Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has named his Northampton Saints side for the return of the Gallagher PREM this weekend, as Newcastle Red Bulls head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday (21 March, kick-off: 3pm).
The men in Black, Green and Gold head back into league action at the top of the table after ten rounds, having been defeated just once so far in the PREM this term.
Newcastle, on the other hand, have just one victory to their name in the league but have already tasted success at cinch Stadium this season – having defeated Saints in the PREM Rugby Cup back in November.
Saints have not lost a PREM match to Newcastle in their last nine clashes and will hoping to add a tenth result to their tally to remain at the top of the PREM standings as the league enters its second half.
The match also marks this season’s annual Foundation Day, Northampton Saints Foundation’s biggest fundraising event of the year. There will be plenty happening around the ground to raise vital funds and awareness for the charity, which uses the power of sport and the values of rugby to inspire, support and educate thousands of people each year – for more information, please CLICK HERE.
Emmanuel Iyogun returns from England camp to start in Saints’ front row for the first time since January, packing down at loosehead prop and joining hooker Robbie Smith and tighthead prop Luke Green there against Newcastle.
Ed Prowse and Chunya Munga are selected in Saints’ engine room this weekend, with Tom Lockett shifting to the blindside flank against Red Bulls to join Tom Pearson and captain Callum Chick in the back row – who start at openside flanker and No.8 respectively to complete the pack.
Saints’ half-back pairing of Archie McParland and Anthony Belleau continue the partnership that brought Northampton success in the PREM Cup as the league returns, starting together for the seventh time this term.
Outside them, Tom Litchfield partners returning Scotland international Rory Hutchinson in Saints’ centres.
Another return from international duty sees 19-year-old James Pater back in a Saints shirt after featuring for England Under-20s through the Six Nations. He starts on the wing alongside James Ramm, while fullback George Furbank returns to Club colours after being a part of the senior England set-up.
There are two potential league debuts amongst Saints’ replacements, with Aiden Ainsworth-Cave and Charlie Ulcoq primed to make their bows in the PREM. They’re joined on the bench by the likes of Curtis Langdon, Tom West and Cleopas Kundiona – while Tom James, Toby Thame and Ollie Sleightholme provide the backs cover for Northampton.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs NEWCASTLE RED BULLS
Gallagher PREM, Round 11
Saturday 21 March, 2026
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank
14 James Pater
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Tom Litchfield
11 James Ramm
10 Anthony Belleau
9 Archie McParland
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Robbie Smith
3 Luke Green
4 Ed Prowse
5 Chunya Munga
6 Tom Lockett
7 Tom Pearson
8 Callum Chick (c)
Replacements:
16 Curtis Langdon
17 Tom West
18 Cleopas Kundiona
19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave – Gallagher PREM debut
20 Charlie Ulcoq – Gallagher PREM debut
21 Tom James
22 Toby Thame
23 Ollie Sleightholme
Not available for selection:
Archie Benson, Alex Coles, Trevor Davison, Sam Graham, George Hendy, Josh Kemeny, Henry Lumley, Elliot Millar Mills, Alex Mitchell, Edoardo Todaro, and JJ Van Der Mescht.
NEWCASTLE TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Sammy Arnold, 11 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Adam Scott, 6 Reuben Parsons, 7 Tom Christie, 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Murray McCallum, 18 Nicky Little, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Tom Gordon, 21 James Elliott, 22 Rhys Beeckmans, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Adam Leal and John Meredith
No.4: Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: Harry Pearson