Northampton Saints host Gloucester Rugby as the Gallagher Premiership gets back underway on Saturday (30 November, kick-off: 3pm), with Saints’ internationals returning for the Round 7 clash.
Northampton’s unbeaten run at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens stretches back some 18 games in all competitions and, after claiming three wins from the three opening Premiership Rugby Cup clashes, the side will be aiming for a 19th win on home soil this weekend.
The men in Black, Green and Gold romped to a 90-0 victory the last time the sides met, but with the Cherry and Whites on the up this season, Gloucester head to Northampton looking for their first win at cinch Stadium since 2021.
George Furbank returns to Northampton after earning his 14th England cap during the Autumn Nations Series, and will reprise his role as Club Captain at fullback this weekend.
George Hendy – who scored one of Saints’ three tries against Coventry last week – shifts to the wing against Gloucester to join returning Ollie Sleightholme there, with the prolific winger donning Black, Green and Gold this weekend after scoring four tries in an England shirt over the autumn.
Scotland international Rory Hutchinson partners Tom Litchfield in Northampton’s midfield for the second week running against the Cherry and Whites.
Fin Smith returns to club action to start at fly-half for Saints in Round 7, with Tom James shifting into Northampton’s starting line-up to feature at scrum-half for the seventh time this season.
Props Tom West and Trevor Davison, plus hooker Curtis Langdon, form the front row for Saints against Gloucester, while Chunya Munga and Alex Coles link up in the engine room behind them.
Blindside flanker Angus Scott-Young comes into Saints’ back row to start against Gloucester, while Tom Pearson and Juarno Augustus remain on, at openside flanker and No. 8 respectively, to complete the starting line-up.
There is a welcome return amongst Saints’ replacements for Gloucester, with Alex Mitchell set to make his first appearance of the 2024/25 season – and the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Henry Pollock, Fraser Dingwall and James Ramm are also among those primed to enter the action at cinch Stadium.
Single seats only remain for Saints’ clash with Gloucester, with tickets available at the special price of £45* (unless otherwise advertised for less), while 2024/25 Season Ticket Holders can use their card to access the match.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Gallagher Premiership, Round 7
Saturday 30 November, 2024
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank (c)
14 George Hendy
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James
1 Tom West
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Chunya Munga
5 Alex Coles
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Tom Pearson
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Craig Wright
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Luke Green
19 Tom Lockett
20 Henry Pollock
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 James Ramm
Not available for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Sam Graham, Callum Hunter-Hill, Josh Kemeny, Burger Odendaal, Toby Thame and Robbie Smith.
GLOUCESTER TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Santi Carreras, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Arthur Clark, 5 Freddie Thomas, 6 Jack Clement, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Zach Mercer.
Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Ciaran Knight, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Chris Harris, 23 Josh Hathaway.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant referees: Joe James and Simon Harding
No. 4: Greg Macdonald
TMO: Martin Fox
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* All match ticket prices are subject to a £1.50 booking fee
