Saints team to play Bristol

Phil Dowson rings the changes to his Northampton Saints side as the Gallagher PREM table-toppers prepare to take on Bristol Bears in Round 16.

The men in Black, Green and Gold head into Friday’s clash under the lights without having lost a league match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in over 12 months, sitting four points clear top of the league pile.

Results have gone the way of the home side in the last four meetings of Saints and Bristol in the PREM, with the sides’ meeting earlier this season ending in a 46-12 win for Bears at Ashton Gate.

Dowson makes six changes to his Saints side ahead of Bristol’s visit, bringing Elliot Millar Mills, Alex Coles, Ed Prowse, Henry Pollock, Archie McParland and Tom Litchfield into his starting line-up on Friday.

Scotland’s Millar Mills slots in at tighthead prop this week, joining loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker and fellow Scotland international Robbie Smith in the front row.

A fresh-look second row sees Coles make his return from injury against Bears as he partners Prowse in the engine room. Meanwhile, Pollock provides the only change to Saints’ back row, linking up with flanker Josh Kemeny and No. 8 Callum Chick there in Round 16.

McParland is set to make his 13th start of the term at scrum-half as he joins Fin Smith – who was announced both the league and club Player of the Month awards for April this week – in the half-back berths.

Saints remain unchanged in the back three, naming wingers George Hendy and Tommy Freeman – who both crossed in last week’s match at Leicester Tigers. Finally, George Furbank completes Northampton’s starting line-up as he captains the side from fullback.

Dowson opts for a six-two bench against Bristol, with the likes of Danilo Fischetti, JJ Van Der Mescht and Sam Graham named there – while Tom Pearson is set to make his return from injury, and England duo Alex Mitchell and Fraser Dingwall provide Saints’ backs cover.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BRISTOL BEARS

Gallagher PREM, Round 16

Friday 15 May, 2026

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 George Furbank (c)

14 Tommy Freeman

13 Tom Litchfield

12 Rory Hutchinson

11 George Hendy

10 Fin Smith

9 Archie McParland

1 Emmanuel Iyogun

2 Robbie Smith

3 Elliot Millar Mills

4 Alex Coles

5 Ed Prowse

6 Josh Kemeny

7 Henry Pollock

8 Callum Chick

Replacements:

16 Henry Walker

17 Danilo Fischetti

18 Luke Green

19 JJ Van Der Mescht

20 Tom Pearson

21 Sam Graham

22 Alex Mitchell

23 Fraser Dingwall

Not available for selection:

Trevor Davison, Tom James, Cleopas Kundiona, Curtis Langdon, Tom Lockett, Henry Lumley, James Ramm, Freddie St John, Edoardo Todaro and Charlie Ulcoq.