Phil Dowson has made three changes to his Northampton Saints side ahead of Round 5 of the Gallagher PREM this weekend, when Gloucester Rugby make the trip to DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
The Halloween clash – set for 5.30pm on Saturday 31 October – sees table-topping Gloucester arrive in Northampton five points ahead of the hosts, with Dowson’s Saints sitting fourth in the standings after the opening four rounds.
Of the 75 match-ups between the sides since the PREM formally began, the men in Black, Green and Gold and the Cherry and Whites have 37 wins apiece (and one draw), making it one of the most evenly-contested rivalries across the league.
Saints produced a season’s double over their West Country opposition last season; Anthony Belleau’s last-minute kick first sealed a 35-37 victory on the road at Kingsholm, before another dramatic finish saw Northampton take the spoils (36-32) on home soil.
Belleau is once again involved for Saints this weekend, as the Frenchman forms one of Dowson’s three changes. He starts at fly-half against Gloucester and joins Alex Mitchell in the half-back berths.
Behind them, Club Captain Fraser Dingwall is joined in the centres by British & Irish Lion Tommy Freeman – who starts in the midfield for the first time this term. That allows Ollie Sleightholme to come into Saints’ starting line-up this weekend, as he features on the wing alongside in-form George Hendy, whose 301 metres with ball in hand (at an average of 11.6 metres made per carry) so far this season remains a league high.
James Pater stays on at fullback against Gloucester and will hope to add to his seven tries scored in Black, Green and Gold so far this term – more than any other Saint.
In the forwards, Northampton remain unchanged through the front five. Emmanuel Iyogun (who earned a re-call to England’s training squad alongside eight of his Saints teammates earlier this week) starts at loosehead prop once again this weekend, while Zimbabwe’s Cleopas Kundiona is at tighthead and Curtis Langdon remains at hooker.
Alex Coles stays on in the engine room for Saints following his 150th appearance in Black, Green and Gold last weekend, with lock Ed Prowse joining him there again this week.
Callum Chick comes into Saints’ starting line-up to wear No.8 against Gloucester, while Josh Kemeny and Tom Pearson – who was also recalled by England this week – complete the pack from the back row.
Saints opt for a six-two split on the bench against Gloucester, with Italy internationals Danilo Fischetti and Ion Neculai, as well as British & Irish Lion Henry Pollock, primed to enter the action at DPD Stadium – while scrum-half Jonny Weimann and Scotland centre Rory Hutchinson provide the backs cover.
Single seats only remain for the visit of the Cherry and Whites, with remaining tickets now available HERE at a special price of just £50* (in Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories – unless otherwise advertised for less).
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Gallagher PREM, Round 5
Saturday 31 October 2026
DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 5.30pm
15 James Pater
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Tommy Freeman
12 Fraser Dingwall (c)
11 George Hendy
10 Anthony Belleau
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Cleopas Kundiona
4 Alex Coles
5 Ed Prowse
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Tom Pearson
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Danilo Fischetti
18 Ion Neculai
19 JJ Van Der Mescht
20 Tom Lockett
21 Henry Pollock
22 Jonny Weimann
23 Rory Hutchinson
Not available for selection:
Ben Alexander, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, Tom Litchfield, Archie McParland, Aidan Pugh, Fin Smith, Edoardo Todaro, and Lefty Zigiriadis.
GLOUCESTER TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 George Barton, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson (c), 11 Will Knight, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Arthur Clark, 6 Freddie Thomas, 7 Deian Gwynne, 8 Jack Clement.
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Will Trenholm, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Lewis Ludlow, 22 Dan Robson, 23 Ben Redshaw.
Referee: Sara Cox
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley and John Meredith
No.4: Harry Walbaum
TMO: Peter Allan