Saints name team for PREM return at Bristol Bears

Phil Dowson has named his Northampton Saints side to face Bristol Bears, as the Gallagher PREM makes its return on Saturday (29 November, kick-off: 5.45pm).

Ashton Gate has been a challenging venue for Northampton in recent seasons. The men in Black, Green and Gold head to Bristol seeking their first victory there since 2021, when they claimed a 36-20 win.

The last meeting between the sides at cinch Stadium ended 48-31 in Saints’ favour however, as tries from Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, Curtis Langdon, Emmanuel Iyogun and Henry Pollock made sure of the victory – and Northampton will be hoping to replicate that result and remain unbeaten at the top of the PREM table in Round 6.

Fin Smith makes his return to Saints’ line-up after England’s Quilter Nations Series campaign, which allows Club captain George Furbank to move back to fullback for Northampton this weekend as he leads the men in Black, Green and Gold at Ashton Gate.

Fresh from earning his maiden Italy cap last weekend, Saints’ newest international Edoardo Todaro returns to start on the wing alongside Amena Caqusau – who makes his league debut on Saturday.

Centres Toby Thame and Tom Litchfield reprise their midfield partnership against Bristol, while England A’s Archie McParland recovers from the knock that withdrew him from last week’s PREM Rugby Cup outing at Leicester Tigers to start at scrum-half.

Emmanuel Iyogun and Trevor Davison make their first appearances in Black, Green and Gold in a month as they start in the front row at Ashton Gate, with Craig Wright staying on at hooker for Northampton this week.

Ed Prowse and JJ Van Der Mescht form Saints’ engine room partnership in Bristol, while Josh Kemeny is joined by Sam Graham and Callum Chick in the back row – with the latter ranking second in the league for post-contact metres (87) and fifth for carries (58) after five rounds.

There is also room for more returning faces on Saints’ bench, with Scotland international Rory Hutchinson and flanker Tom Pearson set to enter the action on Saturday.

BRISTOL BEARS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Gallagher PREM, Round 6

Saturday 29 November, 2025

Ashton Gate

Kick-off: 5.45pm

15 George Furbank (c)

14 Edoardo Todaro

13 Tom Litchfield

12 Toby Thame

11 Amena Caqusau – Gallagher PREM debut

10 Fin Smith

9 Archie McParland

1 Emmanuel Iyogun

2 Craig Wright

3 Trevor Davison

4 Ed Prowse

5 JJ Van Der Mescht

6 Josh Kemeny

7 Sam Graham

8 Callum Chick

Replacements:

16 Robbie Smith

17 Tom West

18 Cleopas Kundiona

19 Archie Benson

20 Tom Pearson

21 Tom James

22 Rory Hutchinson

23 James Pater

Not considered for selection:

Emeka Atuanya, Anthony Belleau, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Will Glister, George Hendy, Curtis Langdon, Tom Lockett, Chunya Munga, James Martin, James Ramm, Charlie Ulcoq and Jonny Weimann.

Referee: Ian Tempest

Assistant referees: Hamish Grant and Mike Hudson

No. 4: James Clarke

TMO: Dan Jones