George Furbank and Ollie Sleightholme will make their first appearances of the term for Northampton Saints this Saturday (15 November, kick-off: 5.30pm) as they face Newcastle Red Bulls in the PREM Rugby Cup.
The England duo have not donned a Black, Green and Gold shirt yet this season while they have been sidelined with their respective injuries since May, but both make their first bows for Northampton as Saints continue their Cup run this weekend.
Phil Dowson’s side are as yet unbeaten in the competition – having secured victories over Saracens and Harlequins so far – and welcome Newcastle to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the second clash between the two sides this season.
It was Northampton who came out on the right side of the 36-19 scoreline when Saints went to Kingston Park in the Gallagher PREM last month, and they will be hoping for a replica of that result when they face Newcastle in the Cup competition for the first time since 2022.
Furbank returns to start at fullback for the Round 4 clash, with incoming Sleightholme joined on Saints’ wings by 18-year-old James Pater – who scored the side’s fourth try in their 26-17 victory over Harlequins two weeks ago.
Toby Thame and Henry Lumley resume their centre partnership from that clash with Quins, with scrum-half Jonny Weimann and fly-half Anthony Belleau also continuing inside them.
Saints ring the changes in their front row against Newcastle, as props Tom West and Sonny Tonga’uiha make their first starts of the season alongside hooker Henry Walker.
After making his club debut from the bench against Quins last time out, loanee lock James Bennett earns his place in the starting XV – with the Loughborough University student joining Ed Prowse in Saints’ engine room.
Chunya Munga captains Northampton this weekend from blindside flanker, while Archie Benson and Fyn Brown shift across Saints’ back row to feature at openside flanker and No. 8 respectively.
Saints name a bench with a blend of youth and experience for this weekend’s clash, with the likes of Sam Graham, Tom James and Tom Litchfield joining youngsters Oliver Scola and Aiden Ainsworth-Cave there.
Tickets for Saints vs Newcastle are still available – with prices* starting from £20 adults / £6 child HERE.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs NEWCASTLE RED BULLS
PREM Rugby Cup, Round 4
Saturday 15 November, 2025
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 5.30pm
15 George Furbank
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Henry Lumley
12 Toby Thame
11 James Pater
10 Anthony Belleau
9 Jonny Weimann
1 Tom West
2 Henry Walker
3 Sonny Tonga’uiha
4 Ed Prowse
5 James Bennett*
6 Chunya Munga (c)
7 Archie Benson
8 Fyn Brown
Replacements:
16 Marco Manfredi
17 Oliver Scola
18 Luke Green
19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave
20 Sam Graham
21 Tom James
22 Tom Litchfield
23 Amena Caqusau
*Denotes guest player
Not considered for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Cleopas Kundiona, Curtis Langdon, Tom Lockett, James Martin, James Ramm, and Charlie Ulcoq.
International duty:
Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock and Fin Smith (all England), Rory Hutchinson and Elliot Millar Mills (both Scotland), Danilo Fischetti and Edoardo Todaro (both Italy), George Hendy, Emmanuel Iyogun, Archie McParland and Craig Wright (all England A).
NEWCASTLE TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Murray McCallum, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 8 Freddie Lockwood.
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Adam Scott, 20 Tom Gordon, 21 James Elliott, 22 Max Clark, 23 Sam Waugh.
Referee: Jamie Parr
Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys and Jamie Leahy
No. 4: James Clarke
* All tickets are subject to a £1.50 booking fee.