George Hendy and James Ramm are set to make their long-awaited return to action for Northampton Saints this Friday (15 March, kick-off: 7.45pm), as they welcome Sale Sharks to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for an exhibition clash.
The pair of wingers were ruled out for the men in Black, Green and Gold in consecutive matches at the end of 2024, but return for Saints’ last match before the Gallagher Premiership gets back underway in earnest next weekend as Northampton head to Bristol Bears.
Sale and Saints have a win apiece so far this season, with both home sides claiming victory in their two league meetings and Northampton most recently holding the bragging rights after beating Sharks 21-17 in a thrilling clash at the end of December.
Hendy and Ramm start their first match back at fullback and wing respectively, while Ollie Sleightholme starts again this week on the wing.
Burger Odendaal and Tom Litchfield link up to man Northampton's midfield once again, while Jake Garside shifts to scrum-half from his try-scoring outing at fullback last weekend and partners fly-half Charlie Savala in the half-back berths.
Emmanuel Iyogun and Trevor Davison both prop down for Northampton against Sale, while Tom Cruse comes into the starting line-up at hooker.
Tom Lockett and Temo Mayanavanua man Saints’ engine room and club captain Lewis Ludlam remains in the back row to lead the side, with No. 8 Juarno Augustus and Courtney Lawes joining him there.
Phil Dowson names an extended bench for the exhibition clash with Sale, with the likes of Paul Hill, Chunya Munga, Angus Scott-Young, Tom Seabrook and Tom Litchfield – while Saints Under-18s scrum-half Jonny Weimann is set to feature in his first senior game for the Club.
Tickets for the clash remain available from just £10 adult / £5 under-18s HERE, while the match will also be streamed live on SaintsTV HERE and the Club’s Youtube and Facebook channels.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SALE SHARKS
Friday 15 March, 2024
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 George Hendy
14 James Ramm
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Burger Odendaal
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Charlie Savala
9 Jake Garside
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Tom Cruse
3 Trevor Davison
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Tom Lockett
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam (c)
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
Robbie Smith
Alex Waller
Ethan Waller
Paul Hill
Chunya Munga
Alex Moon
Angus Scott-Young
Sam Graham
Jonny Weimann*
Joel Matavesi
Tom Seabrook
Will Glister
Ewan Baker
* Saints Under-18
SALE TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Tom Curtis, 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Josh Beaumont, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. JL du Preez
Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Ross Harrison, Si McIntyre, James Harper, Hyron Andrews, Ben Bamber, Cam Neild, Tristan Woodman, Will Riley, Raffi Quirke, Sam James, Joe Bedlow, Osian Roberts, Obi Ene, Telusa Veainu.
Not available for selection:
Callum Braley, Tarek Haffar, Rory Hutchinson, Curtis Langdon (suspended), Beltus Nonleh, Tom Pearson and Ed Prowse.
International duty:
Sam Matavesi (Navy), Toby Cousins, Archie McParland and Henry Pollock (all England Under-20s), Elliot Millar Mills (Scotland), Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, and Fin Smith (all England).
Referee: George Selwood
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson and James Clarke
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