Northampton Saints and Newcastle Red Bulls have named their teams for Friday night’s Gallagher PREM opener at the DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, with Henry Pollock set to make his 50th appearance for Saints.
For Northampton, the milestone selection is the headline detail in a run-on side that begins the title defence at home. The reigning champions won last season’s league and now start a new campaign in front of their own supporters, with the opener offering an early chance to show the level that carried them to the top.
Newcastle arrive with a very different look. Dan McFarland’s side have undergone major turnover over the summer and have named 12 summer signings in their matchday squad. In total, Newcastle have gone with a 23-man group that includes seven in the run-on side and five on the bench, underlining how much change they are managing at the start of the season.
What McFarland said about the challenge
McFarland made clear Newcastle are treating the opener as a significant test. He described Northampton as the title winners from last season, praised their style and coaching, and pointed to the quality of their young players. He also said the Red Bulls see this as exactly the kind of challenge they would relish, while acknowledging that building something new in the Gallagher PREM will take time.
That theme ran through his wider comments as well. Newcastle, he said, are effectively a brand new team in many respects because of the number of players and coaches arriving over the summer, and the squad are still trying to establish themselves in a demanding league. His message was simple: the process will not be instant, but the team intend to play with ambition and give it a proper crack.
For Northampton, the night is about starting well as champions. For Newcastle, it is about measuring where a reshaped squad stands against one of the league’s strongest sides. And for Pollock, it is a notable personal marker: a 50th Saints appearance on the opening night of the season.
