Chick to captain Northampton in PREM Rugby Cup opener

Callum Chick will don the captain’s armband this Friday (19 September, kick-off: 7.30pm) as Northampton Saints kick-off their PREM Rugby Cup campaign with a trip to Saracens.

The men in Black, Green and Gold reached the quarter-finals of last season’s Cup competition and, after rounding out their preseason with clashes against Bedford Blues and Glasgow Warriors in the last two weeks, name a squad with a mix of experience and youth for their first competitive clash.

Saints begin the competition in Round 2, having enjoyed a bye in the opening weekend, and face Saracens – who were defeated 20-7 by current Pool B leaders Leicester Tigers last week.

Chick – who arrived at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens over the summer – immediately steps into a leadership role, having captained his boyhood club and fellow Gallagher PREM side Newcastle Red Bulls for two seasons before making the switch to the Midlands.

The 28-year-old starts at No. 8 at the StoneX Stadium to become Saint #2112, with Angus Scott-Young and Tom Pearson manning Saints’ flanks for the clash.

A front row of loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun, hooker Craig Wright and tighthead prop Trevor Davison all make their first competitive appearances of the season as they start for Saints in Round 2 of the Cup.

One of three debutants for Northampton can be found in the second row, where JJ Van Der Mescht starts alongside Ed Prowse against Saracens.

Two more new Saints receive their debuts in the backs, with Anthony Belleau and Edoardo Todaro becoming #2113 and #2114 as they start at fly-half and winger respectively.

Scrum-half Archie McParland joins Belleau in the half-backs for Saints, while debutant Todaro is joined by winger James Ramm and fullback George Hendy in the back three.

There are two more new Saints waiting amongst the replacements for their first competitive appearances, with new signings Danilo Fischetti and Amena Caqusau among those on Northampton’s bench.

SARACENS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

PREM Rugby Cup, Round 2

Friday 19 September, 2025

StoneX Stadium

Kick-off: 7.30pm

15 George Hendy

14 James Ramm

13 Rory Hutchinson

12 Toby Thame

11 Edoardo Todaro – Saint #2114

10 Anthony Belleau – Saint #2113

9 Archie McParland

1 Emmanuel Iyogun

2 Craig Wright

3 Trevor Davison

4 Ed Prowse

5 JJ Van Der Mescht – Saint #2111

6 Angus Scott-Young

7 Tom Pearson

8 Callum Chick (c) – Saint #2112

Replacements:

16 Henry Walker

17 Danilo Fischetti – Northampton Saints debut

18 Elliot Millar Mills

19 Fyn Brown

20 Sam Graham

21 Jonny Weimann

22 Amena Caqusau – Northampton Saints debut

23 Tom Litchfield

Not considered for selection:

Emeka Atuanya, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Josh Kemeny, Curtis Langdon, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell, Chunya Munga, Henry Pollock, Charlie Ulcoq, Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith and Tom West.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

Assistant referee: Andrew Jackson and Greg Macdonald

No. 4: George Selwood