Dan Biggar back to captain Saints against the Exiles

Northampton Saints will be led out by Dan Biggar for the first time this Saturday, as the Wales fly-half captains the side when London Irish head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the Gallagher Premiership clash.

Saints have lost to London Irish in the Premiership just once since 2015 and, having won their last five home matches at cinch Stadium, will be hoping to carry on that record this weekend.

Captain Biggar lines up alongside Alex Mitchell in the half-back berths for the clash with the Exiles, while Scotland international Rory Hutchinson returns to the side to partner Matt Proctor in the midfield.

After scoring a brace of tries last weekend, Tom Collins shifts to the wing for Saturday’s match and joins Ollie Sleightholme and England fullback George Furbank in the back three.

Meanwhile, props Alex Waller and Paul Hill retain their places in the front row this weekend and are joined there by Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon packing down behind them in the engine room.

Alex Coles shifts from lock into the back row on Saturday alongside flanker Aaron Hinkley and No. 8 Juarno Augustus to round off the line-up.

Mike Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young and Courtnall Skosan are amongst the men in Black, Green and Gold primed to make an impact from the replacements – while there is also a potential competitive Saints debut for scrum-half Callum Braley should he enter the action.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON IRISH

Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 2

Saturday 17 September 2022

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Kick-off: 2pm

15 George Furbank

14 Ollie Sleightholme

13 Matt Proctor

12 Rory Hutchinson

11 Tom Collins

10 Dan Biggar (c)

9 Alex Mitchell

1 Alex Waller

2 Sam Matavesi

3 Paul Hill

4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

5 Alex Moon

6 Alex Coles

7 Aaron Hinkley

8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:

16 Mike Haywood

17 Emmanuel Iyogun

18 Alfie Petch

19 Brandon Nansen

20 Angus Scott-Young

21 Callum Braley

22 Tom Litchfield

23 Courtnall Skosan

Not considered for selection:

Matthew Arden, Callum Burns, Fraser Dingwall, Sam Graham, Tommy Freeman, Joseph Gaffan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, David Ribbans, Frankie Sleightholme, and Karl Wilkins.

Referee: Luke Pearce

Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson and John Meredith

No.4: Dean Richards

TMO: Sara Cox