The PREM Rugby season is kicking off with a bang as British and Irish Lions sensation Tomos Williams marks his return from injury in Gloucester's season opener. After a hamstring setback on the Lions tour in Australia, Williams is back to lead Gloucester against a star-studded Sale Sharks lineup this Thursday night at CorpAcq Stadium.
Williams isn't the only international making waves; the field will be brimming with talent including England's recent standouts. Joe Carpenter, Tom Roebuck, and George Ford are just a few of the names headlining for Sale, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this high-stakes clash.
"I had to tell the missus we’re going from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Tyne Bridge"
Gloucester coach George Skivington isn't holding back either, unleashing a formidable lineup that sees Charlie Atkinson and new wing Ben Loader joining forces with Welsh international Max Llewellyn and England's Seb Atkinson in the midfield. Ireland's Ross Byrne will partner with Williams, directing traffic from the fly-half position.
Sale’s coach Alex Sanderson has orchestrated a potent mix of youth and experience. The Sharks' backline features newly capped England ace Joe Carpenter at full-back, with Rob du Preez and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White forming a dynamic centre pairing. Up front, the Sharks boast a robust trio consisting of Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Nathan Jibulu, and Bevan Rodd, setting the stage for a bruising encounter.
As the whistle blows, the narrative of the match will undoubtedly center around Tomos Williams' comeback and his ability to steer his team in this new PREM era. The stage is set for a rugby spectacle filled with tactical prowess and raw physicality.
Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Sam Dugdale, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ben Bamber, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 1 Bevan Rodd. Replacements: Ethan Caine, Simon McIntyre, WillGriff John, Hyron Andrews, Tom Burrow, Dom Hanson, Arron Reed, Tristan Woodman.
Gloucester: 15 Charlie Atkinson, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Tomos Williams (C), 8 Jack Clement, 7 James Venter, 6 Freddie Thomas, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Arthur Clark, 3 Afolabi Fasogbon, 2 Jack Innard, 1 Harrison Bellamy. Replacements: Kealan Freeman-Price, Archie McArthur, Kirill Gotovtsev, Cam Jordan, Lewis Ludlow, Caolan Englefield
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The PREM Rugby season is kicking off with a bang as British and Irish Lions sensation Tomos Williams marks his return from injury in Gloucester's season opener. After a hamstring setback on the Lions tour in Australia, Williams is back to lead Gloucester against a star-studded Sale Sharks lineup this Thursday night at CorpAcq Stadium.
Williams isn't the only international making waves; the field will be brimming with talent including England's recent standouts. Joe Carpenter, Tom Roebuck, and George Ford are just a few of the names headlining for Sale, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this high-stakes clash.
"I had to tell the missus we’re going from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Tyne Bridge"
Gloucester coach George Skivington isn't holding back either, unleashing a formidable lineup that sees Charlie Atkinson and new wing Ben Loader joining forces with Welsh international Max Llewellyn and England's Seb Atkinson in the midfield. Ireland's Ross Byrne will partner with Williams, directing traffic from the fly-half position.
Sale’s coach Alex Sanderson has orchestrated a potent mix of youth and experience. The Sharks' backline features newly capped England ace Joe Carpenter at full-back, with Rob du Preez and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White forming a dynamic centre pairing. Up front, the Sharks boast a robust trio consisting of Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Nathan Jibulu, and Bevan Rodd, setting the stage for a bruising encounter.
As the whistle blows, the narrative of the match will undoubtedly center around Tomos Williams' comeback and his ability to steer his team in this new PREM era. The stage is set for a rugby spectacle filled with tactical prowess and raw physicality.
Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Sam Dugdale, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ben Bamber, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 1 Bevan Rodd. Replacements: Ethan Caine, Simon McIntyre, WillGriff John, Hyron Andrews, Tom Burrow, Dom Hanson, Arron Reed, Tristan Woodman.
Gloucester: 15 Charlie Atkinson, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Tomos Williams (C), 8 Jack Clement, 7 James Venter, 6 Freddie Thomas, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Arthur Clark, 3 Afolabi Fasogbon, 2 Jack Innard, 1 Harrison Bellamy. Replacements: Kealan Freeman-Price, Archie McArthur, Kirill Gotovtsev, Cam Jordan, Lewis Ludlow, Caolan Englefield