Welcome to the Weekend Preview 23 January. After two rounds of European action, attention turns back to domestic rugby this weekend, with just one round remaining before the break for the Six Nations. The Champions Cup has given some teams momentum, and for others has been rather humbling. But for now the focus is firmly on league positions, and getting bodies through this final hurdle before international rugby takes over. It’s a key weekend for squads looking to consolidate strong starts, arrest early-season slides, or simply avoid losing further ground before the pause.
The Prem Weekend Preview
So, to remind ourselves, it’s turning into a right old ding-dong at the top of the Prem. Northampton, Bath, Exeter and Bristol are all going strong and 5 points separates them.
The Algo still has Bath as favourites as we play Round 10 of 18, with a considerable gap between them and Northampton. That gap is closing steadily, though, so it promises to be a real battle between them with Bristol and Exeter on the outside looking in.
Bath travel to Gloucester as strong favourites and will be looking to stay towards the top. Exeter host Bristol in what promises to be a great game. Exeter are rated as favourites but Bristol should be close. Saracens should have too much for Newcastle, where the gap between the sides is reflected clearly in the numbers. The most competitive games come in London and Salford: Harlequins vs Leicester and Sale vs Northampton both project as near coin-flips, with little separating the teams.
The URC
In the URC, Leinster remain favourites to win the competition despite not topping the standings, reflecting both squad depth and historical performance. Stormers continue to look like their closest challengers, while Glasgow’s strong European form has boosted their domestic outlook. This weekend’s fixtures are well balanced across the board, with Leinster travelling to Connacht, Stormers hosting the Sharks, and several evenly matched contests where home advantage could be decisive. With one league round left before the Six Nations break, it’s a crucial opportunity for teams to bank points before the competition pauses and resets.
Rugby4Cast’s Top Tip This Weekend
Our top tip of the weekend comes at Harlequins as they take on Leicester. An away win for the Tigers looks undervalued. Look for value at 2.14+.
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