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West Country derby to decide PREM Rugby Cup knockout schedule
By Jon Newcombe
Three of the four semi-finalists for this season’s PREM Rugby Cup are now known, with the last remaining spot resting on the outcome of Bath’s game against Gloucester at The Rec on Saturday.
Given their vastly superior points difference (+77 compared to Gloucester’s +1), 2025 champions Bath will keep their title defence alive if they win, as long as they don’t allow the Cherry & Whites to come away from the match with two losing bonus points, having failed to score four tries themselves. A bonus-point win for Bath makes what Gloucester get from the game immaterial.
Bath go into the crunch match three points behind Gloucester in the Pool A standings with one win fewer than their arch West Country rivals, who beat Sale Sharks 43-17 last Friday. If teams are tied at the end of the pool phase, the number of wins and then points difference will be used to split them.
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If they pull something special out of the bag and get a bonus-point win, the Cherry & Whites would replace Exeter as the top seeds in Pool A and get a home semi-final against Pool B runners-up Northampton. Bath will be on their travels to Leicester if they make it through.
Gloucester won 19-17 when the sides met at Kingsholm back in November.
Leicester hold an unassailable eight-point lead over Northampton at the top of Pool B after completing the pool phase with a 33-27 win at home to Harlequins.
Saints wrap up their pool fixtures at home to Saracens this Saturday safe in the knowledge that they’ve already qualified for the semi-finals as Pool B runners-up.
A bonus-point win by eight points or more, and without conceding four tries or more in return, would see Saracens draw level with their hosts on 25 log points, but they’d still have one win fewer than Saints.
Bath’s game against Gloucester and both semi-finals will be covered like by TNT Sports.
PREM Rugby Cup semi-finals, as things stand:
Sunday 8th March
13.30 Exeter Chiefs/Gloucester v Northampton Saints
16.00 Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs/Gloucester/Bath
