Saints name first line-up of 2026 as Quins visit Northampton

Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has named his first Northampton Saints side of 2026, as the men in Black, Green and Gold kick-off the New Year by welcoming Harlequins on Saturday (3 January, kick-off: 5.30pm).

The Round 9 clash will be an 11th consecutive PREM sell-out at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, and the sides’ second meeting in Northampton this term – with Saints running out 26-17 victors in the PREM Rugby Cup fixture back in November.

Northampton’s 21-41 victory over Bath Rugby propelled them to the top of the PREM standings at the close of 2025, and Dowson’s side will be hoping to maintain that position going into 2026 as he makes nine changes to his starting XV for the visit of Quins.

Saints name an unchanged back three, with George Hendy starting at fullback in Round 9 and joining last weekend’s wing pairing of Edoardo Todaro and James Ramm there.

British & Irish Lion Tommy Freeman – who tops the league’s try-scoring stats with eight in as many rounds – retains his position at outside centre for Saints after producing a man-of-the-match performance against Bath, with England international Fraser Dingwall returning to captain Northampton.

Two of Saints’ other Lions, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith, reprise their roles at half-back against Quins, as they start at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Italy loosehead Danilo Fischetti and Scotland tighthead Elliot Millar Mills start at prop for Saints, and they join hooker Robbie Smith in the front row.

In-form lock duo of Alex Coles and JJ Van Der Mescht come back into Northampton’s starting line-up for the clash, while Josh Kemeny – who penned a new deal with the Club this week – Tom Pearson and Callum Chick form the back row and complete the pack.

And Dowson names a bench full of firepower in Round 9, with space for the likes of Craig Wright, Cleopas Kundiona, Archie McParland, Anthony Belleau and Rory Hutchinson amongst the replacements.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs HARLEQUINS

Gallagher PREM, Round 9

Saturday 3 January, 2026

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Kick-off: 5.30pm

15 George Hendy

14 Edoardo Todaro

13 Tommy Freeman

12 Fraser Dingwall (c)

11 James Ramm

10 Fin Smith

9 Alex Mitchell

1 Danilo Fischetti

2 Robbie Smith

3 Elliot Millar Mills

4 Alex Coles

5 JJ Van Der Mescht

6 Josh Kemeny

7 Tom Pearson

8 Callum Chick

Replacements:

16 Craig Wright

17 Oliver Scola

18 Cleopas Kundiona

19 Ed Prowse

20 Sam Graham

21 Archie McParland

22 Anthony Belleau

23 Rory Hutchinson

Not considered for selection:

Emeka Atuanya, Will Glister, Curtis Langdon, Tom Litchfield, Tom Lockett, Ollie Sleightholme, Charlie Ulcoq, and Tom West.

Referee: Sara Cox MBE

Assistant referees: Dan Jones and Neil Chivers

No.4: Henry Pearson

TMO: Andrew Jackson