Litchfield makes 50th Saints appearances against Stade Francais

LITCHFIELD MAKES 50TH SAINTS APPEARANCES AGAINST STADE FRANCAIS

Tom Litchfield makes his 50th appearance for Northampton Saints this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold travel to Stade Francais on Saturday (11 January, kick-off: 5.30pm UK time).

 

Saints have only faced the Paris side once in the two clubs’ histories – with Northampton running out 23-22 victors that day in 2017 – and make a maiden journey to the Stade Jean Bouin for Round 3 of the Investec Champions Cup.

Phil Dowson’s side are unbeaten in the competition so far, having claimed victories over Castres Olympique and Vodacom Bulls in the competition’s opening two rounds, and look to add to their six-game unbeaten run in the European pool stages.

Josh Kemeny takes over Saints’ captaincy for the first time in his career while making his Champions Cup debut, leading Northampton from the back row alongside Angus Scott-Young and Henry Pollock in Paris.

Loosehead prop Tarek Haffar and hooker Henry Walker mark two of Saints’ changes as they come into the starting line-up to join tighthead prop Trevor Davison in the front row.

Behind them, Ed Prowse is selected in Saints’ second row for the first time in his career, making his Champions Cup debut on Saturday as he starts alongside Tom Lockett in the engine room.

Saints name an all England half-back pairing of Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith for the sixth week in a row against Stade, while Scotland international Rory Hutchinson joins half-centurion Litchfield in the midfield.

Tom Seabrook marks the final change in Saints’ starting line-up as he starts on Northampton’s left wing, with fellow wing Tommy Freeman and fullback James Ramm completing the back three in Paris.

Saints opt for a six-two bench at Stade Jean Bouin, with the likes of Curtis Langdon, Tom Pearson and Archie McParland all set to enter the action in Paris. Meanwhile Callum Hunter-Hill is set to make his first appearance in Black, Green and Gold since October and Fyn Brown primed to debut in the Investec Champions Cup from amongst the replacements.

STADE FRANCAIS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Investec Champions Cup, Round 3

Saturday 11 January, 2025

Stade Jean Bouin

Kick-off: 5.30pm

15 James Ramm

14 Tommy Freeman

13 Tom Litchfield – 50th Saints appearance

12 Rory Hutchinson

11 Tom Seabrook

10 Fin Smith

9 Alex Mitchell

1 Tarek Haffar

2 Henry Walker

3 Trevor Davison

4 Ed Prowse

5 Tom Lockett

6 Josh Kemeny (c)

7 Angus Scott-Young

8 Henry Pollock

Replacements:

16 Curtis Langdon

17 Tom West

18 Luke Green

19 Callum Hunter-Hill

20 Fyn Brown

21 Tom Pearson

22 Archie McParland

23 Charlie Savala

Not available for selection:

Emeka Atuanya, Alex Coles, George Furbank, Sam Graham, George Hendy, Emmanuel Iyogun, Temo Mayanavanua, Chunya Munga, Burger Odendaal, Toby Thame and Robbie Smith.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRE)

Assistant referees: Keane Davison (IRE) and Paul Haycock (IRE)

No.4: Anthony Lac (FRA)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRE)