Chris Ashton Backs Northampton Vs Leicester in Prem Semi-Final

Northampton vs Leicester opened with the Saints hosting the Tigers at Franklin's Gardens at 19:45 BST on 12 June 2026. Northampton came in top of the regular-season table, while Leicester arrived fourth. The winner moved one step closer to Twickenham on 20 June.

Franklin's Gardens at 19:45 BST

The first of the Prem Rugby semi-finals had Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers meeting under pressure from the start. Chris Ashton set the tone during the live coverage, saying: "I think Northampton are favourites, they've been my best team all year in the Premiership for sure."

That view matched the table. Northampton finished top of the regular season, and Leicester ended it in fourth, so the matchup carried both home advantage and the sharper league position for the Saints. This was not just a local rivalry; it was the first direct path into the final.

Bath and Exeter on Saturday

The other semi-final paired Bath with Exeter at the Rec on Saturday at 15:00. That result sits on the same bracket, with both winners joining the final at Twickenham on 20 June. The schedule left the Northampton-Leicester meeting as the opening answer to who would get there first.

radio commentary ran alongside the text updates on 5 Live Sports Extra 2, Radio Northampton and Radio Leicester, giving listeners a live route into the game as the playoff picture narrowed. For Northampton and Leicester, the table decided the seedings; Franklin's Gardens decided which side had the chance to keep going.

Twickenham on 20 June

The winners from the two semi-finals will meet at Twickenham on 20 June. For Northampton, that meant protecting the status earned by finishing top. For Leicester, it meant turning a fourth-place finish into a final place on the road.