Quins duo out but Bath’s Stuart back – Prem team news
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The first round of the Prem returns this weekend with all 10 teams starting with a clean slate as the new season begins.
This is the first chance for fans to see new signings in their club colours and whether the summer break and pre-season training block has created a fresh impetus in their teams.
You can listen to coverage of all of the matches on BBC DAB and FM local radio, via BBC Sounds or the BBC Sport website and app.
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Harlequins v Bath (Friday, 19:45 BST)
Harlequins are without new signing George Furbank for their Prem opener after the full-back went off injured with his first carry of their pre-season friendly against Edinburgh last week, while Marcus Smith also misses out with a hand injury picked up in the same match.
It means Tyrone Green starts at 15 with Connor Slevin making his Prem debut at fly-half for the hosts.
Prop Will Stuart makes his first start for Bath in more than nine months after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon that has kept him on the sidelines since last December.
New signing Dan du Preez also slots straight in to the back row at number eight, while Tom Carr-Smith starts at scrum-half with Ben Spencer set to miss the first few Prem rounds following shoulder surgery.
Harlequins: Green; Anderson, Beard, Bradley, Murley (c); Slevin, Porter; Hobson, Walker, Delgado, Dun, Browne, Kenningham, Evans, Cunningham-South.
Replacements: Riley, Wenger, Johnson-Holmes, Treadwell, Petti, Friday, Bellamy, Isgro.
Bath: Carreras; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, De Glanville; Russell, Carr-Smith; Obano, Frost, Stuart; Hill, Ewels (c), Bayliss, Underhill, Du Preez.
Replacements: Tuipulotu, Kirk, Griffin, Richards, Pepper, Van der Linde, Redpath, Reid.
Northampton v Newcastle (Friday, 19:45 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesHenry Pollock is set to make his 50th appearance for Northampton having signed a new contract with the club earlier this week.
The 21-year-old starts alongside Josh Kemeny and Callum Chick, with a second row of Alex Coles and Ed Prowse ahead of them in the pack.
Phil Dowson has named an unchanged front row from Saints’ 93-10 friendly victory over Georgian side Black Lion last week.
Newcastle name seven of their summer arrivals in the starting XV, including former Saints players Sam Graham and Elliot Millar Mills.
Chris Harris starts at inside centre having re-joined Newcastle from Bath, with former Ulster man Werner Kok on the left wing.
Maori All Black Pouri Rakete-Stones makes his Prem debut at loose-head prop, while Cam Jordan and Max Hicks also make their debuts.
Northampton: Pater; Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall (c), Hendy; F. Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Kundiona; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pollock, Chick.
Replacements: R. Smith, Fischetti, Neculai, Lockett, Taylor, Mitchell, Belleau, Sleightholme.
Newcastle: H Obatoyinbo; Wade, Hearle, Harris, Kok; Connon, Elliott; Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills; Usher, Jordan, Hicks, Christie (c), Graham.
Replacements: Fletcher, West, Harper, Molina, Leatherbarrow, Benitez Cruz, Henry, Sotutu.
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Exeter v Gloucester (Saturday, 15:05 BST)
Exeter captain and Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins returns from injury for the beaten Prem finalists.
Jenkins partners Harry Wilson in the second row as the former Saracens forward makes his first league start since his summer move.
Will Butt partners Henry Slade at centre while Ben Hammersley is picked at full-back with Tommy Wyatt recovering from a shoulder injury.
Youngsters Louie Gulley, Oscar Beckerleg and Joe Bailey could all make their Prem debuts after being named on the bench.
Jenkins’ Wales team-mates Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan make their league debuts for for Gloucester at Sandy Park.
New Gloucester captain Lake is alongside Val Rapava-Ruskin and Afo Fasogbon in the front row while Morgan, named vice-captain, is at flanker.
Second-row Jean Kleyn makes his debut as Caolan Englefield and Charlie Atkinson are partnered in the half-backs.
Former Exeter hooker Jack Innard is named on the bench for the Cherry and Whites.
Exeter: Hammersley; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Butt, Woodburn; Skinner, Varney; Burger, Yeandle, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins (capt), Wilson, E Roots, James, Fisilau.
Replacements: Gulley, Goodrick-Clarke, J Roots, Beckerleg, Bailey, Murray, Haydon-Wood, Wimbush.
Gloucester: Redshaw; Joseph, Cokanasiga, Atkinson, Loader; Atkinson, Englefield; Rapava-Ruskin, Lake (capt), Fasogbon, Kleyn, Clark, Thomas, Morgan, Trenholm.
Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, Knight, Clement, Ludlow, Robson, Denny, Barton.
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Sale v Bristol (Saturday, 17:30 BST)
Team news to come.
Leicester v Saracens (Sunday, 15:00 BST)
Team news to come.


