There’s five games in the Premiership this weekend with two on Friday and two on Saturday before Leicester Tigers face Exeter Chiefs on Sunday.
Check on the team news for all the matches below while we also offer our predictions.
Friday
Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
Form: Bristol Bears’ four-game winning run in Premiership Rugby ended with their 24-46 defeat at Leicester in Round 21. Bristol have won their last three Premiership fixtures at Ashton Gate since their 26-all draw there with Leicester on 3 December. The last time the Bears lost at the venue in the competition was when Saracens were the visitors on 5 November. Sale Sharks have won just one of their last four Premiership matches: 35-24 at home to Saracens on 5 March. The Sharks have won only once away from home in Premiership Rugby since early October: 24-18 over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on 8 January. Sale’s only defeat in their last six encounters with Bristol in Premiership Rugby was 15-32 on their most recent visit to Ashton Gate in January 2022.
Prediction: Sale Sharks by 8
The teams:
Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Siva Naulago, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall (cc), 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Fitz Harding, 6 Steven Luatua (cc), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Joe Batley, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Ioan Lloyd
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Jono Ross, 7 Ben Curry (c), 6 Tom Curry, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Simon McIntyre
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Sam James, 23 Arron Reed
Venue: Ashton Gate
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal, Andrew Jackson
TMO: Dean Richards
Gloucester v Bath
Form: Gloucester’s only victory in their last six Premiership Rugby matches was 28-26 at home to Harlequins on 17 February. This is also the Cherry and Whites’ only victory at Kingsholm in their last four encounters in all competitions. Bath’s five-game losing run in the Premiership ended with their 36-19 eclipsing of Exeter Chiefs at the Recreation Ground in Round 21. Bath’s only away victory in the competition in the past 12 months was 17-10 at Newcastle on 5 November. Gloucester have won their last three fixtures against Bath in Premiership Rugby since Bath’s 16-14 win at the Rec in February 2021. Bath’s most recent victory at Kingsholm in Premiership Rugby was 43-20 in April 2018.
Prediction: Gloucester by 3
The teams:
Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Billy Twelvetrees, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Jack Clement, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Mayco Vivas
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Freddie Thomas, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 George Barton, 23 Jonny May
Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Miles Reid, 7 Chris Cloete, 6 Ted Hill, 5 GJ van Velze, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Valeriy Morozov, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Fergus Lee-Warner, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Max Green, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Josh Bayliss
Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Jack Makepeace
TMO: Tom Foley
Saturday
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🏳️🌈 Here's your Quins side to face Newcastle on Saturday 👊
📲 https://t.co/j5exrDaSFV
📦 Delivered by @dhlexpressuk#COYQ #HARvNEW pic.twitter.com/AkMsIbOMBF
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) April 14, 2023
Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
Form: Harlequins have won only one of their last eight Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures: 40-5 over Exeter in the ‘Big Game’ at Twickenham Stadium on 4 March. Harlequins record in Premiership Rugby at the Twickenham Stoop this season is won three, lost four. Newcastle Falcons’ four-game losing run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby ended with their 17-12 win at home to Gloucester in Round 21. The Falcons’ only away win in Premiership Rugby this campaign was 27-21 at Gloucester in Round 10. Harlequins have lost just one of their last seven fixtures with Newcastle in Premiership Rugby: 22-25 at Kingston Park in February 2021. The Falcons’ only victory in the competition at the Stoop since 2000 was 28-10 in February 2018.
Prediction: Harlequins by 20
The teams:
Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Will Evans, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 Irne Herbst, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 George Hammond, 20 Jack Kenningham, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Oscar Beard, 23 Josh Bassett
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Ben Stevenson, 12 Matias Moroni, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Michael Young (c), 8 Carl Fearns, 7 Callum Chick, 6 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 Greg Peterson, 3 Mark Tampin, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 Conrad Cade, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Conor Kenny, 19 Freddie Lockwood, 20 Tom Marshall, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Josh Thomas, 23 Pete Lucock
Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: Sara Cox, Peter Allan
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Form: Northampton Saints have lost two of their last three Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures. The Saints have won their last seven home games at cinch Stadium in Premiership Rugby since Leicester beat them there on 24 September. Saracens’ last four matches in Gallagher Premiership Rugby have resulted in two wins and two defeats. Sarries only victory in their last four away games in Gallagher Premiership Rugby was 19-16 at Gloucester in Round 15. Saracens have lost just one of their last 11 encounters with the Saints in Premiership Rugby: 25-27 at StoneX Stadium in October 2019. Saracens have won on each of their last six visits to Franklin’s Gardens Stadium in Premiership Rugby.
Prediction: Northampton Saints by 15
The teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 James Ramm, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Alex Moon, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Sam Graham, 22 Tom James, 23 Tom Collins
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode (cc), 14 Rotimi Segun, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jackson Wray (cc), 7 Toby Knight, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 3 Christian Judge, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Nathan Michelow, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Josh Hallett, 23 Ben Harris
Venue: cinch Staium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Tom Foley, Wayne Falla
TMO: David Rose
Sunday
📋 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒
The matchday squad for Sunday's game against @ExeterChiefs at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. #LEIvEXE 🏉 #COYT 🐯
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) April 14, 2023
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs
Form: Leicester Tigers have won their last five Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches since their defeat by a solitary point at home to Northampton on 28 January. The Tigers have suffered three defeats at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in all competitions since October but each of those three loses were by the narrowest possible margin. Exeter Chiefs have lost two of their last three matches in Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The Chiefs have lost their last six away games in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since their 50-14 victory at Bristol on 7 October, their worst such run since their promotion into Premiership Rugby in 2010. Leicester have won just two of their last 10 encounters with Exeter in Premiership Rugby, successive games at Welford Road in September 2021 and at Sandy Park in March 2022. The Chiefs have won on four of their last six visits to Welford Road in Premiership Rugby.
Prediction: Leicester Tigers by 14
The teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Cameron Henderson, 4 George Martin, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tom West, 18 Joe Heyes 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Harry Potter
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tom Wyatt, 13 Sean O’Brien, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Will Becconsall, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Aidon Davis, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Jack Dunne, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Nika Abuladze
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Mike Williams, 20 Rus Tuima, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Rory O’Loughlin
Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant Referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys, Phil Watters
TMO: Andrew Jackson