Anthony Belleau injury opens door for teenager to make Northampton debut

With England star Fin Smith enjoying a mandatory rest period and Anthony Belleau picking up an unspecified training ground injury, Northampton have handed 18-year-old fly-half Hugh Shields his senior debut this Saturday.

The England U18 international and son of former Saints hooker and current first-team manager Paul Shields, starts the season’s opener against Saracens in the Gallagher PREM Rugby Cup and is one of seven potential debutants.

The three other starters are outside-centre Will Catley, new tight-head signing Ion Neculai and openside Josh Taylor.

Catley will become the club’s second youngest Saint of the professional era, behind Archie McParland, when he takes to the field at 17 years and 250 days old.

Prop Lefty Zigiriadis, a summer recruit from Ealing, and youngsters Fergus Mainey and Sonny Goode are on the bench and are set for their first run outs. University of Nottingham student and former Sedburgh pupil Mainey is listed as a guest player.

Frenchman Belleau is one of 10 players unavailable for the clash at the StoneX Stadium.

Wing Ollie Sleightholme has also picked up a training ground injury, the severity of which is not yet known, while Italian wingers Edoardo Todaro and Malik Faissal and veteran tight-head Trevor Davison are still rehabbing existing injuries.

Amena Caqusau, Luke Green, Henry Lumley, Aidan Pugh and Charlie Tamani were also not considered for selection either due to various knocks.

Chunya Munga leads Northampton from the second row as he makes his 55th appearance in a Saints shirt.

Northampton Saints team v Saracens, Saturday 5 September, KO 3pm (H):

15 James Pater
14 Thomas Rowe
13 Will Catley* – Saint #2135
12 Toby Thame
11 James Martin
10 Hugh Shields – Saint #2134
9 Jonny Weimann

1 Oliver Scola
2 Robbie Smith
3 Ion Neculai – Saint #2132
4 Tom Lockett
5 Chunya Munga (c)
6 Archie Benson
7 Josh Taylor – Saint #2133
8 Charlie Ulcoq

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Lefty Zigiriadis – Saints debut
18 Sonny Tonga’uiha
19 James Bennett
20 Callum Chick
21 Fergus Mainey** – Saints debut
22 Sonny Goode – Saints debut
23 Freddie St John

*Saints Under-18
**Denotes guest player