Lockett captains Northampton for PREM Rugby Cup clash with Harlequins

Tom Lockett will captain Saints this weekend as the PREM Rugby Cup continues, with Northampton heading to Harlequins in Round 8 on Friday (13 February, kick-off: 7.45pm).

The men in Black, Green and Gold sit third in Pool B heading into the final block of pool-stage matches, three points behind second-place Saracens who currently occupy one of the two knock-out positions that Saints will be targeting.

Harlequins have secured just one win in the competition so far – when they defeated Saracens 40-43 on the road last weekend. But sitting bottom of Pool B, their qualification hopes are all but gone and Saints know that a win is vital for their own ambitions of reaching the semi-finals.

Lockett will bring up his 53rd appearance in a Saints shirt on Friday as he leads Northampton from the second row, with Chunya Munga joining him there in Northampton’s engine room.

There is a welcome return in front of them in Saints’ front row as Tom West makes his return from injury at loosehead prop, while hooker Henry Walker and tighthead prop Luke Green complete the front row.

Flankers Archie Benson and Charlie Ulcoq retain their spots in the starting XV after solid performances against Leicester Tigers last time out – while Fyn Brown comes into the line-up to feature at No. 8 this week.

Fresh from signing a contract extension with the Club this week, Anthony Belleau starts at fly-half against Quins to join scrum-half Archie McParland in the half-back berths.

Another returning face to Saints’ line-up is Tom Litchfield, as the 23-year-old features for the first time since November to partner in-form Toby Thame in Northampton’s centres.

Amena Caqusau and Ollie Sleightholme continue on at wing for Saints against Harlequins, while James Ramm moves into the starting XV this week to start at fullback for the Round 8 clash.

Saints’ bench contains three potential debuts; guest players Ben Alexander (Old Albanians) and Joe Cowell (Cardiff) providing cover at hooker and loosehead prop respectively, while 17-year-old Jack Lewis is set to follow in his father, Mark’s, footsteps and become a Saint, as the Saints Under-18s lock is named amongst the replacements.

HARLEQUINS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

PREM Rugby Cup, Round 8

Friday 13 February, 2026

Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 James Ramm

14 Ollie Sleightholme

13 Tom Litchfield

12 Toby Thame

11 Amena Caqusau

10 Anthony Belleau

9 Archie McParland

1 Tom West

2 Henry Walker

3 Luke Green

4 Tom Lockett (c)

5 Chunya Munga

6 Archie Benson

7 Charlie Ulcoq

8 Fyn Brown

Replacements:

16 Ben Alexander – Guest player, Northampton Saints debut

17 Joe Cowell – Guest player, Northampton Saints debut

18 Cleopas Kundiona

19 Jack Lewis – Saints Under-18s, Northampton Saints debut

20 Sam Graham

21 Aidan Pugh

22 Freddie St John

23 James Martin

Not available for selection:

Emeka Atuanya, Will Glister, Curtis Langdon, Henry Lumley, and Edoardo Todaro.

International duty:

Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall, Trevor Davison, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Emmanuel Iyogun, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock and Fin Smith (all England), Rory Hutchinson and Elliot Millar Mills (both Scotland), Danilo Fischetti (Italy), Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, James Pater, Oliver Scola, Sonny Tonga’uiha, and Jonny Weimann (England U20s).

Referee: Harry Walbaum

Assistant referees: Mike Lamb and Mike Woods

No. 4: Simon Harding

TMO: Stuart Terheege