Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers: Full team news for the cup clash
Flanker Charlie Ulcoq will make his Saints debut when he starts at seven against Leicester Tigers in the sold-out PREM Rugby Cup clash at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday (kick-off 3.05pm).
Ulcoq, who holds a UK passport, made the move to Saints in February last year, having represented NSW Waratahs Under-18s, NSW Schools, Australian Schools, and Scots College (Sydney) 1st XV in 2024.
An injury had sidelined the 19-year-old, who has spent a little time on loan with Bedford Blues, but he is now back fit and ready to feature against Tigers this weekend.
Sam Graham will skipper Saints from No.8, with the likes of Tom Lockett and Ollie Sleightholme also adding some top-level experience as they start at lock and on the wing respectively.
James Pater gets the nod at fly-half as he teams up with scrum-half Archie McParland.
Chunya Munga, Tom James and James Ramm are named on a bench that includes two potential Saints debutants, with Academy product Freddie St John and guest player Jack Kelleher, who is a former Ireland Under-20s flanker, primed to enter the action.
Emeka Atuanya, Anthony Belleau, Will Glister, Curtis Langdon, Tom Litchfield, Henry Lumley and Tom West are on the ‘not considered for selection’ list this week.
Tigers currently sit top of PREM Rugby Cup Pool B, eight points clear of fourth-placed Saints, and they have named a strong team to travel to the Gardens.
It includes James O’Connor and Izaia Perese, who return to the starting 15 as they step up their comeback from injury having starred from the bench last weekend.
Hanro Liebenberg captains the side from No.8 as he and Harry Wells form the experience around some young players in the pack.
Behind the scrum there is a balance of youth and experience. Ollie Allan partners O’Connor in the half-backs, while a strong centre duo of Joseph Woodward and Perese will try to create space for Ryan Crowley and George Pearson out wide. Orlando Bailey lines up at full-back.
Former Saints forwards Charlie Clare and Tarek Haffar are on the Tigers bench.
Saints: 15 James Martin; 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Billy Pasco, 12 Toby Thame, 11 Amena Caqusau; 10 James Pater, 9 Archie McParland; 1 Oliver Scola, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Cleopas Kundiona; 4 Ed Prowse, 5 Tom Lockett; 6 Archie Benson, 7 Charlie Ulcoq, 8 Sam Graham (c).
Replacements: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Luke Green, 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Jack Kelleher, 21 Tom James, 22 Freddie St John, 23 James Ramm.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Orlando Bailey; 14. George Pearson, 13. Izaia Perese, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ryan Crowley; 10 James O’Connor, 9 Ollie Allan; 1 Archie Van Der Flier, 2 Finn Theobold-Thomas, 3. Will Hurd; 4 Harry Wells, 5 Tom Manz; 6 Harry Palmer, 7 Sam Williams, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (c).
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Josh Manz, 20 George Marsh, 21 Charlie Bemand, 22 Wilf McCarthy, 23 Kesena Izu.