Braley to lead Saints in London Irish Cup clash

Calum Braley will lead out Northampton Saints this Tuesday evening as they head to Brentford to face London Irish in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

The 28-year-old scrum-half skippers a side with a blend of experience and youth for Saints’ first Cup outing – after their Round 1 match was postponed – as the side head to the Gtech Community Stadium.

Saints came out on top of the 38-22 scoreline when the sides locked horns in the Gallagher Premiership earlier this month, but the Exiles reached the final of last term’s Cup competition and Northampton will have a challenge on their hands if they are to add a second win over Irish on Tuesday night.

Captain Braley is joined by fly-half James Grayson in the half-back berths, with Joel Matavesi and Tom Litchfield named outside them in Northampton’s centres.

James Ramm starts the match at fullback to play his first competitive Saints match, with Ollie Sleightholme and Courtnall Skosan combining on the wings outside him.

Prop Ehren Painter returns from injury to start in the front row alongside hooker Robbie Smith and loanee loosehead prop Marty Mulhall – who arrived at Saints from Bristol Bears last week on a month-long loan deal – while Brandon Nansen and Tom Lockett make up Northampton’s engine room.

Meanwhile, Kayde Sylvester, Aaron Hinkley and Sam Graham combine to complete Saints’ forwards and round off the starting XV.

David Ribbans makes his return from injury to join Saints’ bench, while Senior Academy players Aston Gradwick-Light and Toby Thame are set for first senior outings in Black, Green and Gold, alongside England Under-18 internationals Henry Pollock and Archie McParland, should they enter the action from the bench.

LONDON IRISH vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Premiership Rugby Cup, Round 2

Tuesday 27 September 2022

Gtech Community Stadium

Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 James Ramm

14 Courtnall Skosan

13 Tom Litchfield

12 Joel Matavesi

11 Ollie Sleightholme

10 James Grayson

9 Callum Braley (c)

1 Marty Mulhall

2 Robbie Smith

3 Ehren Painter

4 Brandon Nansen

5 Tom Lockett

6 Kayde Sylvester

7 Aaron Hinkley

8 Sam Graham

Replacements:

16 Aston Gradwick-Light

17 George Patten

18 Oisín Heffernan

19 David Ribbans

20 Henry Pollock*

21 Archie McParland*

22 Toby Thame

23 George Hendy

*Saints Academy Under-18