Burger Odendaal will take on the captaincy duties for Northampton Saints this Friday (18 April, kick-off: 7.45pm), as the men in Black, Green and Gold return to Gallagher Premiership action at Kingston Park.
The 32-year-old centre leads out Saints for the first time in his career as he makes his 17th appearance in a Northampton shirt – captaining the side as they go after their sixth league win of the season in Round 14, and what would be their fifth straight win in Newcastle.
Phil Dowson rings the changes for Saints’ return to the Premiership, making 13 changes to the side that reached the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals with a 51-16 victory over Castres Olympique last week.
Captain Odendaal and fullback James Ramm are the two who stay on from the match, while Tom West, Tom Lockett, Tom Pearson, Tom James and Rory Hutchinson all shift into the starting XV after featuring on Saints’ bench last time out.
Wingers Tom Seabrook and Tom Litchfield both start at Kingston Park, with fullback Ramm completing the back three – while skipper Odendaal partners Scotland international Hutchinson in the centres.
Scrum-half James starts his 13th appearance for Northampton this term, while Charlie Savala takes over at fly-half to wear the No.10 shirt in Newcastle.
Loosehead prop West joins hooker Craig Wright and tighthead prop Luke Green to form a new-look front row for Northampton this week, while Chunya Munga and Tom Lockett partner up in the engine room behind them.
And Saints round off the starting XV with a back row of flankers Angus Scott-Young and Pearson, plus No.8 Iakopo Mapu.
Meanwhile, Northampton name a bench full of experience for the clash – with the likes of Temo Mayanavanua, Juarno Augustus, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith all set to enter the action at Kingston Park.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 14
Friday 18 April, 2025
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 James Ramm
14 Tom Litchfield
13 Burger Odendaal (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Seabrook
10 Charlie Savala
9 Tom James
1 Tom West
2 Craig Wright
3 Luke Green
4 Chunya Munga
5 Tom Lockett
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Tom Pearson
8 Iakopo Mapu
Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Tarek Haffar
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Temo Mayanavanua
20 Juarno Augustus
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Fin Smith
23 Will Glister
Not available for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Sam Graham, George Hendy, George Makepeace-Cubitt, Archie McParland, Toby Thame, Ollie Sleightholme, and Robbie Smith.
FALCONS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Max Clark, 11 Ben Stevenson, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 John Hawkins, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Callum Chick (captain).
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Max Pepper, 22 Sammy Arnold, 23 Oli Spencer.
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referee: Hamish Smales and James Clarke
No.4: Wayne Falla
TMO: Andrew Jackson
