New Wales coach Steve Tandy will have one eye on matters the other side of the bridge this weekend
Wales head coach Steve Tandy(Image: PA)
This weekend marks the start of the new rugby season, with all four Welsh sides in United Rugby Championship action.
Over the border, the rebranded Gallagher Prem is also starting – with plenty of Welsh interest there too. With the Women’s World Cup final at Twickenham this weekend, Saturday has been vacated – with two matches apiece on Friday and Sunday to follow up Thursday night’s curtain-raiser between Sale and Gloucester.
The ‘Thursday Night Lights’ clash saw Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams back from injury, leading the Cherry and Whites in his new role as Gloucester captain.
Wales internationals Max Llewellyn and Freddie Thomas also started for Gloucester in their 27-10 defeat, while Wales prop WillGriff John was on the bench for Sale. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Even with one eye on the Welsh sides, there’s still plenty for new Wales head coach Steve Tandy to keep an eye on over the bridge.
Harlequins v Bath –
Looking ahead to Friday night’s action, Harlequins’ Welsh contingent is somewhat smaller following the departures of Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis and Leigh Halfpenny.
However, Jarrod Evans starts the season in the 10 jersey – going up against champions Bath at the Stoop.
The former Cardiff playmaker missed the summer tour of Japan through injury, having been brought back into the Wales squad by interim head coach Matt Sherratt in the latter part of this year’s Six Nations.
That marked his first Test involvement in nearly four years.
With Sherratt now a permanent part of Wales’ coaching staff, joining Tandy’s team as attack coach, there’s a chance for Evans to not only make an impression at Quins while Marcus Smith recovers from the Lions tour, but also force his way into contention for the autumn internationals.
Sherratt is an admirer of Evans, believing few others in Welsh rugby can create in attack like the 29-year-old.
For Bath, Wales prop Archie Griffin gets an early chance to feature off the bench – having started the win over Japan in Kobe in July.
Harlequins: Tyrone Green; Nick David, Oscar Beard, Sean Kerr, Cadan Murley; Jarrod Evans, Will Porter, Fin Baxter, Jack Walker, Harry Williams, Chandler Cunningham-South, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Kenningham, Will Evans, Alex Dombrandt.
Replacements: George Turner, Jordan Els, Ollie Streeter, Jonny Green, Zach Carr, Max Green, Ludo Kolade, Cameron Anderson.
Bath: Tom de Glanville; Joe Cokanasiga, Ollie Lawrence, Cameron Redpath, Henry Arundell; Max Ojomoh, Ben Spencer; Beno Obano, Tom Dunn, Vilikesa Sela, Quinn Roux, Charlie Ewels, Josh Bayliss, Guy Pepper, Miles Reid.
Replacements: Kepueli Tuipulotu, Francois Van Wyk, Archie Griffin, Ross Molony, Ted Hill, Tom Carr-Smith, Chris Harris, Sam Underhill.
Newcastle Red Bulls v Saracens – Friday, September 26 – 7.45pm kick-off, Kingston Park
This weekend comes a little too soon for a Newcastle Red Bulls debut for Liam Williams, with the Wales full-back having joined the club earlier this week.
Bridgend-born centre Max Clark, who previously played for the Dragons, starts in midfield for the club as they head into a new era backed by the energy drinks company.
For Saracens, Wales centre Nick Tompkins gets to partner a familiar face in Owen Farrell, with the former England captain back at the club following his spell in France.
While Farrell has little time to relax following the Lions tour, Tompkins spent the summer having to watch Wales from afar – having not been taken to Japan.
Wales prop Rhys Carre also starts for Saracens in the front-row. With a new coach and the future of the 25-cap rule in doubt, could he soon come back into Wales contention?
With a grandparent from Guernsey and the last of his 20 caps coming in February 2023, Carre does qualify for the other home nations next year.
Newcastle Red Bulls: Boeta Chamberlain; Oli Spencer, Sammy Arnold, Max Clark, Alex Hearle; Brett Connon, Sam Stuart; Murray McCallum, George McGuigan, Luan de Bruin, Oscar Usher, Jamie Hodgson, Cameron Neild, Tom Gordon, Amanaki Mafi.
Replacements: Ollie Fletcher, Adam Brocklebank, Richard Palframan, Freddie Clarke, Fergus Lee-Warner, Freddie Lockwood, James Elliott, Elliott Obatoyinbo
Saracens: Max Malins; Brandon Jackson, Nick Tompkins, Owen Farrell, Rotimi Segun; Fergus Burke, Ivan van Zyl; Rhys Carre, Theo Dan, Marco Riccioni, Nick Isiekwe, Hugh Tizard, Nathan Michelow, Andy Onyeama-Christie, Tom Willis.
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Eroni Mawi, Alec Clarey, Harry Wilson, Olamide Sodeke, Charlie Bracken, Cameron Hutchison, Noah Caluori
Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs –
There’s no Welsh interest with Northampton, but there’s some names in the Exeter side that will interest Tandy.
Starting on the blindside, Christ Tshiunza has already had a run of games in the Prem Cup.
This season marks the first time since he joined Exeter that the second-row/back-row hybrid has enjoyed a full pre-season without injury or international duty.
Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins is back from injury, having not been involved with Wales in Japan.
Having captained Wales in the 2024 Six Nations, he’ll undoubtedly be a key part of Wales’ autumn campaign if fit.
Kane James will be another Tandy is keeping his eye on. Even after representing England at age-grade level, he remains open to pulling on the red jersey.
Northampton Saints: George Hendy; Edoardo Todaro, Tom Litchfield, Fraser Dingwall, James Ramm; Anthony Belleau, Archie McParland; Emmanuel Iyogun, Craig Wright, Trevor Davison, Alex Coles, Ed Prowse, Angus Scott-Young, Tom Pearson, Callum Chick.
Replacements: Henry Walker, Danilo Fischetti, Elliot Millar Mills, JJ Van Der Mescht, Sam Graham, Jonny Weimann, Rory Hutchinson, Toby Thame.
Exeter Chiefs: Josh Hodge; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ben Hammersley, Paul Brown-Bampoe; Harvey Skinner, Stephen Varney; Will Goodrick-Clarke, Joseph Dweba, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Rusi Tuima, Lewis Pearson, Christ Tshiunza, Ethan Roots, Ross Vintcent.
Replacements: Jack Yeandle, Kwenzo Blose, Bachuki Tchumbadze, Dafydd Jenkins, Greg Fisilau, Charlie Chapman, Nick Lilley, Kane James.
Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers – Sunday, September 28 – 3pm kick-off, Ashton Gate
All eyes will be on Louis Rees-Zammit’s Prem return, having already crossed for a try against former club Gloucester in the Prem Cup last week.
Upon his return from the NFL, Rees-Zammit undoubtedly gives Tandy a boost as he picks up the sport again.
He’s joined in the backline by Welsh-qualified centre Joe Jenkins, with the 21-year-old having been closely monitored by the WRU for some time now.
On the bench, former Swansea RFC and Cardiff Met youngster Josh Carrington gets the chance to impress after his rapid rise from BUCS rugby to England’s top flight.
There’s no Tommy Reffell in Leicester’s 23, but Wales loosehead Nicky Smith starts as they start their first Prem campaign under new coach Geoff Parling.
Bristol Bears: Tom Jordan; Louis Rees-Zammit, Joe Jenkins, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Gabriel Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall; Jake Woolmore, Gabriel Oghre, George Kloska, James Dun, Joe Batley, Steven Luatua, Fitz Harding, Benjamin Grondona.
Replacements: Harry Thacker, Sam Grahamslaw, Lovejoy Chawatama, Joe Owen, Viliame Mata, Kieran Marmion, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Josh Carrington.
Leicester Tigers: Freddie Steward; Adam Radwan, Will Wand, Joseph Woodward, Ollie Hassell-Collins; Orlando Bailey, Jack van Poortvliet, Nicky Smith, Jamie Blamire, Joe Heyes, Cameron Henderson, James Thompson, Hanro Liebenberg, Emeka Ilione, Olly Cracknell.
Replacements: Charlie Clare, Tarek Haffar, Will Hurd, Joshua Manz, Joaquin Moro, Tom Whiteley, Billy Searle, Solomone Kata.