JJ Van Der Mescht, Callum Chick, Alex Mitchell and James Pater all come into Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold host Bath Rugby on Saturday (10 October, kick-off: 3.05pm).
The quartet come in for the third-versus-fourth clash, with Bath sitting just one place ahead of reigning champions Saints after the opening two rounds of the Gallagher PREM.
Since 2021, it has been Saints who have come out victorious in this match-up at DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens – with the last two clashes in Northampton both dramatically decided by a last-minute Fin Smith penalty.
The fly-half features once again in the sold-out clash this weekend, with one of the four edits to this week’s side, fellow British & Irish Lion Alex Mitchell, starting alongside him in the half-back berths.
Ollie Sleightholme also shifts into this week’s starting line-up, featuring on the wing alongside Tommy Freeman and another of Saints’ new faces, James Pater – who returns to the fullback shirt against Bath after claiming the Club’s Player of the Month award for September.
Saints remain unchanged in the midfield, however, with club captain Fraser Dingwall leading Northampton there alongside Scotland’s Rory Hutchinson.
Dowson opts to stay consistent in his front row too, with props Emmanuel Iyogun and Cleopas Kundiona, as well as hooker Curtis Langdon, retaining their positions for the visit of Bath.
JJ Van Der Mescht and Callum Chick mark the two changes in the forwards for Northampton, with the former joining Alex Coles in the engine room while Henry Pollock shifts to openside flanker to allow the latter to start at No. 8 and join him and Josh Kemeny in the back row.
Saints opt for a six-two bench this weekend, where Ed Prowse is primed to make his 50th appearance in a Black, Green and Gold shirt should he enter the action. The likes of Robbie Smith, Danilo Fischetti and Tom Lockett are also named amongst the forwards cover, while scrum-half Archie McParland and fly-half Anthony Belleau provide Saints’ backs replacements against Bath.
Tickets for Saints vs Bath are now completely SOLD OUT. A limited number of re-sale tickets may become available ahead of matchday, depending on availability from Season Ticket Holders who are unable to attend. These tickets will be available to purchase online only and can be accessed HERE.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BATH RUGBY
Gallagher PREM, Round 3
Saturday 10 October, 2026
DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3.05pm
15 James Pater
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Fraser Dingwall (c)
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Cleopas Kundiona
4 Alex Coles
5 JJ Van Der Mescht
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Henry Pollock
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Danilo Fischetti
18 Ion Neculai
19 Tom Lockett
20 Ed Prowse – 50th Saints appearance
21 Josh Taylor
22 Archie McParland
23 Anthony Belleau
Not available for selection:
Ben Alexander, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, George Hendy, Tom Litchfield, Tom Pearson, Aidan Pugh, Edoardo Todaro, and Lefty Zigiriadis.
BATH TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Santi Carreras, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Charlie Griffin, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Tom Carr-Smith; 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid (c), 8 Arthur Green.
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Ollie Lawrence, 23 Jaco Coetzee.
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Sara Cox and Veryan Boscawen
No. 4: Calum Howard
TMO: Andrew Jackson