Premiership
Lawes returns from injury as Saints host Saracens
Courtney Lawes makes his return from injury for Northampton Saints on Saturday afternoon, as the men in Black, Green and Gold lock horns with Saracens at a sold out cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes just two changes for the must-win Gallagher Premiership clash, with England international Lawes returning in the back row and Fiji international Sam Matavesi – who signed a new contract with the Club this week – starting at hooker.Saints have won their last seven league fixtures on home soil and will need to make it eight on the bounce if they are to keep their top-four hopes alive, but top-of-the-table Saracens edged them out at StoneX Stadium in November and have not lost in their last six visits to the Gardens in the Premiership.Lawes is the headline inclusion in the back row for Saints; the 34-year-old makes only his second league appearance of the season and first since September, starting at blindside flanker.Northampton skipper Lewis Ludlam will lead the hosts from openside, with No.8 Juarno Augustus completing the back row having scored in his last two appearances.David Ribbans and Alex Moon continue in the engine room, while Matavesi is the only change in the front row at hooker, as props Alex Waller and Trevor Davison start either side of him.The back-line is unchanged for Saints as Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell continue in the half-back berths, and Rory Hutchinson and Fraser Dingwall combine in the midfield.Tommy Freeman has three tries in his last four Premiership appearances and will be looking to add to that tally and put in a late bid to become the league’s top scorer this season. Meanwhile James Ramm is selected on the other wing, and fullback George Furbank rounds off the back three.Saints opt for a 6-2 split this week on the bench, with the likes of Paul Hill, Alex Coles, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, and Tom Collins all named amongst a strong list of replacements who will be looking to make an impact late in the game.NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SARACENSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 22Saturday 15 April 2023cinch Stadium at Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 3pm15 George Furbank14 James Ramm13 Fraser Dingwall12 Rory Hutchinson11 Tommy Freeman10 Fin Smith9 Alex Mitchell1 Alex Waller2 Sam Matavesi3 Trevor Davison4 David Ribbans5 Alex Moon6 Courtney Lawes7 Lewis Ludlam (c)8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Tom Cruse17 Ethan Waller18 Paul Hill19 Alex Coles20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto21 Sam Graham22 Tom James23 Tom CollinsNot considered for selection:Emmanuel Iyogun, Matt Proctor, Ollie Sleightholme and Robbie Smith.SARACENS TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS:15 Alex Goode (cc), 14 Rotimi Segun, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Ruben de Haas; 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 7 Toby Knight, 8 Jackson Wray (cc)Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Nathan Michelow, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Josh Hallett, 23 Ben HarrisReferee: Wayne BarnesAssistant referees: Tom Foley and Wayne FallaNo.4: Jonathan HealyTMO: David Rose
Courtney Lawes makes his return from injury for Northampton Saints on Saturday afternoon, as the men in Black, Green and Gold lock horns with Saracens at a sold out cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes just two changes for the must-win Gallagher Premiership clash, with England international Lawes returning in the back row and Fiji international Sam Matavesi – who signed a new contract with the Club this week – starting at hooker.
Saints have won their last seven league fixtures on home soil and will need to make it eight on the bounce if they are to keep their top-four hopes alive, but top-of-the-table Saracens edged them out at StoneX Stadium in November and have not lost in their last six visits to the Gardens in the Premiership.
Lawes is the headline inclusion in the back row for Saints; the 34-year-old makes only his second league appearance of the season and first since September, starting at blindside flanker.
Northampton skipper Lewis Ludlam will lead the hosts from openside, with No.8 Juarno Augustus completing the back row having scored in his last two appearances.
David Ribbans and Alex Moon continue in the engine room, while Matavesi is the only change in the front row at hooker, as props Alex Waller and Trevor Davison start either side of him.
The back-line is unchanged for Saints as Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell continue in the half-back berths, and Rory Hutchinson and Fraser Dingwall combine in the midfield.
Tommy Freeman has three tries in his last four Premiership appearances and will be looking to add to that tally and put in a late bid to become the league’s top scorer this season. Meanwhile James Ramm is selected on the other wing, and fullback George Furbank rounds off the back three.
Saints opt for a 6-2 split this week on the bench, with the likes of Paul Hill, Alex Coles, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, and Tom Collins all named amongst a strong list of replacements who will be looking to make an impact late in the game.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SARACENS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 22
Saturday 15 April 2023
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank
14 James Ramm
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tommy Freeman
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Trevor Davison
4 David Ribbans
5 Alex Moon
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam (c)
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Tom Cruse
17 Ethan Waller
18 Paul Hill
19 Alex Coles
20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
21 Sam Graham
22 Tom James
23 Tom Collins
Not considered for selection:
Emmanuel Iyogun, Matt Proctor, Ollie Sleightholme and Robbie Smith.
SARACENS TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS:
15 Alex Goode (cc), 14 Rotimi Segun, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Ruben de Haas; 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 7 Toby Knight, 8 Jackson Wray (cc)
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Nathan Michelow, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Josh Hallett, 23 Ben Harris
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Tom Foley and Wayne Falla
No.4: Jonathan Healy
TMO: David Rose
Content & Images from – Northampton Saints Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Jordan signs for Bristol Bears
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
