Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints: Big match preview
Competition: Gallagher PREM (round 15)
Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester
Date and kick-off time: Saturday, May 9, 2026, 3.05pm
Weather forecast: 19c, light rain
Live television coverage: TNT Sports and ITV4
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales and Simon Harding
No.4: James Clarke
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward; 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Will Wand, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins; 10 James O'Connor, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Ollie Chessum (c), 5 George Martin; 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Joaquin Moro.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Archie van der Flier, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Samuel Williams, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Solomone Kata, 23 Izaia Perese.
Saints: 15 George Furbank (c); 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 George Hendy; 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Robbie Smith, 3 Luke Green; 4 Tom Lockett, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht; 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Sam Graham, 8 Callum Chick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Tom West, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Ed Prowse, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Archie McParland, 23 Tom Litchfield.
Not available for Saints selection: Alex Coles, Trevor Davison, Tom James, Cleopas Kundiona, Curtis Langdon, Henry Lumley, Tom Pearson, James Ramm, Freddie St John, Edoardo Todaro, Charlie Ulcoq.
Most recent meeting: January 31, 2026: Saints 40 Leicester Tigers 22 (PREM Rugby Cup – pool stages)
Leicester Tigers director of rugby Geoff Parling: “I know Dows (Saints boss Phil Dowson) and (Saints head coach Sam) Vesty well, they’re both good men. I actually went for a dog walk with Dows there weeks ago. He doesn’t have a dog so he just came for a walk. I think my dog was waiting for his dog to turn up, and it never did! We catch up, our families meet up for some dinner, we know it is a job and it is part and parcel of what it is. But I think he’s done, and continues to do, some great things there. If you look at their (Saints’) stats across the table, their post-contact metres with ball in hand is very good, so they actually try and go through you as well. I think they are a team that is clear in how they want to play and they have got an identity, and it’s a great challenge for us.”
Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson: "The derby is one of the best occasions of the year. It's something we get very excited about, something I know Leicester get very excited about. It's two very good sides, two sides who have had good seasons and obviously have points to prove so it's an exciting week to be involved in. Traditionally you'd say Leicester are particularly strong at set piece. Scrum and maul is a huge foundational part. But I think Geoff Parling and his coaches have brought in a more attacking style. They've scored the second most tries off counter-attacks, they're moving the ball more. With that attacking intent and their set-piece heritage, it makes them a very dangerous side."
Opposition danger man: England full-back Freddie Steward has the ability to cause Saints real problems in their air as that is one of his super-strengths.
Tom Vickers’ pre-match thoughts: Saints can all but guarantee a home play-off semi-final with a win here, while Leicester have the chance to continue their own push for a top-two place. That means there is a lot on the line, as well as the traditional bragging rights, meaning this should be a typically epic contest. Saints have shown they can be extremely dangerous at home and away this season, but Tigers have strengths that can really test areas that the black, green and gold have struggled in during recent matches. Saints know they will have to improve in defence, at lineout time, from restarts and under the high ball if they are to get a good result here. If they can find some security in those areas, there is no doubt they have the firepower to prevail, with their backline this weekend looking seriously skillful. The question will be whether they can get enough of the ball to those players as Tigers have named a formidable pack. This is undoubtedly another huge test in a season full of them, but Saints have a superb PREM record so far and how sweet it would be for them to add another away victory to their tally at the home of their local rivals. They have not won at Leicester since a 19-18 league success in January 2023.