Northampton Saints U18s Head Coach Charlie Reed has named a rotated side for a friendly against Saracens at Colchester Rugby Club this Saturday (24 January, kick-off: 12pm), with the U17s also playing the same opponents immediately after (kick-off: 2pm).
With no PREM Next Gen Academy league fixtures for any sides this weekend, the friendly presents an opportunity for both playing groups to get more game time as the run-in towards the finals day draws closer.
Hardy Linell, Charlie Tamani, George Tonga’uiha and Charlie Hammick are the remaining members of the starting XV that faced Newcastle Red Bulls in Round 5 of the Academy Next Gen League, with Reed opting to heavily rotate his side.
“We’re trying a few different combinations,” Reed explained ahead of the friendly.
“There are a couple of lads who have been out with long-term injuries coming back to have their first minutes, so it’s a good opportunity to see how they go.
“It’ll be good to allow people to put on a Saint’s shirt and try and put their best foot forward.”
Northampton Saints U18s vs Saracens U18s
Friendly
Saturday 24 January, 2026
Kick-off: 12pm
15 Hardy Linell
14 George Cooper
13 Callum Tarry
12 Ethan Horne
11 Charlie Tamani
10 Kai Fisher
9 Harry Sturla
1 Lucas Veevers
2 Kingsley Gallimore
3 Louie Dufty
4 George Tonga’uiha
5 Ted Warner
6 Alex Mead
7 Ronan Perkins
8 Charlie Hammick
Replacements:
16 Ferdi Barnett-Vincent
17 Ben Jones
18 Aiden Reid
20 Archie McHarg
21 Oscar Wells
22 Sonny Goode
23 Fin Shields
24 Will Catley
25 Elijah Jeyes
Immediately following the U18s fixture, the U17s will also play in a friendly against Saracens with a 2pm kick-off.
Northampton Saints U17s vs Saracens U17s
Friendly
Saturday 24 January, 2026
Kick-off: 2pm
15 Benjamin Bullen, 14 Jeremiah German, 13 William Watkins, 12 Will Tierney, 11 Viggo Brooks, 10 Harry Carter, 9 Riley Curtin; 1 Dylan Hooper, 2 Isaac Mills, 3 Dexter Simkiss, 4 Henri Cole, 5 George Nevill, 6 Will Hart, 7 Toby Price, 8 Harry Nath.
Replacements: 16 Elliott Marsh, 17 Toby Seaman, 18 Thomas Eady, 19 Louis Agostini, 20 Nihaal Sandhu, 21 Neal Tuladhar, 22 Fraser Waller, 23 Toby Gotts, 24 Benji Patterson.