France star and SA giant to make Gallagher PREM debut for Northampton

Northampton Saints will hand Gallagher PREM debuts to France international fly-half Anthony Belleau and South African lock JJ van der Mescht when they host Exeter Chiefs in their league opener at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.

12-cap Belleau starts at No.10 outside scrum-half Archie McParland, while van der Mescht has been named among the replacements and is expected to make his first league outing from the bench.

The 29-year-old Belleau arrives with considerable pedigree, having amassed more than 200 senior appearances across spells with Clermont and Toulon.

Van der Mescht meanwhile provides Northampton with a formidable option in the engine room. Standing 6’7” and tipping the scales at 145kg, the 26-year-old made his name with the Sharks in South Africa before enjoying a four-year stint with Stade Français, where he combined raw physicality with an unexpected turn of pace — as shown when he finished off a near length-of-the-field try against Saints in the Champions Cup last season.

In fact, at one stage during his stint at Stade, Van der Mescht weighed in at 154kg, making him one of the heaviest professional rugby players on the planet.

The clash with Exeter also marks a personal milestone for George Hendy, who makes his 50th appearance for the club at fullback.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Northampton

33 - 33

Full-time

Exeter Chiefs

All Stats and Data

The 22-year-old is joined in the back three by James Ramm and teenage Italian flyer Edoardo Todaro, another making his Gallagher PREM debut.

Fraser Dingwall captains the side from inside centre, partnering Tom Litchfield in midfield.

Saints began their 2025/26 campaign with a free-scoring 49-34 win away to Saracens in the Premiership Rugby Cup, but Sunday represents their first competitive home match of the season and the first real test of their title credentials. Last season’s corresponding fixture saw Northampton edge Chiefs 30-24 in a Round 2 thriller, with Fin Smith’s boot proving decisive.

Phil Dowson has opted for continuity up front, retaining the front row of Emmanuel Iyogun, Craig Wright and Trevor Davison that impressed in north London.

Alex Coles returns to the second row alongside Ed Prowse. The back row of Angus Scott-Young, Tom Pearson and Callum Chick remains unchanged after Chick’s hat-trick last weekend.

Kick-off at Franklin’s Gardens is 1pm.

Northampton Saints team:
15 George Hendy – 50th Saints appearance
14 Edoardo Todaro
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Fraser Dingwall (c)
11 James Ramm
10 Anthony Belleau – Gallagher PREM debut
9 Archie McParland
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Craig Wright
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Coles
5 Ed Prowse
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Tom Pearson
8 Callum Chick

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Danilo Fischetti
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 JJ Van Der Mescht – Gallagher PREM debut
20 Sam Graham
21 Jonny Weimann
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Toby Thame