Prem Cup Final: Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs — Parling’s Side Backed By Billy Searle; Chiefs Name Young Cohort
This prem Cup final sees Leicester Tigers host Exeter Chiefs at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with kick-off set for 3: 30 pm ET. Geoff Parling has urged his players to take advantage of a rare chance to win silverware, while Exeter will field a youthful cohort for the showpiece.
Prem Cup Matchup And Kick-Off
The match is staged at Welford Road with a 3: 30 pm ET kick-off. Leicester arrive having reached a final for the third consecutive season, and the club’s head coach has framed the fixture as a valuable opportunity to deliver tangible success. Previous final defeats for the Tigers include the Prem Cup loss at Kingsholm and a league play-off defeat at Twickenham last season.
Leicester: Parling’s Message And Searle Spotlight
Geoff Parling has told his players to make the most of the occasion and show what the club is about on a big stage. The build-up has been shaped by the narrative of a team seeking to convert repeated final appearances into a trophy win. Separately, Billy Searle is shining for Parling’s side, a storyline that has featured prominently in pre-match coverage.
Exeter Team News: Young Cohort Named For Final
Exeter have named a young group to start the PREM Rugby Cup final. The side includes a number of returns and first starts: Khwezi Mona is selected to make his first start of the season and will form an all South-African front row with Ethan Burger and hooker Joseph Dweba. Tom Gulley has been brought in on loan from the University of Exeter and will begin the fixture on the bench.
Jimmy Roots will miss the game after suffering a serious laceration to his ear that required extensive stitches. Lewis Pearson will captain the Chiefs, and Christ Tshiunza returns from injury. Rusi Tuima partners Pearson in the pack and Ross Vintcent returns at number eight. Martin Moloney and Finn Worley Brady start on the flanks, with Tom Cairns at scrum-half and Will Haydon-Wood at fly-half. Will Rigg and Ollie Batson form the centre pairing, Campbell Ridl resumes a starting role on the wing alongside Paul Brown-Bampoe, and Josh Hodge is named at full-back.
On the bench, Julian Heaven and Will Goodrick-Clarke provide support for the young Gulley, while Joe Bailey covers the pack. Charlie Chapman retains a place in the matchday squad and Ben Coen and Dan John are added to the backline options. Exeter’s director of rugby has described the environment in training as vibrant and has highlighted the energy among younger players preparing for their first games at this level.
The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, and tickets remain available through the Tigers’ ticketing channel. Expect both sides to bring contrasting selection approaches — Leicester chasing silverware after successive final appearances, and Exeter leaning on a mix of youth and returning internationals for the cup decider.
