Pollock to 8 as Augustus misses out for Saints

Phil Dowson has named his Northampton Saints team for their last outing at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this term, as the men in Black, Green and Gold welcome Saracens in the penultimate round of the Gallagher Premiership.

Saints have beaten Saracens on their last four visits to Northampton, and while the hosts’ play-off hopes cannot be realised this term, Dowson’s side will be looking to end their home season on a high note and thoroughly prepare for next week’s Investec Champions Cup Final in Cardiff.

Saints make 13 changes for the Round 17 clash, with only Tom Lockett and Tom Litchfield remaining from the side that were defeated by Exeter Chiefs last time out.

Fraser Dingwall returns to captain Saints against Saracens, joining Rory Hutchinson in the midfield on Saturday.

Outside them, winger Litchfield is joined in Saints’ back three by fullback James Ramm and Tommy Freeman – who was one of four Northampton players to be named in the 2025 British and Irish Lions squad last week.

Two other names to be read out as part of the Lions squad announcement start in Saints’ half-backs – with Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith featuring against Saracens at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon and Trevor Davison – who brings up at half century of appearances in Black, Green and Gold this week – come back into the starting line-up to form Saints’ front row, while Temo Mayanavanua and Lockett partner in the engine room behind them.

Alex Coles shifts into the back row, joining this season’s Coaches’ and Players’ Player of the Season Josh Kemeny and Saints’ fourth Lions tourist Henry Pollock – who himself claimed the gongs for Breakthrough Player, Young Player and Try of the Season at the Club’s Season Awards Dinner earlier this week.

Saints name a five-three bench for the clash with Saracens, with the likes of Tarek Haffar, Elliot Millar Mills, Ed Prowse, Jonny Weimann and Tom Seabrook set to enter the action on Saturday.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SARACENS

Gallagher Premiership, Round 17

Saturday 17 May, 2025

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Kick-off: 3.05pm

15 James Ramm

14 Tommy Freeman

13 Fraser Dingwall (c)

12 Rory Hutchinson

11 Tom Litchfield

10 Fin Smith

9 Alex Mitchell

1 Emmanuel Iyogun

2 Curtis Langdon

3 Trevor Davison – 50th Saints appearance

4 Temo Mayanavanua

5 Tom Lockett

6 Alex Coles

7 Josh Kemeny

8 Henry Pollock

Replacements:

16 Craig Wright

17 Tarek Haffar

18 Elliot Millar Mills

19 Ed Prowse

20 Angus Scott-Young

21 Jonny Weimann

22 Jake Garside

23 Tom Seabrook

Not available for selection:

Juarno Augustus, George Furbank, Sam Graham, George Hendy, George Makepeace-Cubitt, Archie McParland, Burger Odendaal, Tom Pearson, Toby Thame, Charlie Savala, Ollie Sleightholme, Robbie Smith and Tom West.

Referee: Luke Pearce

Assistant referees: George Selwood and Simon Harding

TMO: Dean Richards

No.4: James Clarke