Northampton Saints will need to ‘performing at their very best’ as they take on Bath in Round 3 of the Gallagher PREM this Saturday at DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, according to Ed Prowse.
Phil Dowson’s side come into the match looking to continue their form at DPD Stadium so far this term, following victories against Black Lion in pre-season and Newcastle Red Bulls in Round 1 of the PREM.
The men in Black, Green and Gold recorded a season’s double over Bath last term on their way to lifting the PREM trophy, with a 21-41 victory at the Rec in their final game of 2025 before a dramatic stoppage-time Fin Smith penalty secured Saints a 41-38 victory in the home encounter, which Prowse believes Saints can do again.
“We know what Bath are going to bring,” Prowse explained. “They’re a physical outfit and a quality outfit as well.”
“We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well and know what we’re both about. We’re playing a very good team, and we’ll have to be at our very best.”
Saturday could also be a landmark occasion for Prowse, who is in line to make his 50th appearance for the Club if named in the Saints’ matchday 23.
The Saints academy graduate, who moved from prop to second row only a couple of years ago, enjoyed his best season yet in 2025/26, more than doubling his Saints appearance tally as he played 27 times – including from the start in the Gallagher PREM final victory against Exeter Chiefs – and his continued progress saw him named as the Club’s Coaches’ Player of the Season.
He added: “In my early days as a prop, I didn’t ever see myself playing 50 games for the Saints, so it’s a massive achievement, and I’m really proud.
“Obviously, it’s the end goal when you get a contract, but there’s still the reality that not everyone makes it, and that's probably in your mind as well.
“I didn’t really get the game time here I really wanted and found myself on loan quite a lot, so there were definitely those doubts, but it’s been a successful past few seasons, so that’s been good.”
Prowse signed his first full-time contract ahead of the 2020/21 season and spent time out on loan at both Kettering RFC and Loughborough University in his fledgling season, as well as furthering his development through dual registration at Saints’ partner club Bedford Blues in the Champ.
A senior debut for Northampton came in March of 2022, when Prowse came off the bench against Saracens in the PREM Rugby Cup, and three more Cup appearances followed before the forward’s PREM debut came in the final regular-season game of the 2022/23 campaign.
Prowse made three more appearances in Saints’ PREM title-winning season of 2023/24 – including league outings against both Bristol Bears and Saracens – but it was ahead of the 2024/25 season where a transition from tighthead prop to lock saw him come into his own which was rounded out 2024/25 by featuring in the Champions Cup Final against Union Bordeaux Bègles, and then captaining the men in Black, Green and Gold for the first time in the final match of the season against Gloucester Rugby.
“It was a conversation where I was asked to switch positions, which was tough to start with, but it was clearly the right decision, and it’s been successful since then,” he continued.
“I guess it was just the initial belief from the coaches, rather than it being in a game, because I knew I had the ability to go out there and perform.
“I’m forward-focused, and I just want to do as well as I can in the second row. Being a prop is what got me here. I was able to put my foot forward in that regard, and obviously, that didn’t work out, but I’ve been able to have another opportunity to do something different.
“Saints is just such a great environment to be part of. Everyone’s so connected and gets on so well, and I feel like that feeds into the way we play. It’s a massive part of what we do here and where we want to go.
“Obviously, Saturday will be a special occasion, but I don’t want to go and try to do anything different. I just want to see if I can perform, and hopefully we can perform and underline that (50th appearance) with a win.”