Sam Graham will captain Northampton Saints for the first time in his career this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold face Ealing Trailfinders in the opening round of the Premiership Rugby Cup.
The sides will lock horns for the first time in the two clubs’ histories on Sunday (10 September, kick-off: 1pm) as the Cup competition gets underway in front of the TNT Sports cameras.
Taking on a new format, the Premiership Rugby Cup includes Championship teams as well as Premiership outfits for the first time this season – with Saints set to line up against Cambridge, Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby and Doncaster Knights over the next few weeks in addition to this weekend’s opposition in the Trailfinders.
Phil Dowson names five debutants within his starting XV, with hooker Craig Wright, wing Will Glister and fullback Ewan Baker all primed for their first senior appearances in a Saints shirt alongside forwards Theo Vukasinvoic and Izaiha Moore-Aiono who remain at the Club on short-term contracts.
After impressing against Barbarian F.C. last time out, Jake Garside keeps his place on Saints’ wing, joining debutants Glister and Baker in the back three, while George Hendy shifts into the centres for the Cup opener to man the midfield alongside Tom Litchfield.
Archie McParland – who became the Club’s youngest player of the professional era in last season’s Cup competition – makes his first start at scrum-half for Northampton in Ealing as he partners James Grayson in the half-back berths.
Alex Waller and Paul Hill pack down in Saints’ front row for the second week running with Saints Academy player Wright between them at hooker, while Vukasinovic starts in Saints’ second row again on Sunday, with Tom Lockett partnering him there.
And rounding off the starting line-up, skipper Graham is joined in the back row by young flanker Henry Pollock and No.8 Moore-Aiono.
There are possible debuts on Saints’ bench as well, with summer signing Elliot Millar Mills, young fly-half Matthew Arden and loanee winger Oscar Daniel also set for a first competitive appearance from amongst the replacements – with the like of Tom Cruse, Ed Prowse, Kayde Sylvester and Tommy Freeman also travelling to Ealing in the matchday 23.
EALING TRAILFINDERS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Premiership Rugby Cup, Round 1
Sunday 10 September, 2023
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Kick-off: 1pm
15 Ewan Baker – Saint #2076
14 Jake Garside
13 George Hendy
12 Tom Litchfield
11 Will Glister – Saint #2075
10 James Grayson
9 Archie McParland
1 Alex Waller
2 Craig Wright – Saint #2072
3 Paul Hill
4 Theo Vukasinovic – Saint #2073
5 Tom Lockett
6 Sam Graham (c)
7 Henry Pollock
8 Izaiha Moore-Aiono – Saint #2074
Replacements:
16 Tom Cruse
17 Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints debut
18 Ed Prowse
19 Emeka Atuanya
20 Kayde Sylvester
21 Matthew Arden – Northampton Saints debut
22 Oscar Daniel – Northampton Saints debut
23 Tommy Freeman
Not available for selection:
Callum Braley, Toby Cousins, Tarek Haffar, Joel Matavesi, Beltus Nonleh, Burger Odendaal, Angus Scott-Young, Ollie Sleightholme and Toby Thame.
International duty:
Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell (all England), Sam Matavesi and Temo Mayanavanua (both Fiji).
EALING TRAILFINDERS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Cian Kelleher, 14 Jonah Holmes, 13 Dan O’Brien, 12 Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Craig Hampson; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Mike Willemse, 3 Jimmy Roots, 4 Bobby de Wee, 5 Barney Maddison, 6 Jordy Reid, 7 Simon Uzokwe, 8 Rayn Smid.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 George Davis, 19 Simon Lindell, 20 Ollie Newman, 21 Jordan Burns, 22 Bruce Houston, 23 Max Bodily.
Referee: Dan Jones
Assistant referees: Simon Harding and Lionel Spooner
No. 4: Frank Venner
TMO: Rowan Kitt
