Saints name team for Derby Day clash with Leicester Tigers

Phil Dowson has named his Northampton Saints side for this Friday’s clash with Leicester Tigers, as the Gallagher Premiership gets back underway at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (21 March, kick-off: 7.45pm). 

The clash is part of ‘Derby Weekend: The Rematch’ and marks Saints’ first Premiership match on home soil since the start of 2025, seeing the visit of fourth-placed Leicester for the second time this season. 

Saints ran out 31-12 victors when the sides met in the Premiership Rugby Cup back in November, but lost out in the reverse league fixture – falling 24-8 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Round 4. 

Now entering Round 12, Saints come into the match in eighth place in the league table, but sitting just nine points behind their fourth-placed visitors going into the run-in, Dowson’s side know that a strong result against Leicester will prove vital for their play-off hopes.

Fraser Dingwall – one of four Saints to return to Northampton’s matchday squad from England’s set-up – leads the men in Black, Green and Gold against Tigers, partnering fellow international Rory Hutchinson in Saints’ centres. 

Tommy Freeman takes a mandatory week’s rest which means fullback George Hendy and wings James Ramm and Tom Seabrook reprise their back-three partnership as the Premiership restarts. 

Fly-half Fin Smith – who featured for England in all five rounds of the Guinness Six Nations, claimed a man-of-the-match award, and scored some 29 points in the tournament – returns to action in Saints’ half-backs, partnering scrum-half Tom James there, while fellow England star Alex Mitchell takes his own mandatory rest week. 

A front-row partnership of loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun, hooker Curtis Langdon and tighthead prop Trevor Davison will start against Tigers, with locks Temo Mayanavanua and Tom Lockett packing down behind them in the engine room. 

Rounding off the starting XV, Saints name flankers Josh Kemeny and Tom Pearson, plus No.8 Juarno Augustus, together in the back row for the first time since Northampton travelled to Harlequins in Round 11. 

Dowson opts for a six-two split on the bench against Leicester, with the likes of Henry Walker, Alex Coles and Chunya Munga all set to enter the action. And there is also a place for Saints’ newest England international Henry Pollock amongst the replacements, while centre Burger Odendaal is set to make his first Premiership appearance since last season’s Final should he enter the action. 

Tickets for Saints vs Tigers are completely SOLD OUT! There may be a limited number of re-sale tickets available, sold by Season Ticket Holders unable to attend the Derby clash. Please note, these are only available to purchase online and can be accessed HERE.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LEICESTER TIGERS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 12
Friday 21 March, 2025
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 George Hendy
14 James Ramm
13 Fraser Dingwall (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Seabrook
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Tom Lockett
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Tom Pearson 
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Tarek Haffar
18 Luke Green
19 Alex Coles
20 Chunya Munga
21 Henry Pollock
22 Jonny Weimann
23 Burger Odendaal

Not available for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, George Furbank, Sam Graham, Archie McParland, Toby Thame, Ollie Sleightholme, and Robbie Smith.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales and Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Stuart Terheege