Vunipola makes Leicester debut as Green returns for Harlequins in PREM Cup opener

Mako Vunipola will make his Leicester Tigers debut at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday, starting at loose-head prop against Harlequins in the opening weekend of the Gallagher PREM Cup. The former Saracens, England and Lions tighthead joined Leicester from France this summer in one of the most notable moves of the close season.

Harlequins supporters will have their own reason to watch closely: Tyrone Green, hampered by persistent hamstring problems throughout last season, returns to start at full-back. James Dun also makes his club debut in the second row after arriving from Bristol.

Elsewhere in the competition, Alfie Barbeary pulls on the Saracens No.8 shirt for the first time as Max Malins leads the side from fly-half against a young Northampton team. It is a notable positional return for Malins, who last played fly-half for Saracens in the 2018/19 season.

At Ashton Gate, Bristol host Gloucester with AJ MacGinty starting at fly-half — the New Zealand-born playmaker having managed only four appearances last season. Pat Lam has mixed youth and experience in his squad, while Gloucester are captained by Lewis Ludlow, who is joined by Joe Joyce making his debut against his former club.

Bath have taken a development-focused approach for Sunday’s trip to Sale, naming centre Declan Treacey for his first-team debut. Sale Sharks, by contrast, have named arguably the strongest side of the weekend, with England internationals Courtney Lawes, Alex Lozowski and Joe Marchant all in the starting XV.

The PREM Cup serves as a pre-season proving ground ahead of the Premiership season later this month, with clubs striking varying balances between blooding academy talent and sharpening their established players.