Chunya Munga captains Northampton Saints this Saturday (5 September, kick-off: 3pm), as they get their new campaign underway at Saracens in the PREM Rugby Cup.
After lifting the Gallagher PREM trophy at the close of the 2025/26 campaign, the men in Black, Green and Gold get back to competitive action following their tour to Sri Lanka – where they defeated the Asia Pacific Lions 42-59 in Colombo.
Saints defeated Saracens all four times they clashed with the Londoners last term, running out 34-49 in this fixture almost 12 months ago as Callum Chick crossed for a hat-trick and JJ Van Der Mescht also scored on his debut.
Munga leads Northampton from the second row as he makes his 55th appearance in a Saints shirt and partners Tom Lockett in the engine room against Saracens.
Behind them one of Saints’ six potential debutants this weekend, with Josh Taylor set to become Saint #2133 as he starts alongside Archie Benson and Charlie Ulcoq in the back row at the StoneX.
Another first-time Saint set to feature in the front row is Italy tighthead prop Ion Neculai, with loosehead Oliver Scola and hooker Robbie Smith completing the pack alongside him.
England Under-20s scrum-half Jonny Weimann and young fly-half Hugh Shields – who also makes his maiden bow for the Club – form Saints’ half-back pairing against Saracens.
Northampton’s fourth debutant is Saints Under-18s’ centre Will Catley, who is set to make his first appearance in a Saints jersey at just 17 years and 250 days old and mark himself as the Club’s second youngest Saints of the professional era, behind Archie McParland.
Alongside Catley in the midfield is his fellow centre Toby Thame, while James Martin, Thomas Rowe and James Pater form the back three behind them.
There are three further potential debuts on Saints’ bench, with Lefty Zigiriadis and Sonny Goode both primed for their first action in a Northampton shirt alongside guest player, Fergus Mainey.
SARACENS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
PREM Rugby Cup, Round 1
Saturday 5 September, 2026
StoneX Stadium
Kick-off: 3pm
15 James Pater
14 Thomas Rowe
13 Will Catley* – Saint #2135
12 Toby Thame
11 James Martin
10 Hugh Shields – Saint #2134
9 Jonny Weimann
1 Oliver Scola
2 Robbie Smith
3 Ion Neculai – Saint #2132
4 Tom Lockett
5 Chunya Munga (c)
6 Archie Benson
7 Josh Taylor – Saint #2133
8 Charlie Ulcoq
Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Lefty Zigiriadis – Saints debut
18 Sonny Tonga’uiha
19 James Bennett
20 Callum Chick
21 Fergus Mainey** – Saints debut
22 Sonny Goode – Saints debut
23 Freddie St John
*Saints Under-18
**Denotes guest player
Not available for selection:
Anthony Belleau, Amena Caqusau, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, Henry Lumley, Aidan Pugh, Ollie Sleightholme, Charlie Tamani, and Edoardo Todaro.
SARACENS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Jack Bracken, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Angus Hall, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Max Malins (c), 9 Charlie Bracken; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Eoghan Clarke, 3 Marcus Street, 4 Olamide Sodeke, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 7 Nathan Michelow, 8 Alfie Barbeary.
Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Alex O'Driscoll, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Totoa Auvaa, 20 Toby Knight, 21 Tom James, 22 Finn Keylock, 23 Sione Va'enuku.
Referee: Henry Pearson
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson and Neil Chivers
No. 4: Simon Harding