Alex Mitchell will make his 150th appearance in a Northampton Saints shirt this weekend, as Phil Dowson names his first Investec Champions Cup side for their trip to Section Paloise.
The British & Irish Lions scrum-half hits the milestone in Round 1 of the European competition on Sunday 7 December (kick-off: 2pm France / 1pm UK time), becoming only the third player in the current squad to reach 150 matches in Black, Green and Gold – joining centre duo Rory Hutchinson and Fraser Dingwall.
Mitchell is joined in his milestone-making by Tom Pearson, who brings up a half-century of Saints appearances in the back row as Northampton prepare to face Section Paloise in a competitive match for the first time in the two sides’ histories.
Phil Dowson’s squad enjoyed an impressive run in last season’s Champions Cup, securing a historic win in South Africa in the pool stages before defeating Leinster Rugby in Dublin to secure their place at a first Final since 2011.
Northampton fell just short of glory at Principality Stadium, as eventual champions Union Bordeaux-Bégles came out on the right side of the 28-20 scoreline; and will be hoping to bounce back from that defeat and start this season’s competition on a high in their first clash in Pau.
George Furbank captains Northampton in their debut outing at Stade Municipal de Hameau, as the England international starts at fullback in Round 1 – with George Hendy and James Ramm both recovering from their respective injuries to return to Saints’ wings.
Scotland’s Hutchinson retains his place in Northampton’s centres, while Dingwall also recovers from injury to start alongside Hutchinson in the midfield in Pau.
Milestone man Mitchell slots into scrum-half for Saints’ first European outing of the season, while fellow British & Irish Lion Fin Smith starts at fly-half once again against Section Paloise.
Italy’s Danilo Fischetti is another returnee for Northampton, as he comes back into Saints’ front row at loosehead prop to join hooker Craig Wright and tighthead Trevor Davison there.
JJ Van Der Mescht stays on in the second row as Northampton travel to France and is joined there by England’s Alex Coles – who also returns to Saints’ side following his rest after the Quilter Nations Series.
Half-centurion Pearson starts at openside flanker, with Josh Kemeny and Callum Chick staying on at blindside flanker and No.8 respectively.
Dowson opts for a six-two split on the bench in France, with the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Henry Pollock, Sam Graham and Tom James all set to enter the action at Stade Municipal de Hameau.
SECTION PALOISE vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Investec Champions Cup, Round 1
Sunday 7 December, 2025
Stade Municipal de Hameau
Kick-off: 2pm (1pm UK time)
15 George Furbank (c)
14 James Ramm
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 George Hendy
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell – 150th Saints appearance
1 Danilo Fischetti
2 Craig Wright
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Coles
5 JJ Van Der Mescht
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Tom Pearson – 50th Saints appearance
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Cleopas Kundiona – Investec Champions Cup debut
19 Ed Prowse
20 Henry Pollock
21 Sam Graham
22 Tom James
23 Toby Thame – Investec Champions Cup debut
Not considered for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Tommy Freeman, Will Glister, Curtis Langdon, Tom Litchfield, Tom Lockett, Ollie Sleightholme, Edoardo Todaro, Charlie Ulcoq, and Tom West.
SECTION PALOISE TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Aymeric Luc, 14 Gregoire Arfeuil, 13 Jack Maddocks, 12 Nathan Decron, 11 Clement Laporte, 10 Axel Desperes, 9 Dan Robson; 1 Alexandre Etchebehere, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 3 Jon Zabala Arrieta, 4 Thomas Jolmes, 5 Remi Picquette, 6 Sacha Zegueur, 7 Loic Credoz, 8 Facundo Isa.
Replacements: 16 Lucas Rey, 17 Remi Seneca, 18 Guram Papidze, 19 Mickael Capelli, 20 Joel Kpoku, 21 Reece Hewat, 22 Thomas Souverbie, 23 Quentin Valentino.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (ITA)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini and Alberto Favaro (both ITA)
No.4: Jonathan Dufort (FRA)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (ITA)