Henry Pollock signs off momentous week with a milestone

Henry Pollock will make his 50th Northampton Saints appearance on Friday night as the PREM champions open their season against Newcastle Red Bulls at DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 21-year-old reaches the landmark days after signing a new contract, capping a big week for the back-rower as he begins his fifth season at the club.

Pollock starts at openside alongside Josh Kemeny and former Newcastle captain Callum Chick, with Alex Coles and Ed Prowse in the second-row. They will line up against former Saint Sam Graham in the back-row, who made the move north over the summer.

Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon and Cleopas Kundiona form an unchanged front-row from last week’s 93-10 win over Black Lion.

Archie McParland and Fin Smith continue as the half-back pairing, while captain Fraser Dingwall partners Rory Hutchinson in midfield. Tommy Freeman and George Hendy start on the wings, with 19-year-old James Pater at full-back.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Northampton

11:45

25 Sep 26

Newcastle

All Stats and Data

Alex Mitchell, Ollie Sleightholme, Danilo Fischetti and Tom Lockett are among the replacements, while Ion Neculai and Josh Taylor could make PREM debuts.

Northampton Saints XV: 15 James Pater; 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Fraser Dingwall (c), 11 George Hendy; 10 Fin Smith, 9 Archie McParland; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Cleopas Kundiona, 4 Alex Coles, 5 Ed Prowse, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Henry Pollock, 8 Callum Chick.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Josh Taylor, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Ollie Sleightholme.

Newcastle Red Bulls XV: 15 Harrison Obatoyinbo; 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Werner Kok; 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Max Hicks, 7 Tom Christie (c), 8 Sam Graham.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Tom West, 18 James Harper, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Zack Henry, 23 Hoskins Sotutu.