Henry Pollock is set to make his 50th appearance for Northampton Saints this Friday (25 September, kick-off: 7.45pm), as the Gallagher PREM gets underway at DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Fresh from signing his new contract at the Club this week, the 21-year-old back rower hits the milestone in just his fifth season as a Saint, running out in Black, Green and Gold for the 50th time on Friday night.
Newcastle Red Bulls are the visitors to DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens to kick-off Saints’ PREM title defence, and Northampton will be hoping to replicate the season double over they managed over Newcastle last term.
Half-centurion Pollock starts alongside Josh Kemeny and Callum Chick in Saints’ back row for their opening PREM clash, with a second row of Alex Coles and Ed Prowse ahead of them in the pack.
Phil Dowson names an unchanged front row from Saints’ friendly outing against Black Lion last week – where they defeated the Georgian side 93-10 in their final preseason warm-up clash – with England duo Emmanuel Iyogun and Curtis Langdon starting at loosehead prop and hooker respectively, while Zimbabwe’s Cleopas Kundiona starts on the tighthead.
Archie McParland and Fin Smith reprise their roles in Northampton’s half-backs against Newcastle, while club captain Fraser Dingwall and Scotland international Rory Hutchinson man Saints’ midfield in Round 1.
And Saints also remain unchanged throughout the back three this week, with 19-year-old James Pater starting a fullback while George Hendy and Tommy Freeman start the clash on the wings.
Amongst the replacements, Northampton name a wealth of experience – with the likes of Danilo Fischetti, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell and Ollie Sleightholme all on the bench – while Ion Neculai and Josh Taylor are primed to make their PREM debuts should they enter the action at DPD Stadium.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs NEWCASTLE RED BULLS
Gallagher PREM, Round 1
Friday 25 September, 2026
DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 James Pater
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Rory Hutchinson
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 – 50th Saints appearance
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Danilo Fischetti
18 Ion Neculai – Gallagher PREM debut
19 Tom Lockett
20 Josh Taylor – Gallagher PREM debut
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Anthony Belleau
23 Ollie Sleightholme
Not available for selection:
Ben Alexander, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, Henry Lumley, Aidan Pugh, Oliver Scola, Toby Thame, Edoardo Todaro, JJ Van Der Mescht and Lefty Zigiriadis.
NEWCASTLE RED BULLS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Max Hicks, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 8 Sam Graham.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Tom West, 18 James Harper, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Zack Henry, 23 Hoskins Sotutu.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant referees: George Selwood and Veryan Boscawen
No. 4: Neil Chivers
TMO: Ian Tempest