Northampton Saints U18s Head Coach Charlie Reed has named his side for their clash against table toppers Bath at Shelford RFC this Saturday (kick-off: 1pm).
Please note, this fixture was originally scheduled to be played at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens; however, due to adverse weather conditions, it has been moved to the alternative location.
Saints currently sit in sixth in the academy league following defeats away to Newcastle and Harlequins, however are targeting a strong finish to their season with two home fixtures.
Reed has made five personnel changes to his starting XV from the one that faced Harlequins last week at Gordon’s School.
There are two changes in the backline with Cal Tarry starting at inside centre and Caelin Chin at scrum-half. Sonny Goode slides back out to the centres, and Fin Shields starts at fly-half.
In the pack, Kinglsey Gallimore, Seb Dare and Reuben Williams all come into the starting XV as Archie McHarg moves from blindside flanker into the second row, and Will Hepher moves to No.8.
“Playing Bath, there’s one thing you always need to know about them: they prioritise set pieces over everything else,” said Reed.
“They’re a side that can use their physical power to maul you over or pick and go from a few metres out and be really effective in the way that they play with that.
“I think for us it’s about being disciplined and not giving them those 22 entries, but then also going and playing how we want to play and making sure that we play the game that looks like us; moving the ball rather than us playing within ourselves a little bit, which we’ve done over the last couple of weeks.”
Northampton Saints U18s vs Bath U18s
PREM Next Gen Academy League, Round 8
Saturday 7 February, 2026
Kick-off: 1pm
15 Hardy Linnell
14 Elijah Jeyes
13 Sonny Goode (c)
12 Cal Tarry
11 Charlie Tamani
10 Fin Shields
9 Caelin Chin
1 Lucas Veevers
2 Kingsley Gallimore
3 Aiden Reid
4 Rafferty Hewitt
5 Archie McHarg
6 Seb Dare
7 Reuben Williams
8 Will Hepher
Replacements:
16 Charlie Utting
17 Toby Seaman
18 Ben Jones
20 Harry Nath
21 Kai Manson
22 Ashton Cox
23 Will Howes
Immediately following the U18s fixture, the U17s will play in a friendly against a Midlands Select XV side with a 3pm kick-off.
Northampton Saints U17s vs Midlands Select XV
Friendly
Saturday 7 February, 2026
Kick-off: 3pm
Saints U17s: 15 Alfie Tedbury, 14 Harvey Fisher, 13, Charlie King, 12 Josh Miller, 11 James Ralston-Brown, 10 Giovanni Panariello, 9 George Grewcock; 1 Oliver Surley, 2 Elliot Marsh, 3 Hal McLanaghan, 4 Will Higgins, 5 Will Hart, 6 Oscar Wells, 7 Jordan Johnson (c), 8 Che Lodge.
Replacements: 16 Will Evans, 17 Dylan Hooper, 18 Tom Eady, 19 Finlay Clarke, 20 Jimmy Loftus, 21 Riley Curtin, 22 Harry Leach, 23 Will Watkins, 24 Alex Fidler.