- Stadium opens 6pm, kick-off 8pm.
- Tickets for the fixture are still available to purchase HERE.
- The Hornbrokers Brass Band will be roaming the stadium pre-match and performing on the pitch at half-time!
- Solo artist Dan Knight will also be performing in the Rodber Bar before and after the match.
- Please also allow plenty of time to get into your seat or spot on the Terrace on Friday, with a near capacity crowd expected, queues are likely.
- Please note, Friday’s game is NOT included in your 2025/26 Season Ticket package.
Northampton Saints return to Investec Champions Cup action at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this Friday (3 April, kick-off: 8pm), as they take on Castres Olympique in the Round-of-16.
The men in Black, Green and Gold head into the knock-out encounter sitting top of the Gallagher PREM table after last weekend’s late triumph over Saracens. A place in the quarter-finals is on the line, with Saints previously beating Friday’s opponents twice in last year’s charge to the competition’s Final.
Tickets for Saints vs Castres are still available online HERE, starting from just £28* adult and £10* child.
STADIUM MAP
(click map to view full size)
FOR MORE DETAIL ON EVERYTHING GOING ON AT CINCH STADIUM AT FRANKLIN’S GARDENS (INCLUDING OFF-PITCH ENTERTAINMENT, OPENING TIMES AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION) PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLES BELOW...
TICKETS
- Tickets for Saints vs Castres are still available online HERE, starting from just £28* adult and £10* child.
- If you have purchased match tickets, these are attached to your purchase confirmation email – please ensure you have these either printed on A4 paper, viewable on your smartphone, or added to your smartphone digital wallet before arriving at the stadium. Screenshots of your tickets are not accepted by the scanners on our turnstiles.
- Please note, Friday’s game is NOT included in 2025/26 Season Ticket packages.
OPENING HOURS
The Saints Store, Village Stores, Ticket Office and Stadium will be open at the following times for Saints vs Castres.
- 12pm: Saints Store opens, with Ticket Office found inside the Store
- 5pm: Ticket Office windows open
- 5pm: Car Parks open
- 6pm: Stadium opens, Village Store and Trailer open
- 8pm: Saints vs Castres KO, Saints Store closes
- 8:15pm: Ticket Office windows close
- 8.45pm: Saints vs Castres HT
- 9:45pm: Saints vs Castres FT
- 9:45pm: Saints Store re-opens
- 10:10pm: Saints Store and Village Stores close
ENTERTAINMENT
- We’re delighted to be joined by solo-artist Dan Knight on Friday, he’ll join us in the Supporter Village pre-match as well as the Rodber Bar after full-time.
- We’re also joined by the Hornbrokers Brass Band, who will be roaming the stadium pre-match and performing on the pitch at half-time.
- Make sure to keep an eye out for the Northampton School for Boys’ Under-18s team, who will be parading the Continental Tyres Schools U18 Cup around the pitch at half-time.
PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY
- With cinch Stadium at expected to be close to capacity on Friday, the Club urges supporters to arrive as early as possible to avoid queues.
- Please make sure you give yourself enough time to get to the ground and into your seat or place on the Terrace.
FOOD & DRINK
- A wide selection of bars and food stalls are open within the Village and stadium throughout matchday – please see the map above for full details of all the outlets around the Stadium.
- Food offerings can be found across the stadium bars as well.
- Rodber Bar: Pasties, pies, sausage rolls, pork baps and a coffee unit.
- Members Bar: Pasties, loaded fries, loaded dogs, pies and sausage rolls.
- Kiosk bars: Pasties, sausage rolls and pies.
- Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are all available around the ground.
- Please be aware that cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a cashless stadium; all bars and food outlets will only accept card payments.
- There will be a staggered bar closure around the stadium, ending in the Rodber Bar at 11pm.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
- Northampton Saints’ matchday programme is available to all supporters, free of charge, via a digital-only format.
- Containing exclusive interviews and features with Saints’ first-team squad, all the latest news from around the Gardens, as well as online games, statistics and team line-ups for the match, Saints’ matchday programme is not to be missed.
- Scannable QR codes will also be situated around the Gardens so supporters can open and read the programme on their mobile devices on matchday.
- From 4pm on Thursday 2 April, the matchday programme for Saints vs Castres will be available to view HERE.
ECOCUPS – PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THEM HOME
- Northampton Saints have updated the EcoCup system at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
- Following supporter feedback, the £1 deposit has been removed. EcoCups should now be returned to any stadium bar or placed in the dedicated EcoCup return bins located throughout the ground.
- Supporters are kindly asked not to take cups home, as their reuse is essential to the Club’s sustainability efforts.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS FOUNDATION
- Supporters can now ‘Be A Saint’ by Ordering One For The Foundation. A voluntary £1 donation will then be added to their order at stadium bars, with all proceeds going directly to the Northampton Saints Foundation.
- Additional donation options are available throughout the ground. A large QR code in the South East corner allows supporters to make mobile donations directly from their seats, and QR codes will also be displayed around the stadium.
- Unfortunately, there will not be a raffle for supporters to enter at this match due to insufficient numbers of volunteer fundraisers, however, if you wish to, you will still be able to donate to the Foundation via the Giant QR code in the stadium, ordering One for the Foundation when buying a round at the bars or using Text To Donate by texting SAINT1 to 70201 to donate £1, SAINT1 to 70331 to donate £3, SAINT1 to 70970 to donate £5, SAINT1 to 70191 to donate £10
FOR THE KIDS
- Are you bringing a mini-Saint to their very first match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens? If so, we want to make it extra special with a First-time Fan Certificate, so they will never forget their first time watching the men in Black, Green and Gold.
- Fill out THIS FORM to be sent a certificate via email.
TRAVELLING TO THE MATCH
- Please note that there are currently roadworks on Harlestone Road, so please allow extra time for your journey when travelling to this Friday’s match.
- Consider using public transport to get to Saints vs Castres on Friday, with Stagecoach offering Northampton supporters special deals on bus travel across the town.
- On Northampton matchdays, Saints Season Ticket Holders can get a return ticket for travel anywhere within the Northampton area for just £5.
CAR PARKING
- Car Parking (in Claret Car Park, NN5 5JT) will be available for £8.50 on the day via contactless payment upon arrival. Car parking tickets are not available to purchase in advance. Car Parks open at 5pm, with the stadium opening its gates at 6pm.
- Please note, West Northants Council have taken ownership of the Claret Car Park over the summer. At the moment, this won’t change Saints supporters’ use of the car park on matchdays, but the Club will provide any further updates when we are able.
- For the 2025/26 season, supporters will also have access to use Northampton Town FC’s West Car Park (NN5 5QA) on Saints matchdays that do not clash with Cobblers’ games. Parking in this car park will be managed by Cobblers and is priced at £5 on the day via contactless payments upon arrival. Please note, Saints’ seasonal car parking passes are not valid for this Car Park. It will be open from 5pm.
- Seasonal car passes valid for the 2025/26 season will be accepted in the Club’s car parks for this match.
- Please also be aware that there will be no movement in the VIP Car Park from ten minutes before the full-time whistle for approximately 25 minutes. As usual, traffic management will be in place in Car Park D, Claret Car Park and on Edgar Mobbs Way.
- After the Car Parks close at midnight, there will be no access to any vehicle left behind until Tuesday morning.
- Given that cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens sits in a residential area of the town, Saints strongly urge all supporters to use the Club’s car parks. Should they choose not to do so, supporters must park with due care and respect for the needs of local residents and businesses.
SMOKING
- cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a NO SMOKING stadium. Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes is not permitted anywhere in the stadium or Supporter Village pre, during or post-match.
- Supporters wishing to smoke will be allowed to exit the stadium during half-time to use one of the designated smoking areas outside Gates 1, 2, 3 and 4 – stewards will be on hand to direct you and will manage exit and re-entry into the stadium.
SUPPORTER CHARTER
- Northampton Saints asks all supporters attending Saints vs Castres to familiarise themselves with the Club’s Supporter Charter.
- Whether it’s your first time coming to a match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens or you’re a seasoned supporter, please also take a minute to read our Ground Regulations – which include information on what you can and cannot bring into the stadium.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFO
- As the teams run out onto the pitch on Friday, there will be a pyrotechnic display in front of the East Stand – please be advised this may include a series of loud bangs/crackles.
- The Club requests that supporters refrain from standing at the side of the pitch to watch the warm-up to prevent congestion. Please watch the warm-up from your seat.
- As cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a front-loading stadium, Northampton Saints asks supporters to avoid moving around the stadium while the match is in play to avoid blocking the view of your fellow supporters. Please note, you may be held back from returning to your seat by our stewards until there is a break in play.
MATCHDAY TIMINGS
| 12pm | Saints Store opens, with Ticket Office found inside the Store |
| 5pm | Car Parks open |
| 4.30pm | Tunnel Club opens |
| 5pm | Michael Jones Jeweller Champions Suite opens |
| 5pm | Ticket Office windows open |
| 5.30pm | Heroes Restaurant and Directors Lounge opens |
| 6pm | Stadium opens, Village Stores open |
| 6pm | Legends Bar, Captain’s Bar open and all other hospitality open |
| 8pm | Saints vs Castres KO, Saints Store closes |
| 8.15pm | Ticket Office windows close |
| 8.45pm (approx) | Saints vs Castres HT |
| 9.45pm (approx) | Saints vs Castres FT |
| 9.45pm (approx) | Saints Store re-opens |
| 10.10pm (approx) | Saints Store and Village Stores close |
| 11pm | Staggered bar closures, ending in Rodber Bar |
| 11pm | Venue closes |
| 12am | Car Parks close |
* All ticket prices are subject to a £1.50 booking fee