BACK TO THE PREM CUP, AWAY AT EXETER

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Louie Hennessey is in the Wales Squad and Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi is in the Italy Squad, so seems unlikely they play in this.

Thanks BSJ. That’s a good scene setter for this weekend. I understand why you’ve suggested Tyler Offiah and Henry Arundell on the wings, but in an ideal world I’d like to see Charlie Griffin getting more game time. I’m really impressed with what we’ve seen of him so far. Maybe he’ll feature at home against Glos in what is already a sold out game!

Thanks BSJ.

It's hard to predict how jvG will rotate and select for this, but we know he likes to maximise chances for the wider squad.

So- as dsch says, Hennessy and Opoku-Gyamfi will be elsewhere, which could mean an Academy centre- Cutts, Harrison or Treacey -gets a go. Maybe Bennett at lock-or one of Moloney or Roux who have barely featured this term.

Others who may be in contention- Charlie griffin for wing, Roue or Linegar for fly half, Max Pearce at hooker, Connor Treacey for back row.

PG

Oh dear dcsh!

Of course they are. that makes things very tricky......it might be that Miles Reid has to play.

One of Austin Emens, Charlie Griffin and Declan Treacey maybe for Louie Hennessy.......

It seems strange with a large squad and an Academy group that it is so hard to pick a 23. But what with a desire to rest, injured players and international call ups the cupboard gets somewhat bare!

Nice to see preview so early and potential of strong squad between returning players and academy. Feels like we've got a integrated team who've played together through age group & Uni for a few years. Exeter usually go strong but looking forward to this on.
On suggested squad James Maloney at 18 is a back row rather than prop so expect Alfie Griffin to be included or Jacob Yates.
Like the other suggestions to be included like Charlie Griffin.

Think Prem Cup teams could look a little different this year. It's been a fairly stable squad the last two years but a couple of those players are more established senior players in the first block of games. Kirk obviously injured anyway but do Jeanes, Green and Richards need to be heavily involved in the Cup givne their current importance to the seniors? Do we risk van der Linde in these games knowing he's quite fragile as it is? Does Molony play to get some game time and mentor some prospects or is that too much of a demotion? Would add that I'd be shocked if Coetzee starts or plays at all come to that - just think we've prepped him for that 23 shirt and we won't risk that for the sake of a Prem Cup game with his injury history.

Best guess:
Wheeler, Spandler, Verden, Molony, Richards, Bennett, Timmins, Treacey, Carr-Smith, Donoghue, Offiah, Treacey, Griffin, Emens, Woods

Imagine Exeter will go strong as they tend to do

Firstly, as a chiefs fan i hope we don't go as strong as the last few years. We really can't afford for any more frontline players to get injured. We are missing most if the players who made ladt season a successful one, hence why we sit where we do in the table
Secondly, my interest in the prem cup is lessoning each year. The format and the way each club chooses to treat the conp, make it a bit of a farce. It just seems to be something to fill a gap, rather than a meaningful competition. Last years final seems to suggest most agree with me, the attendance was pretty poor at the home ground of one best supported teams. The final itself was a miss match with a stronger tigers team playing, ironically, the worst team cheifs had selected all tournament.
Intreated to hear your views.

Quote:

Big Chief Little Chief
Firstly, as a chiefs fan i hope we don't go as strong as the last few years. We really can't afford for any more frontline players to get injured. We are missing most if the players who made ladt season a successful one, hence why we sit where we do in the table
Secondly, my interest in the prem cup is lessoning each year. The format and the way each club chooses to treat the conp, make it a bit of a farce. It just seems to be something to fill a gap, rather than a meaningful competition. Last years final seems to suggest most agree with me, the attendance was pretty poor at the home ground of one best supported teams. The final itself was a miss match with a stronger tigers team playing, ironically, the worst team cheifs had selected all tournament.
Intreated to hear your views.

Who is there left to play though if not some of the first team? I thought part of the reason for going strong previously was lack of academy or Uni lads to call on.

I am going to Exeter on Saturday and although I'd love to see a team as strong as this, I doubt I will. Besides Hennessy and EOG being on international duty, I don't think we'll see Lawrence, Arundell, BvDL, Green, Coetzee, Jeanes, Frost, TCS or TdG. If we see a stronger team, it'll be for the Bristol game on 20/11 when will be looking to get players up to speed for the PREM game on 4/12. (No game for us on 27/11).

My guess:

Jack Woods
Tyler Offiah
Charlie Griffin
Sam Winters
Declan Treacy
Ciaran Donoghue
Ieuan Davies

Ioan Emanuel
Jasper Spandler
Kieran Verden
Ross Molony
Ewan Richards
Jack Bennett
George Timmins
Connor Treacey

Replacements

Claudius Wheeler
Max Pearce
Alfie Griffin
James Maloney
Alex Ridgeway
Isaac Mears
James Linegar
Jack Harrison

PS Would LOVE to see Horse back as some point in the next 3 weeks.

BATH supporter since 1975

Adopted players:
2015/6 Tom Homer
2016/7 Matt Banahan
2017/8 Jeff Williams
2018/9 Victor Delmas
2019/20 Semesa Rokoduguni
2020/21 Will Stuart

I should probably have tried to get Will Roue and Austin Emens in there somewhere.

I see Cutts, Linegar and Roue are all selected for the Uni tomorrow v Nottingham although the latter 2 are on the bench so may get some involvement on Saturday.

I think its rather odd that we would not go as strong as we could within the constraints of no international players, no strong squad players where a good alternative youngster was available.

I know I played rugby a million years ago but I feel on field game time was very, very important. Injuries are random but I feel the body, and the mind benefits from regular playing and becomes used to the bangs and the knocks.

I feel that in these PREM CUP games we should expose the players who might be getting 15 minutes, or indeed no minutes in Premiership League games.

As an aside in the Mexico Football World Cup, Gordon Banks got a stomach sickness and his number 2 Alex Stepney had to play and he was all at sea because GB had played so much for so long and he was completely off the pace......

The best way players can be prepared for matches is by playing matches.

I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Quote:

Bath Supporter Jack
I think its rather odd that we would not go as strong as we could within the constraints of no international players, no strong squad players where a good alternative youngster was available.

I don't think JvG will risk injury to any player who he might have to call upon to start a PREM game, except those coming back from injury or needing some game time on 20/11.

BATH supporter since 1975

Adopted players:
2015/6 Tom Homer
2016/7 Matt Banahan
2017/8 Jeff Williams
2018/9 Victor Delmas
2019/20 Semesa Rokoduguni
2020/21 Will Stuart

Paul60

Of course you are right......senior moment on my behalf.......but what I wrote remains valid otherwise.

Quote:

Paul60
I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Because he could sleep anywhere?

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

I think i would go something like:

Woods
Winters
Griffin
Treacey
Offiah
Donoghue
Davies

Emmanuel
Spandler
Verden
Richards
Malony
Bennett
Timmins
Treacey

Bench: pearce wheeler archie griffin jeanes ridgeway mears roue emmens

Imagine sela, roux, cowan , DDP will be back in this block at some stage and in need of a game.

Will they risk donoghue? Needs games at 10 but with santi out..... still leaves roue and linegar as options for this comp

Nice line ups!
It is exciting this prem cup for development.
Because we lost the first game, I would choose a mix between fringe and youth players. Simply because we want to go as far as possible, so younger players get more experience.

Wheeler Dunn Verden
Maloney Opoku-Gyamfi
Richards Timmins
Green
Griffin Carr-Smith Donoghue Redpath Treacey Offiah
Woods.

Quote:

joethefanatic

Quote:

Paul60
I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Because he could sleep anywhere?

That's the England cricketer Phil Tuffnel...

Quote:

Charlieboa1
Will they risk donoghue? Needs games at 10 but with santi out..... still leaves roue and linegar as options for this comp

I think they have to play Donoghue to try to get him anywhere near the performance level that he was achieving pre-injury. If he has to step in for the first team he will need to back at that level and so far has look a shadow of 2 seasons ago.

Quote:

Treble

Quote:

joethefanatic

Quote:

Paul60
I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Because he could sleep anywhere?

That's the England cricketer Phil Tuffnel...

If it was because he had 9 lives then he must've used them all before the WC game v West Germany

Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

Quote:

fanindevon
Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

He’s done that for several seasons, so no real surprise.

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

Charlieboa1
Will they risk donoghue? Needs games at 10 but with santi out..... still leaves roue and linegar as options for this comp

I think they have to play Donoghue to try to get him anywhere near the performance level that he was achieving pre-injury. If he has to step in for the first team he will need to back at that level and so far has look a shadow of 2 seasons ago.

I agree, he was in my team.....but i wil be watching him from behind the sofa with my fingers crossed.

If he can get a few games, hit some form and avoid injury then happy happy day's.

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

fanindevon
Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

He’s done that for several seasons, so no real surprise.

I can never resist at having a pop at them for it but they were still fresh enough to beat us at the business end of the season last season.

Also as BCLC has said, not all clubs are lucky enough to have squads with over 70 players!

Quote:

Charlieboa1

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

fanindevon
Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

He’s done that for several seasons, so no real surprise.

I can never resist at having a pop at them for it but they were still fresh enough to beat us at the business end of the season last season.

Also as BCLC has said, not all clubs are lucky enough to have squads with over 70 players!

That’s not a criticism from me, just a statement of fact. If it works for Exeter then good for them, Baxter knows his squad and what is best for them, with a decent track record of getting it right.

Sorry dcsh, didnt mean it as pulling you up... my view now is very much each to their own in this comp like you

I like the way we use it , it builds deprh- my frustration has always been we didnt trust that depth in crucial moments after UBB defeat.

Defo yhink progressing in this tournament is going to be exceedingly tough with our opponents selection policies but jvg rightly will stick to his guns

Live on Prem Rugby YouTube channel.

Quote:

tigersimon
Live on Prem Rugby YouTube channel.

Great.

This competition is crying out for some rules on what players can be used. Hopefully Bath won’t use any player that could be needed for next PL game and Chiefs will go as strong as they can, like Baxter always does. What’s the point in watching that sort of mismatch?

I, and most chiefs fans i speak to, would like some rules in place. The last few years we have gone much stronger than id have liked. However, in our defence we did lose a whole double winning squad in a couple of seasons, this meant a lot of younger players were promoted to the first team ahead of time. The next lot of youngsters are now ready.
It might be a stronger squad than yours but it certainly won't be stacked. The second and back rows are all on international duty or injured. Scrum half, outside centre and winger all away. Still a few injuries in the back three as well, so i imagine Robs hand will be forced somewhat in selection.Paul BB is rumoured to be in contention on a return from injury, along with a couple of low key new signings.
I imagine you might see a few young props and hookers who do have first team experience.

Im hoping for an evenly matched game, a one sided game is not good for either team really. I do feel the comp has lost its way somewhat, the first few rounds being treated as pre season freindlies by some teams doesn't help. Some rules in selection would help, although that would be difficult to actually introduce, what exactly do people want?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:05:10:16:59 by Big Chief Little Chief.

Quote:

Big Chief Little Chief
what exactly do people want?

Two things really:
A Cup competition people really care about: Mostly or all knockout, final at HQ. Include the Welsh?
Include the Championship teams, so the PREM teams would come in at R16?
A proper A League with player eligibility rules. Perhaps U23 with a couple of exceptions.
Not exactly novel I know!

BATH supporter since 1975

Adopted players:
2015/6 Tom Homer
2016/7 Matt Banahan
2017/8 Jeff Williams
2018/9 Victor Delmas
2019/20 Semesa Rokoduguni
2020/21 Will Stuart

I know it didn't go down well, but I actually think a better way forward for English club rugby would be, rather than to cut off the Champ, to really promote it and make it a league that really does contain teams that can compete with the PREM.

I think the Champ's too fat, too many teams that really are nowhere near competing with the PREM. You could say take the top 6 Champ teams from the last season and create a 16 team cup competition which, if played during the internationals, could be a genuine competition. Classic 4 pools of 4, 1/4, 1/2, final. That could be genuinely watchable, and address the "playing same old teams" complaint. Those 6 teams would get good exposure to top level rugby and the money that goes with it. If they were to get promoted they'd only be a short distance away from the teams in the PREM, they'd at least know what they are facing.

BUT, those 6 teams would be similar teams each year and the split in the Champ would only grow. I feel one reason the Champ isn't commercially interesting is that gap. It's too bloated.

16 teams is the sweetspot for that sort of competition. So, and this is what people don't like, I'd DROP 2 PREM teams to the Champ and 8 Champ teams to Div1, still have promotion at both levels.
We'd lose two home league fixtures but gain home fixtures overall through a genuinely watchable competition. We'd have a healthy second tier you could put on TV, which is what they need. The League PLC would have a bigger set of teams, which is what they want to increase the value of The League PLC.

A couple of alternatives that I think are less optimal:

- two conferences: say north and south, with the same set of 16 teams. It's ok, but we'd be in a conference with these Champ teams all season, outside international windows. They'd have to spend to keep up and they aren't getting the gates and fans to do so. If its ringfenced it would become quite dull and uncompetitive.

- a 16 team PREM! First, too many matches, you'd have to have a mickey mouse home-away structure like the URC. Second, the bottom half would get the gates/fans but would have to spend to compete. Half our games would be practically walkovers.

So, I think the reduced leagues and a competitive cup might work. Think of it as two conferences if you must, but just an A and B conference where both are playing against comparable teams and require comparable budgets, but with the chance to test themselves and earn money against the top conference when they are not quite at their strongest. Or you could just call it a sensible league structure.

There's other options: two sets of 10, two of 12, but there really aren't 24 competitive pro teams in England. 20 is a push and what do you do? 4 pools of 5 I guess works.

Do Exeter not have a tie up with Exeter UNi like Bath do with Bath Uni?
Exeter Uni are a BUCS super league team after all and have been successful in seasons past.

I think the Prem Cup as an U25s competition with say 6 or 7 overage players max in a matchday squad would be a reasonable rule compromise.
I also think it a real shame the Champ clubs were dropped. Sure there were some mismatches but it did expose more players to a higher level of competition.

wrong thread



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:05:13:13:16 by theredseat.

Quote:

Dorset Boy
Do Exeter not have a tie up with Exeter UNi like Bath do with Bath Uni?
Exeter Uni are a BUCS super league team after all and have been successful in seasons past.

I think the Prem Cup as an U25s competition with say 6 or 7 overage players max in a matchday squad would be a reasonable rule compromise.
I also think it a real shame the Champ clubs were dropped. Sure there were some mismatches but it did expose more players to a higher level of competition.

Agree with this - for the Champ clubs every game was akin to a cup final which gave the cup some extra emotion. Jersey beating us was an incredible performance.

The Prem/Champ version of the PRC was a breath of fresh air to the Competition and a real shame both parties couldn’t find a way forward with it.
I really don’t want to play the same Prem team 4/5/6 times a season!