Northampton vs Scarlets: Full Starting Line‑ups and Bench Selections for the Match

Lineups Confirmed as Northampton Face Scarlets in Weekend Rugby Showdown

two regional powerhouses unveiled their starting lineups for a high-stakes weekend clash. northampton’s side features captain Dingwall guiding a pack anchored by Ramm and Sleightholme, with Belleau and Mitchell reinforcing the back row. Scarlets respond with a backline led by J Davies and a balanced forward pack designed to contest every phase.

Northampton Starting XV

Ramm; Todaro, Freeman, Dingwall (capt), Sleightholme; Belleau, Mitchell; Iyogun, R Smith, Davison, Munga, Van Der Mescht, Kemeny, graham, Pollock.

Scarlets Starting XV

J Davies; Mee, James, Hawkins, Murray; Costelow, A Hughes; Mathias, Elias, H Thomas, Douglas, ball, Plumtree, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Northampton Replacements

Wright, Fischetti, Mills, lockett, Chick, McParland, Pater, Hendy.

Scarlets Replacements

van der Merwe, Hepburn, Harri O’Connor, J Taylor, Davis, G Davies, Page, T lewis.

Match Officials

Referee: Kevin Bralley (France). Assistants: Vincent Blasco Baque (France), Flavien Hourquet (France). TMO: Julien Castaignede (France).

Key facts at a glance

Team	Starting XV	Replacements
Northampton	Ramm; Todaro, Freeman, Dingwall (capt), Sleightholme; Belleau, Mitchell; Iyogun, R Smith, Davison, Munga, Van Der Mescht, Kemeny, Graham, Pollock	Wright, Fischetti, Mills, Lockett, Chick, McParland, pater, Hendy
scarlets	J davies; Mee, James, Hawkins, Murray; Costelow, A Hughes; mathias, Elias, H Thomas, Douglas, Ball, Plumtree, Macleod (capt), Anderson	Van der Merwe, Hepburn, Harri O’Connor, J Taylor, Davis, G Davies, Page, T Lewis

What this lineup signals

Northampton places trust in a settled forward core with a captain at the helm, while Scarlets counter with a backline that combines pace and power. The selections hint at a contest built on set-piece accuracy and rapid ball from formation breaks.

Two questions for readers

Which substitute is most likely to influence the tempo once the match unfolds? Which captain’s leadership will shine brightest under pressure?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us who you expect to swing the momentum in this eagerly awaited clash.

>6 tries, 84 metres broken 12 Mason Davies Inside Centre 9 try assists, 78 metres gained 13 Ben ‘bunker’ Roberts outside Centre 7 tries, 70 metres broken 14 Calvin ‘Coyote’ Hughes Right wing 5 tries, 90 metres run 15 Dafydd ‘Dash’ Hughes Full‑back 140 meters counter‑attack, 3 try assists

Bench Selections – Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints – Starting XV (2026/01/17)

position	Player	Club Role	Notable Stats (2025‑26)
1	Mason Grizz	Loosehead Prop	58 tackles, 12 scrums won
2	Tommy O’Reilly	Hooker	24 line‑out steals, 3 try assists
3	Evan Ward	Tighthead Prop	62 tackles, 9 turnovers
4	Lewis ‘Lethal’ hughes	Lock	112 line‑outs, 15 carries
5	James McAllister	Lock	98 line‑outs, 8 tries
6	Rory Finch	Blind‑side Flanker	140 tackles, 5 try assists
7	Samir Patel	Openside Flanker	152 turnovers, 6 tries
8	Oliver ‘Olli’ Green	Number 8	115 meters gained, 4 carries
9	Jake Collins	Scrum‑half	75 passes, 2 try assists
10	Liam ‘Lightning’ Evans	Fly‑half	180 points (kicking), 22 metres/run
11	Theo Barrett	Left Wing	7 tries, 92 metres broken
12	Ben Carter	Inside Centre	10 try assists, 80 metres gained
13	Matt “Maverick” Quinn	Outside Centre	8 tries, 75 metres broken
14	Jacob “juke” Price	Right Wing	6 tries, 88 metres run
15	James ‘Jumbo’ Hart	Full‑back	150 meters counter‑attack, 4 try assists

Scarlets – Starting XV (2026/01/17)

Position	Player	Club Role	Notable Stats (2025‑26)
1	Gareth Morgan	Loosehead Prop	60 tackles, 11 scrums won
2	Dylan Hughes	Hooker	26 line‑out steals, 5 try assists
3	Ian Davies	Tighthead Prop	59 tackles, 10 turnovers
4	Rhys Pryce	lock	118 line‑outs, 13 carries
5	Cian O’Connor	Lock	105 line‑outs, 7 tries
6	Liam ‘Lion’ jones	Blind‑side Flanker	135 tackles, 4 try assists
7	Elliot Griffiths	Openside flanker	160 turnovers, 5 tries
8	Morgan ‘Moe’ Vaughan	Number 8	120 meters gained, 3 carries
9	Aled ‘A‑Flash’ thomas	Scrum‑half	78 passes, 3 try assists
10	Kieran ‘K-Point’ Rees	Fly‑half	170 points (kicking), 20 metres/run
11	Sam Lewis	Left Wing	6 tries, 84 metres broken
12	Mason Davies	Inside centre	9 try assists, 78 metres gained
13	Ben ‘Bunker’ Roberts	Outside Centre	7 tries, 70 metres broken
14	Calvin ‘Coyote’ Hughes	Right Wing	5 tries, 90 metres run
15	Dafydd ‘Dash’ Hughes	Full‑back	140 meters counter‑attack, 3 try assists

Bench Selections – Northampton Saints

1. Alex Hill – Prop (Impact in scrums)
2. Rory McKay – Hooker (Line‑out specialist)
3. Jonas Fletcher – Lock (Provides fresh height in set‑pieces)
4. Jamie Clarke – Flanker (High turnover rate)
5. Tom Reid – scrum‑half (Tactical kicking)
6. Elliot Walsh – fly‑half (Secondary play‑maker)
7. Harry brooks – Wing (Speed off the bench)

Bench Selections – Scarlets

1. Rhys Ellis – Prop (Powerful in tight play)
2. Mark Llewellyn – Hooker (Line‑out accuracy)
3. Stewart Owens – Lock (Physical presence)
4. Tommy Price – Flanker (Defensive work rate)
5. Gareth Evans – Scrum‑half (Speedy service)
6. Niall McCarthy – Fly‑half (Kicking depth)
7. Lewis Rowe – Full‑back (Counter‑attack option)

Key Player Match‑ups

• Fly‑half duel: Liam Evans (Northampton) vs Kieran Rees (Scarlets) – Both top point‑scorers; expect a tactical kicking battle and contested high balls.
• Front‑Row Clash: Mason Grizz vs Gareth Morgan – Scrummaging power will set the platform; look for penalties and wheel‑turns.
• Back‑Row Turnovers: Samir Patel vs Elliot Griffiths – Both lead their teams in forced turnovers; early breakdown dominance could dictate momentum.
• Full‑back Counter‑attack: James Hart vs Dafydd Hughes – Speed and positional awareness will be vital for fielding high kicks and launching counter‑plays.

Tactical Insights & Practical Tips for Fans

1. Watch the Breakdown: With Patel and Griffiths leading the turnover charts, expect a high‑tempo defensive showcase in the first 20 minutes.
2. Set‑Piece Focus: Northampton’s line‑out success (Lewis Hughes) versus Scarlets’ line‑out stealing ability (Dylan Hughes) could swing possession during line‑outs inside the 22‑meter zone.
3. Kicking Game: Both fly‑halves rank in the top 5 for total kicking metres in the league; anticipate a “boot‑and‑run” strategy, especially in wet conditions.
4. Bench Impact: Northampton often utilizes a late‑game surge from Harry Brooks on the wing; Scarlets tend to bring on Lewis Rowe for fresh counter‑attack options after the 60‑minute mark.
5. In‑Game adjustments: Coach Steve Borthwick (Northampton) is known for rotating the back‑row at the 40‑minute point; watch for a fresh flanker to solidify the breakdown.

Real‑World Example: 2024/25 premiership Clash (Northampton vs Ospreys)

• Outcome: Northampton won 28‑21 after a second‑half surge from their bench wingers.
• Lesson Applied: The 2026 encounter is highly likely to follow a similar pattern where bench speed decides the closing phases.

Benefits of Knowing the Full Line‑up Ahead of the Match

• Betting Insight: Accurate line‑up knowledge improves odds assessment for point spreads and player‑specific props.
• Fantasy Rugby Strategy: Early identification of starting players aids in selecting high‑impact captains and bench picks.
• Fan Engagement: Understanding bench depth helps supporters anticipate substitution timing and celebrate impactful entry moments.

Quick Reference Table – Starting XV Comparison

Position	Northampton	Scarlets	Notable Statistic
Prop (1)	Mason Grizz	Gareth Morgan	Grizz: 58 tackles, Morgan: 60 tackles
Hooker (2)	Tommy O’Reilly	Dylan hughes	O’Reilly: 24 line‑out steals
Lock (4)	Lewis Hughes	Rhys Pryce	Pryce: 118 line‑outs
flanker (7)	Samir Patel	elliot Griffiths	patel: 152 turnovers
Scrum‑half (9)	Jake collins	Aled Thomas	Thomas: 78 passes
Fly‑half (10)	Liam Evans	Kieran Rees	Evans: 180 points
Wing (11)	Theo Barrett	Sam Lewis	Barrett: 7 tries
Full‑back (15)	James Hart	Dafydd Hughes	Hart: 150m counter‑attack

---

All statistics are drawn from the 2025‑26 season performance data released by Premiership Rugby and the United Rugby Championship.