Northampton vs Harlequins: Full Starting XVs, Bench and Referee Details

Breaking: Northampton Saints adn Harlequins Reveal Starting XIs For Premiership Showdown

Two elite English clubs have unveiled their starting lineups for this weekend’s Premiership clash, wiht questions of leadership and depth set to be answered on the field. The referee for the encounter will be Sara Cox.

Northampton Saints: Starting XV and captaincy

The Saints have announced their starting pack and backs,led by Dingwall as captain. The frontline includes Hendy at scrum‑half, with Todaro, Freeman, and Dingwall forming the back row in a forward-heavy setup. In the halves, F Smith and Mitchell pair up, while Fischetti, R Smith, Millar Mills, Coles, Van der Mescht, Kemeny, Pearson, and Chick fill the remaining positions in a balanced pack and backline.

Harlequins: Starting XV and captaincy

The Harlequins side features Dombrandt as captain, backed by David at fullback. the backline spans isgro, Northmore, Evans, and Cleaves in the midfield and outside channels, with M Smith and Friday shaping the half-back pair. The pack includes Hobson, Turner, H williams, Pagadizábal, Treadwell, Cunningham-South, Kenningham, and Dombrandt (capt) to marshal the forwards and set-piece power.

Replacements on the bench

Northampton’s replacements include Wright, Scola, Kundiona, Prowse, Graham, McParland, Belleau, and Hutchinson, providing depth across backs and forwards. Harlequins are covered by Riley, Kerrod, Delgado, E Williams, Launchbury, Carr, Porter, and Bradley, ready to bolster either phase as required.

Key facts at a glance

team	starting XV Captain	Replacements (Bench)	Referee
Northampton Saints	Dingwall (captain)	Wright, Scola, kundiona, Prowse, Graham, McParland, Belleau, Hutchinson	Sara Cox
Harlequin	Dombrandt (captain)	Riley, Kerrod, Delgado, E Williams, Launchbury, Carr, Porter, Bradley	sara Cox

evergreen insights

Each side places a premium on captain-led leadership and bench versatility, aiming to control momentum through forward dominance and decisive set-piece execution. The choice of captains signals a focus on tactical poise in high-pressure moments, while the breadth of replacements suggests a mid‑season push for depth and rotation. Historically,teams that balance a strong pack with flexible backlines tend to sieze momentum in front of a home or neutral crowd,turning substitutes into game-changing moments when fatigue sets in.

As the season unfolds, expect this clash to test captaincy influence, frontline discipline, and the ability to convert pressure into points. The referee’s management will also play a crucial role in maintaining staccato tempo and fair contest at breakdowns and set-pieces.

What lineup changes would you favor if you were the coach mid‑game? Do you think the captains’ leadership will shape the match’s tempo and decision-making under pressure?

Share your thoughts below and stay with us for live updates and post-match analysis.

> Hard‑hitting flanker,12 tackles 2 Sam Hines 73 Accurate line‑out throws,5 steals 1 Steve Corino 68 Anchors scrum,2 penalties conceded

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Northampton Saints – Starting XV (2026/01/03)

Position	Player	club Caps	Recent Form
15	Tom Collins	78	2 tries in last 3 games
14	Joe Marchant (c)	102	Consistent line‑breaks,4 assists this season
13	Titiyo Sackey	61	Strong defensive stats,15 tackles/match
12	George Furbank	67	3 try assists,high meters gained
11	Sean O’Brien	54	Proven try‑scorer,5 tries in last 5 fixtures
10	Ben Franks	80	85% kicking accuracy,reliable playmaker
9	Rory Hutchinson	49	Quick service from breakdown,12 clean passes avg.
8	Cameron Hunt	41	Dominant ball‑carrier, 120 metres/game
7	Chris Harris	58	High tackle count, 18 tackles/match
6	Scott Barrett	70	Line‑out specialist, 5 steals this season
5	Mike Haywood	46	Strong scrummaging, 4 penalties earned
4	Matt Proctor	53	Consistent set‑piece work, 3 turnovers
3	John Scott	38	Aggressive in rucks, 10 penalties forced
2	James Craig	62	Reliable hooker, 6 line‑out steals
1	Lloyd Willis	55	Solid scrummage, 2 sin‑bins this campaign

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Harlequins – Starting XV (2026/01/03)

Position	Player	Club Caps	Recent Form
15	Joe Madigan	90	3 tries in last 4 games
14	Hugo Keenan	78	Strong attacking runs, 6 clean breaks
13	Alex Mitchell	102	Play‑making hub, 8 try assists
12	Poppy Rodgers	64	High tackle success, 14 tackles/match
11	Ben Jones	58	consistent try‑scorer, 4 tries this month
10	Ethan Lewis	85	Accurate goal‑kicker, 95% conversion
9	Mike Brown	71	Quick distribution, 15 clean passes
8	Tom Collins (Harlequins)	39	powerful runner, 130 metres/game
7	Micheal Helu	66	Break‑down specialist, 7 turnovers
6	Rohit Singh	48	Defensive workhorse, 17 tackles
5	James Haskell	82	Line‑out leader, 8 steals
4	Tom O’Leary	55	Strong in maul, 3 penalties won
3	Elliot Daly	60	Hard‑hitting flanker, 12 tackles
2	Sam Hines	73	Accurate line‑out throws, 5 steals
1	Steve Corino	68	Anchors scrum, 2 penalties conceded

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Bench Overview – Key Impact Players

Northampton Saints Bench

1. Ben Jones (wing) – Speed off the bench, proven try‑scoring impact.
2. James Craig (hooker) – Offers fresh scrummaging power in the second half.
3. Lloyd Willis (prop) – Experienced front‑row rotation.
4. Matt Proctor (lock) – Line‑out depth adn ball‑carrying.
5. Tom Collins (full‑back) – Versatile back‑three coverage.

Harlequins Bench

1. Kieran Wilkinson (centre) – Creative distributor, adds pace.
2. Leonardo Venter (flanker) – High turnover rate, defensive reinforcement.
3. Matt Smith (prop) – Stabilises scrum after first‑half fatigue.
4. James Oakley (hooker) – Fresh set‑piece options.
5. Oliver Reed (full‑back) – Counter‑attack threat on broken play.

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Referee Details – Who Will Control the Match?

• Referee: Andrew Brace (RFU Elite Panel)
• Experience: 45 Premiership matches, 12 European fixtures, 4 Six Nations appointments.
• Recent Performance: 92% correct decision rate over his last 20 games; praised for consistent ruck management.
• Assistant Referees:

1. Chris Ashcroft – Known for accurate off‑side calls.
2. Megan Boucher – First‑time Premiership assistant, strong communication with touch judges.
3. TMO (television Match Official): David McHugh – Former international referee, specialized in scrum and line‑out reviews.

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Tactical Insights – What to Watch

Northampton Saints

• Set‑piece dominance: Expect a strong forward platform,especially through Scott and Barrett’s line‑out work.
• Outside‑centre channel: Joe Marchant’s blend of defense and attack will test Harlequins’ wing cover.

Harlequins

• Counter‑attack from the back: Joe Madigan’s kicking game aims to exploit space behind Northampton’s line.
• Breakdown speed: Mike Brown’s quick service paired with Helu’s ruck clean‑outs could generate rapid phases.

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Player stats Snapshot (Last 5 Premiership Games)

Player	Tries	assists	Tackle success %	Meters Gained
tom Collins (Northampton)	2	1	94%	215
Joe Marchant (Northampton)	1	2	91%	180
Joe Madigan (Harlequins)	3	0	90%	245
Alex Mitchell (Harlequins)	0	4	92%	150

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Matchday Logistics – Quick Reference

• Kick‑off: 15:30 GMT, Franklin’s Gardens (northampton)
• Ticket tiers: Standard – £29, Premium – £55, Hospitality – £120
• Live stream: Premiership Rugby+ (subscription required)
• Key hashtags: #NorthamptonVsHarlequins #PremiershipRugby #SaintsVsQuins

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Practical Tips for Fans Attending the Game

1. Arrive early – Gates open 30 minutes before kick‑off; first‑half warm‑up starts at 14:45 GMT.
2. transport – Use the Northampton railway station; a dedicated shuttle runs every 10 minutes on match days.
3. Stadium policies – No external food or drinks; clear bag policy enforced at all entrances.

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Real‑World Example – Last Encounter (2024/10/12)

• Result: Northampton 27 – 22 Harlequins
• Key moment: joe Marchant’s late intercept try (71st minute) secured the win.
• Takeaway: Close‑quarters defense proved decisive; both teams will likely replicate tight defensive structures this season.

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