Our rugby data experts cast an eye over the weekend’s statistical points and pick out their standout XV with the help of the Opta Index.
With October nearly at an end and winter almost upon us, the European rugby season is in full flow. The excitement of November internationals may be just around the corner, but in the meantime the domestic game has kept pulses racing.
It was a weekend of surprises, with URC champions Leinster, Prem title holders Bath, and perennial TOP 14 conquerors Toulouse all suffering defeats.
But which players stood out across Europe? Using the Opta Index, let’s delve into our team of the week.
Opta’s Star Player of the Week
Noah Caluori registered the first five-try haul in Prem Rugby since Christian Wade’s double hat-trick for Wasps against Worcester Warriors in 2016. Remarkably, it came on his first Premiership start, though he had opened his account with a try off the bench against Newcastle Red Bulls on the opening matchday.
In truth, Caluori was unlucky not to record a double treble himself, with his aerial contest against Sale full-back Tom O’Flaherty leading to a Saracens penalty try on the stroke of half-time.
His Premiership career may span just 136 minutes so far, but with a try every 23 minutes on average, it’s easy to see why fans, pundits and coaches are all singing his praises.
It wasn’t only his try-scoring that impressed on Saturday. Caluori’s all-round involvement will have delighted Saracens and onlooking England supporters alike. His 18 carries were the most by any winger in a Prem match this season, and though he didn’t get the assist, his kick through was pivotal in the build up to Ben Earl’s 67th-minute score.
It was quality on top of quantity for Caluori, with his 222 metres gained matched only once over the past decade, by Kalaveti Ravouvou against Leicester Tigers last December (230m). He was also the only player to reach double-digits for defenders beaten at the weekend. His tally of 13 was the most by a winger in the league since Mateo Carreras achieved the same feat for Newcastle against Northampton Saints in April 2023.
Such was the impact of his performance that Caluori has already earned a call-up to England’s training squad ahead of this year’s Quilter Nations Series, and at just 19 years of age, a Test debut may not be far away.
We get the feeling we may be writing a lot more about Caluori in the months and years to come.
The Best of the Rest
Caluori wasn’t the only winger making waves across Europe, as despite USAP’s ongoing woes, Jefferson Joseph gained a gargantuan 246 metres from his 14 carries against Bordeaux, the highest tally recorded in a TOP 14 game since Opta have recorded this data.
246 – @usap_officiel's Jefferson Joseph gained 246 metres from his 14 carries against UBB, the most by any player in a @top14rugby match over the last 15 years. Magnifique. pic.twitter.com/zQhHus2Fgm
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) October 20, 2025Rounding off our back three is Northampton Saints’ Tommy Freeman, who played his first Prem game at full-back in over two years, and further showcased his ability to flourish anywhere in the back-line with a barnstorming performance that earns him our #15 jersey. While he didn’t quite join the other two in the 200+ metres club, he has now gained 100+ in two of his last three Prem outings, as often as in his previous 40 combined.
Moving into the centre, and Tom Farrell’s stupendous catch and try from Jack Crowley’s kick-through was the moment that saw Munster pull away from provincial rivals Leinster and push through to secure a famous win at Croke Park. Farrell shone equally brightly in defence, with no outside centre across Europe bettering his tally of 12 completed tackles.
Like Caluori, Farrell’s performance clearly resonated with his national coach, and he has now found himself added to Ireland’s squad for the November Tests, where he is poised to potentially win a first cap, albeit at the more mature age of 32.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continued his fine start to the URC season, helping the Stormers cement top spot with a comprehensive win over Zebre in Italy. Sixteen of the Stormers’ 31 points came courtesy of the prodigious fly-half, who helped himself to two tries and three conversions, in addition to a fine assist for Warrick Gelant on 57 minutes.
In the pack, Ethan Burger makes our lineup despite having originally not been named in the Exeter matchday squad for the weekend. An injury to Scott Sio saw him promoted to the bench before he was thrust into the action after 21 minutes following Will Goodrick-Clarke’s withdrawal. He more than seized his opportunity, making the most carries (16) and metres (30) of any prop at the weekend as the Chiefs held Harlequins scoreless (38-0).
At the lineout, nobody stole more opposition throws than Section Paloise lock Hugo Auradou, whose three picks have taken his tally to seven for the season, the most of anyone in France’s top flight, and a key factor in Pau’s current position at the top of the pile.
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