Jonny Weimann will captain Northampton Saints for the first time in his career this Friday (6 November, kick-off: 7.45pm), as Leicester Tigers make the short trip to DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the restart of the PREM Rugby Cup.
The 20-year-old scrum-half shone as he stepped up to the Gallagher PREM stage last weekend, when Saints downed Gloucester Rugby 28-14, coming on as a first-half replacement for Alex Mitchell. This weekend Weimann takes on the captaincy and will lead out a Northampton matchday squad with an average age of just 21.92 for the Round 3 fixture.
The men in Black, Green and Gold head into a second East Midlands derby in a fortnight, hoping to avenge the PREM loss at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and secure a first PREM Cup win of the 2026/27 season to boost hopes of progressing into the knock-out stages, following Group B losses to Saracens and Harlequins in September’s first two rounds.
Skipper Weimann will be partnered in the half-backs by 18-year-old fly-half Hugh Shields, who extends his starting run in the Cup to a third consecutive match.
Toby Thame – a tryscorer in both of his last two outings in Black, Green and Gold – operates at outside centre alongside Saints’ youngster Henry Lumley – who makes his return from injury this weekend to operate amongst the midfield.
The only member of the backline older than 22, and the only starting player to be born before the year 2000, is 27-year-old fullback James Martin, who lines up in the back three alongside wingers Thomas Rowe and Amena Caqusau – with the latter making his first Saints appearance of the season.
Having scored for Bedford Blues against Hartpury last weekend, hooker Craig Wright returns to Black, Green and Gold colours this weekend, packing down alongside 20-year-old props Oliver Scola and Sonny Tonga’uiha.
With 54 outings for the Club, lock Chunya Munga is the the leading Saints appearance maker in the squad, forming a heavyweight lock partnership with James Bennett, who scored twice in his last Northampton outing against Saracens in September.
Archie Benson, Charlie Ulcoq and Josh Taylor combine in the back row to complete the run-out side for the DPD Stadium clash.
The Senior Academy duo of lock Alex Mead and winger Charlie Tamani are set to make their senior Saints debuts from the bench – following in the footsteps of prop Noah Buxton, scrum-half Sonny Goode and centre Will Catley – who all made their Saints debuts in the earlier rounds of the Cup this season and feature amongst the replacements once more in Friday night’s squad.
The bench is completed by the powerful and experienced trio of lock JJ van der Mescht, prop Jordan Els – who recently extended his short-term deal until the end of the 2026/27 season – and hooker Henry Walker.
Tickets for Saints versus Tigers are still available to purchase priced from £261 adults and £91 child are available by clicking HERE.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LEICESTER TIGERS
PREM Rugby Cup, Round 3
Friday 6 November 2026
DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 James Martin
14 Amena Caqusau
13 Toby Thame
12 Henry Lumley
11 Thomas Rowe
10 Hugh Shields
9 Jonny Weimann (c)
1 Oliver Scola
2 Craig Wright
3 Sonny Tonga’uiha
4 Chunya Munga
5 James Bennett
6 Archie Benson
7 Charlie Ulcoq
8 Josh Taylor
Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Jordan Els
18 Noah Buxton
19 JJ van der Mescht
20 Alex Mead – Northampton Saints debut
21 Sonny Goode
22 Will Catley
23 Charlie Tamani – Northampton Saints debut
Not available for selection:
Ben Alexander, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, Tom Litchfield, Archie McParland, Aidan Pugh, Edoardo Todaro, and Lefty Zigiriadis.
International duty:
Alex Coles, Emmanuel Iyogun, Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman and Fin Smith (all England), Tom Lockett, George Hendy and James Pater (England A), Danilo Fischetti and Ion Neculai (Italy), Rory Hutchinson (Scotland) and Cleopas Kundiona (Zimbabwe).
Referee: George Selwood
Assistant referees: John Meredith and Calum Howard
No.4: Harry Walbaum
TMO: Nikki O'Donnell