A number of Northampton Saints’ internationals will make their first bow of the 2026/27 season this Friday (18 September, kick-off: 7.30pm), as Black Lion are the visitors to Franklin’s Gardens.
The men in Black, Green and Gold take to the Gardens turf for the first time this term, running out for a final warm-up clash before their Gallagher PREM title-defence gets underway in a week’s time.
And Phil Dowson has named a squad with plenty of experience to take on the Georgian outfit, with some ten internationals within the starting line-up alone.
Club captain Fraser Dingwall leads Saints out at the Gardens, partnering fellow centre Toby Thame in Northampton’s midfield – while an all-out speedster back three sees George Hendy and Tommy Freeman man the wings, while James Pater starts the clash at fullback.
British & Irish Lion Fin Smith is set to make his first appearance of the season as he starts at fly-half, with England A’s Archie McParland alongside him at scrum-half.
Saints name an all-international front row, with the Club’s newest England star Emmanuel Iyogun at loosehead prop, fellow England international Curtis Langdon at hooker and Zimbabwe’s Cleopas Kundiona at tighthead prop alongside them.
Fresh from starting for England throughout the summer, Alex Coles features in Black, Green and Gold for the first time this season in the second row alongside Ed Prowse.
And Saints complete their starting line-up with a powerful back row of Josh Kemeny, Henry Pollock and Callum Chick.
Dowson names an extended bench for the friendly fixture, with 15 players set to enter the action at the Gardens on Friday night – with the likes of Italy’s Danilo Fischetti, England’s Alex Mitchell and Scotland’s Rory Hutchinson all named amongst the replacements.
Streamed in association with production company, 24/7, the match will be shown live on the Club’s YouTube channel for any supporters unable to attend. While tickets for the fixture are still available priced from £191 adult and £121 child by clicking HERE.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BLACK LION
Club Friendly
Friday 18 September, 2026
Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 7.30pm
15 James Pater
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Toby Thame
12 Fraser Dingwall (c)
11 George Hendy
10 Fin Smith
9 Archie McParland
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Cleopas Kundiona
4 Alex Coles
5 Ed Prowse
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Henry Pollock
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
Robbie Smith
Danilo Fischetti
Ion Neculai
Tom Lockett
Chunya Munga
Aiden Ainsworth-Cave
Tom Pearson
Jack Lewis
Alex Mitchell
Anthony Belleau
Ollie Sleightholme
Rory Hutchinson
Hugh Shields
Thomas Rowe
James Martin
Not available for selection:
Ben Alexander, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, Henry Lumley, Aidan Pugh, Oliver Scola, Josh Taylor, Edoardo Todaro, JJ Van Der Mescht and Lefty Zigiriadis.
BLACK LION TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Otar Metreveli, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze (c), 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Roma Makhatadze, 10 Davit Imnadze, 9 Giorgi Spanderashvili; 1 Dato Abdushelishvili, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 3 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili, 5 Vladimir Chachanidze, 6 Michael Curry, 7 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 8 Leavasa Potu.
Replacements: Giga Kobakhidze, Vakhtang Jincharadze, Shota Kheladze, Giorgi Kimutsadze, Giorgi Mamaiashvili, Demur Efremidze, Davit Arveladze, Luka Narsia, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Otar Giorgadze; Temur Dzodzuashvili, Luka Tsirekidze, Luka Tabatadze.
Referee: Sara Cox
Assistant referees: Charlie Gather and James Clarke
No. 4: Paul Box