen: Bailey (1/1) 73' |
| Kingston Park Referee: Joe James |
| 1 November 2025 17:30 |
| (1 BP) Northampton Saints | 26–17 | Harlequins |
| Try: Rowe 1' m Graham 34' c Brown 43' c Pater 45' c Con: Belleau (3/3) 34', 44', 46' | Report | Try: Cleaves 15' m Hyde 40+2' m Driscoll 75' c Con: Slevin (1/1) 75' |
| Franklin's Gardens Referee: Alex Thomas |
| Bye/s: Saracens |
Round 4
| 15 November 2025 13:00 |
| Northampton Saints | 14–31 | Newcastle Red Bulls (1 BP) |
| Try: Sleightholme 32' c Caqusau 37' c Con: Belleau (2/2) 33', 37' | Report | Try: Moore (3) 23' m, 52' c, 66' c Hutchison 55' m Lockwood 63' c Con: Connon (3/5) 53', 64', 67' |
| Franklin's Gardens Referee: Jamie Parr |
| 16 November 2025 15:00 |
| Harlequins | 21–46 | Saracens (1 BP) |
| Try: Driscoll 8' c Murray 44' c Staples 66' c Con: Slevin (3/3) 9', 45', 67' | Report | Try: Jackson (2) 2' m, 14' m J. Bracken (2) 29' c, 35' m Hartley 32' c Spink 50' c Clarke 60' m Keylock 77' m Con: Johnson (3/8) 30', 33', 51' |
| Twickenham Stoop Referee: George Selwood |
| Bye/s: Leicester Tigers |
Round 5
| 21 November 2025 19:30 |
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 34–22 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Moro (2) 1' c, 40' c Whiteley 31' m Wand 57' c Allan 76' m Con: Searle (3/5) 2', 40+1', 58' Pen: Searle (1/1) 66' | Report | Try: van der Mescht (2) 20' m, 26' c Scola 80+1' c Con: Furbank (1/2) 27' Pater (1/1) 80+2' Drop: Furbank (1/1) 34' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road |
| 22 November 2025 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Saracens | 43–0 | Newcastle Red Bulls |
| Try: Jackson 23' m Davidson 27' c Adegbemile 39' c Michelow 47' m C. Bracken 51' c van Zyl 65' c Hall 73' m Con: Johnson (4/7) 28', 40', 52', 66' | Report |
| StoneX Stadium Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| Bye/s: Harlequins |
Round 6
| 30 January 2026 19:45 |
| Newcastle Red Bulls | 12–35 | Saracens (1 BP) |
| Try: Clark 16' c Greenwood 65' m Con: Chamberlain (1/2) 17' | Report | Try: Wilson 8' c C. Bracken 40' c Hall 41' c Beaton 56' c Simpson 59' c Con: Johnson (5/5) 9', 40+1', 42', 57', 60' |
| Kingston Park Referee: Richard Gordon |
| 31 January 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Northampton Saints | 40–22 | Leicester Tigers (1 BP) |
| Try: McParland (2) 8' c, 14' c Martin 20' c Caqusau 31' c Walker 42' m Pater 46' c Con: Pater (5/6) 9', 15', 21', 32', 47' | Report | Try: Pearson 18' m Williams 57' m Clare 69' c McCarthy 80+2' m Con: O'Connor (1/4) 70' |
| Franklin's Gardens Referee: George Selwood |
| Bye/s: Harlequins |
Round 7
| 6 February 2026 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 28–19 | Newcastle Red Bulls |
| Try: J. Manz 1' c Liebenberg 16' c Wand 53' c Perese 67' c Con: O'Connor (3/3) 2', 17', 54' Whiteley (1/1) 68' | Report | Try: Rewcastle 6' m Cardall 13' c H. Obatoyinbo 63' c Con: E. Grayson (2/3) 14', 64' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road Referee: Jamie Parr |
| 7 February 2026 14:30 |
| (2 BP) Saracens | 40–43 | Harlequins (1 BP) |
| Try: Jackson 1' c C. Bracken 16' c Willis 51' c Hartley 55' c Tompkins 59' c Kava 75' m Con: Johnson (5/6) 2', 17', 52', 56', 60' | Report | Try: Bradley 10' c Musk 19' m Browne 25' c Kolade 30' c Bellamy 40' c McCormack 62' m Lawday 78' m Con: Benson (4/5) 11', 26', 31', 40+1' |
| StoneX Stadium Referee: George Selwood |
| Bye/s: Northampton Saints |
Round 8
| 13 February 2026 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Harlequins | 24–40 | Northampton Saints (1 BP) |
| Try: Lawday 7' c Yendle 20' c Cleaves 28' m Anderson 48' m Con: Benson (2/4) 8', 21' | Report | Try: McParland (3) 30' c, 40' c, 71' c Belleau 55' c Sleightholme 62' m Penalty try 78' Con: Belleau (4/5) 31', 40+1', 56', 72' |
| Twickenham Stoop Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| 14 February 2026 14:30 |
| (2 BP) Saracens | 26–31 | Leicester Tigers (1 BP) |
| Try: Lozowski 8' c Adegbemile 15' c Segun (2) 21' c, 70' m Con: Johnson (3/3) 9', 16', 22' | Report | Try: Reffell (2) 12' c, 31' m Theobald-Thomas 47' m Allan 58' c J. Manz 77' c Con: Bailey (2/4) 13', 78' Whiteley (1/1) 59' |
| StoneX Stadium Referee: Alex Thomas |
| Bye/s: Newcastle Red Bulls |
Round 9
| 20 February 2026 19:45 |
| Newcastle Red Bulls | 21–49 | Northampton Saints (1 BP) |
| Try: Obatoyinbo 5' c Palframan 69' c Fletcher 80+4' c Con: Connon (3/3) 6', 70', 80+5' | Report | Try: Green 12' c James 16' c Ulcoq 23' c Thame (2) 44' c, 51' c Hendy 66' c Sleightholme 75' c Con: Belleau (7/7) 13', 17', 24', 45', 52', 67', 76' |
| Kingston Park Referee: Hamish Grant |
| 21 February 2026 16:00 |
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 33–27 | Harlequins (2 BP) |
| Try: Blamire 7' c Wand (2) 36' c, 63' c Crowley 46' m Penalty try 71' Con: Bailey (3/4) 8', 37', 64' | Report | Try: Bellamy (2) 4' m, 57' m Northmore (2) 13' m, 79' m Townsend 16' c Con: Benson (1/3) 17' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road |
| Bye/s: Saracens |
Round 10
| Bye/s: Leicester Tigers |
Semi-finals
Final
| 15 March 2026 15:30 |
| Leicester Tigers | 66–14 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Wand (2), van der Flier (2), Searle (2), Penalty try, Hamer-Webb, Haffar, O'Connor Con: Searle (6), O'Connor | Report | Try: Vintcent, Haydon-Wood Con: Hodge (2) |
| Welford Road, Leicester Referee: Hamish Smales |
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Individual statistics
Top points scorers
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Top try scorers
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References
- ^ a b "PREM Rugby | PREM Rugby Cup 2025/26: Fixtures released". PREM Rugby. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ a b Lowe, Alex (2 March 2025). "Championship clubs to withdraw from Premiership Cup in protest". The Times. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ a b Newcombe, Jon (29 July 2025). "New PREM Rugby Cup format and fixtures revealed". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "PREM RUGBY CUP | Standings". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Rugby fixtures, results and stats for PREM Rugby Cup". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 February 2026.