PREM Rugby Team of the Week: Tom Willis ‘a cruel joke’ as England hopeful wins ‘master v apprentice battle’
Len Ikitau (left), Tom Willis (centre) and Charlie Atkinson (right) feature in the latest PREM Rugby Team of the Week.
Following the conclusion of round 15 of the 2025/26 PREM Rugby season, here is the latest Planet Rugby Team of the Week!
Gloucester, Leicester Tigers, Saracens, Harlequins and Exeter Chiefs all picked up vital wins in their respective fixtures, as the run-in takes yet another twist looking towards the final few rounds.
Without further ado, here is who made our PREM XV!
PREM Rugby Team of the Week
15 Jamie Benson (Harlequins): Ulster have a serious player coming to the Affidea Stadium next season if this is anything to go by. Once again deployed at full-back, the Irish-qualified ace tore through Newcastle for fun at times with 136 metres from his 10 carries, and bagged himself a fine hat-trick for his troubles. Freddie Steward and Olly Woodburn were not far off selection, though.
14 Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers): Watching Radwan in full flight is glorious, and he was in exactly that form on Saturday. Had the Saints defence at sixes and sevens for a lot of the game, reflected in his tally of 15 carries for 71 metres alongside five beaten defenders, and got the reward for that with a try. Paul Brown-Bampoe had a good day of it against Bath, too.
13 Ollie Hartley (Saracens): Another blockbuster outing from the England A man, who is hitting his straps at just the right time for Saracens. His ability to cut against the grain and punch through the Bears’ line gave the Londoners consistent front-foot ball to play from, while also seeing him get a score of his own. Henry Slade was a close second and Luke Northmore third.
12 Len Ikitau (Exeter Chiefs): This was the Len Ikitau Exeter Chiefs signed, with the Wallabies ace putting in his best performance since returning from injury in their win over Bath. His ability to add both punch and flair into their attack was crucial in unlocking Bath’s defence, but he also backed that up on the other side of the ball by keeping Will Butt and Ollie Lawrence under wraps for most of the game. His try was also well deserved. Orlando Bailey had the shirt until Sunday afternoon with Bryn Bradley also impressing.
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers): It was a re-run of the OHC-AR double act of last season in the East Midlands derby, with Hassell-Collins also earning a spot in this Team of the Week. The England international was a menace ball-in-hand all afternoon, chalking up 80 metres from nine carries alongside four linebreaks and six defenders beaten, and grabbed a try for his troubles too. Young duo Noah Caluori and Campbell Ridl also impressed.
10 Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester): A good week for fly-halves with James O’Connor and Fergus Burke going well, but we’ve opted for the Gloucester ace in our side after he won the master v apprentice battle against George Ford. Atkinson seemed to have the bit between his teeth in their win over Sale Sharks, making a staggering 108 metres from eight carries, six linebreaks and beating 12 defenders, and capped his night off with a brace.
9 Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs): Charlie Bracken, Jack van Poortvliet and Lucas Friday were close to this selection, but Varney was instrumental in Exeter’s thumping win over Bath and more than warrants a spot. The Italian international just seemed to boss Exeter’s attack around beautifully, toying with the tempo and getting them playing into space whenever possible, while his marshalling of the forwards also helped them get the better of Bath’s pack too.
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The forwards
8 Tom Willis (Saracens): It’s becoming a cruel joke now, with Willis yet again reminding everyone of the talent English rugby have lost. This was just sublime from the get-go, trucking hard in the tight against an in-form Bears back-row and tallying 14 carries for 38 metres alongside 17 tackles and two turnovers. Ross Vintcent impressed for Exeter.
7 Ben Earl (Saracens): Joining his back-row colleague in the side, Earl was at his imperious best against Bristol. He just threw himself right into the action with no regard for his own body, making 14 carries for 60 metres alongside 11 tackles, and got himself a try for his efforts. Tommy Reffell also impressed.
6 Freddie Thomas (Gloucester): A tough call at six this weekend, with Hanro Liebenburg also enjoying a fine afternoon for Leicester, but Thomas seems to be relishing his new role in the back-row and was again impressive against Sale. It was far from flashy, but he nailed all the nuts and bolts to help Gloucester get on the front-foot and ended the night with a healthy 12 tackles and 10 carries as a result.
5 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs): It’s almost becoming customary at this point, isn’t it, with Jenkins making another Team of the Week. The Welshman played like he was angry at the ground on Sunday as he charged around and hit everything in his path, and his deft grubber kick in the build-up to Ikitau’s try was probably a reflection of the skip in his step. Fellow Chief Andrea Zambonin was not far behind.
4 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers): Played his part perfectly in a gutsy East Midlands derby win. Dominated the lineout, on both sides of the ball, and contributed immensely in the loose as Leicester’s pack tore through the Saints with relative ease. Hugh Tizard was also in good form for Saracens.
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott (Exeter Chiefs): Another Chief who enjoyed a fine afternoon, in a performance that could very easily catch the eye of Steve Borthwick too. The England A man was a proper force to be reckoned with at Sandy Park in a dominant performance, and added in some lovely flicks and tricks to go alongside it too. Afo Fasogbon continued his stellar form of late as well, which will again please the England boss.
2 Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers): Borthwick will really like the way Blamire is going about his business for Leicester recently, with the Leicester man positioning himself for a recall this summer. Just worked his socks off in the tight with 12 carries for 24 metres and seven tackles alongside his two tries, and nailed his work in the set-piece as well. Sam Riley was also very impressive against Newcastle.
1 Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester): Nicky Smith can feel pretty hard done by here, but Rapava-Ruskin made the Sale pack look like they were scrummaging on a treadmill at times on Friday night and that warrants a spot in this side. He also backed up his set-piece work with some nice efforts in the loose, which is pleasing to see considering the injury issues he’s had in recent years.