Premiership
Fin Smith to debut for Saints against Bristol Bears
Fly-half Fin Smith will make his Northampton Saints debut this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold welcome Bristol Bears in Round 8 of the Gallagher Premiership.The hosts saw a two-game winning run in the league ended last weekend at Bath Rugby, although Saints have only lost once at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in any competition since February.Bears come into the clash (which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday and will be broadcast on PRTV Live) on a three-game losing run but have a strong recent record in Northampton, winning three times on their last four visits in the league.Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes eight changes in total to his line-up in total from last week’s defeat, with England Under-20 international George Hendy earning his first Premiership start at full-back.Matt Proctor shifts over to the wing to make room for fit-again Rory Hutchinson at centre, while Ollie Sleighholme – who has scored five tries in six league appearances so far this term – rounds off the back three.Fraser Dingwall is also selected in the midfield and will captain Saints on home soil, with Alex Mitchell named at scrum-half and Smith pulling on the Northampton No.10 jersey for the first time following his arrival at the Club from Worcester Warriors earlier this month.There are five changes to the hosts’ pack as loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Mike Haywood join Paul Hill in the front row.Lukhan Salakaia-Loto continues at lock but Alex Moon returns to engine room alongside him, while there are two further changes to the back row as flankers Sam Graham and Aaron Hinkley both start the clash, with Juarno Augustus selected at No.8 for the third straight match.Meanwhile Angus Scott-Young, Ethan Waller and Brandon Nansen all return to the matchday 23 for Saints amongst the replacements, with Tom Collins also hoping to extend his try-scoring run to four matches if he enters the action from the bench.NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BRISTOL BEARSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 8Saturday 29 October 2022cinch Stadium at Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 3pm15 George Hendy14 Matt Proctor13 Fraser Dingwall (c)12 Rory Hutchinson11 Ollie Sleightholme10 Fin Smith9 Alex Mitchell1 Emmanuel Iyogun2 Mike Haywood3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 Alex Moon6 Sam Graham7 Aaron Hinkley8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Sam Matavesi17 Ethan Waller18 Alfie Petch19 Brandon Nansen20 Angus Scott-Young21 Tom James22 James Grayson23 Tom CollinsNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman, Aston Gradwick-Light, Ethan Grayson, Courtney Lawes, George Patten, and Karl Wilkins.International duty:Alex Coles, George Furbank, Lewis Ludlam, and David Ribbans.Referee: Hamish SmalesAssistant Referees: Greg Macdonald and Phil WattersNo.4: Gareth HolsgroveTMO: David RoseBRISTOL TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren; 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Joe Joyce (c), 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Fitz Harding.Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Will Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Jack Bates.
Fly-half Fin Smith will make his Northampton Saints debut this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold welcome Bristol Bears in Round 8 of the Gallagher Premiership.
The hosts saw a two-game winning run in the league ended last weekend at Bath Rugby, although Saints have only lost once at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in any competition since February.
Bears come into the clash (which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday and will be broadcast on PRTV Live) on a three-game losing run but have a strong recent record in Northampton, winning three times on their last four visits in the league.
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes eight changes in total to his line-up in total from last week’s defeat, with England Under-20 international George Hendy earning his first Premiership start at full-back.
Matt Proctor shifts over to the wing to make room for fit-again Rory Hutchinson at centre, while Ollie Sleighholme – who has scored five tries in six league appearances so far this term – rounds off the back three.
Fraser Dingwall is also selected in the midfield and will captain Saints on home soil, with Alex Mitchell named at scrum-half and Smith pulling on the Northampton No.10 jersey for the first time following his arrival at the Club from Worcester Warriors earlier this month.
There are five changes to the hosts’ pack as loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Mike Haywood join Paul Hill in the front row.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto continues at lock but Alex Moon returns to engine room alongside him, while there are two further changes to the back row as flankers Sam Graham and Aaron Hinkley both start the clash, with Juarno Augustus selected at No.8 for the third straight match.
Meanwhile Angus Scott-Young, Ethan Waller and Brandon Nansen all return to the matchday 23 for Saints amongst the replacements, with Tom Collins also hoping to extend his try-scoring run to four matches if he enters the action from the bench.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BRISTOL BEARS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 8
Saturday 29 October 2022
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Hendy
14 Matt Proctor
13 Fraser Dingwall (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Alex Moon
6 Sam Graham
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Ethan Waller
18 Alfie Petch
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Tom James
22 James Grayson
23 Tom Collins
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman, Aston Gradwick-Light, Ethan Grayson, Courtney Lawes, George Patten, and Karl Wilkins.
International duty:
Alex Coles, George Furbank, Lewis Ludlam, and David Ribbans.
Referee: Hamish Smales
Assistant Referees: Greg Macdonald and Phil Watters
No.4: Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose
BRISTOL TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS
15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren; 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Joe Joyce (c), 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Fitz Harding.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Will Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Jack Bates.
Content & Images from – Northampton Saints Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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