Lewies captains Quins against Red Bulls

Harlequins have named their first matchday squad of the 2025/26 season that will travel to the North East to take on Newcastle Red Bulls in the PREM Rugby Cup opener (Friday 12 September, 19:45 – live on TNT Sports).

The Quarters will kick off the elite domestic rugby season against the newly named Red Bulls at Kingston Park.

Stephan Lewies returns to the starting XV for the first time since April to skipper a youthful Harlequins from the second-row.

Jack Walker starts at hooker alongside Jordan Els and Cameron Doak, who’ll pack down at loosehead and tighthead respectively. Doak is in line for his competitive debut in the Quarters on Friday night.

Jonny Green joins Lewies in the engine room, while Zach Carr, Tom Lawday and Lucas Schmid make up the back-row.

Max Green and Jamie Benson start in the half-backs. In the centres, Bryn Bradley and Sean Kerr are partnered, with Cameron Anderson, Cassius Cleaves and Nick David completing the starting XV.

Amongst the impact players, Jamie Miller and Elliot Williams are set to make their debuts in the Quarters. Sam Riley, Ollie Streeter, Harry Browne and Joe Launchbury are also named as replacements and complete Quins’ complement of forwards.

Meanwhile, Jake Murray and Hayden Hyde will provide cover in the backs.

NEWCASTLE RED BULLS v HARLEQUINS

• Friday 12 September (19:45)

• Kingston Park

• Live on TNT Sports

STARTING XV

15. Nick David (72)

14. Cassius Cleaves (13)

13. Bryn Bradley (14)

12. Sean Kerr (8)

11. Cameron Anderson (16)

10. Jamie Benson (24)

9. Max Green (9)

1. Jordan Els (50)

2. Jack Walker (89)

3. Cameron Doak (*)

4. Jonny Green (9)

5. Stephan Lewies © (82)

6. Zach Carr (7)

7. Tom Lawday (94)

8. Lucas Schmid (8)

IMPACT PLAYERS:

16. Sam Riley (69)

17. Jamie Miller (*)

18. Ollie Streeter (3)

19. Harry Browne (7)

20. Joe Launchbury (44)

21. Elliot Williams (*)

22. Jake Murray (13)

23. Hayden Hyde (13)

PREM CUP FORMAT

For the 2025/26 season, the PREM Rugby Cup follows a new format which sees the competition consist of 10 teams, all of which are from the Gallagher PREM.

This season's edition features two pools of five teams, playing home and away over ten competition rounds between September and February.

The top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals (March 6–8), with the winners meeting in the PREM Rugby Cup Final the following week (March 13–15).

• Pool A: Bath Rugby, Bristol Bears, Gloucester Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Sale Sharks

• Pool B: Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints, Saracens