Northampton starts title defence with victory over Newcastle

The Prem: Northampton 59-26 Newcastle: Saints score nine tries to defeat Red Bulls
Published 25 September 2026

Northampton Saints commenced their title defence on a high note with a convincing 59-26 victory against Newcastle Red Bulls at Franklin's Gardens. This performance followed just three months after Northampton secured their second Prem title against the Exeter Chiefs at Allianz Stadium.

Saints showcased their strength with a total of nine tries, highlighted by hat-tricks from both James Pater and Tommy Freeman. Pater, along with George Hendy, Alex Coles, and Ollie Sleightholme, contributed to an impressive scoreline. Fin Smith, the fly-half, orchestrated the play effectively, leading the team to a dominant win.

Despite their defeat, Newcastle managed to score four tries, earning themselves a losing bonus point. The team, which had made significant changes in the off-season with the addition of 25 new players, showed potential in their performance, hoping to avoid finishing at the bottom of the Prem for the first time in five seasons.

The initial 15 minutes saw Pater crossing the line twice, with Hendy, Freeman, and Coles following suit during the first half, which Northampton controlled thoroughly. However, Christian Wade's two tries for Newcastle, both converted, demonstrated the Red Bulls' capability to challenge strong teams this season.

Newcastle faced setbacks due to yellow cards issued to Harrison Obatoyinbo for a trip and to Pouri Rakete-Stones for a no-hands tackle. This greatly hindered their defensive tactics and allowed Northampton to extend their lead in the second half.

Throughout the match, Northampton's Henry Pollock excelled, celebrating his new £400,000 contract extension not only with his performance but also with a distinctive braided hairstyle. Besides Pollock, Fin Smith, along with Freeman and Pater, played exceptionally well.

Freeman completed his hat-trick with two second-half tries, sandwiching Cam Jordan’s first for Newcastle after his summer transfer from Gloucester. Seconds after entering as a substitute, Sleightholme added to the score, with Pater wrapping up his hat-trick to seal the win. Werner Kok scored late for Newcastle, which ensured they left with a bonus point.

Post-match, Tommy Freeman remarked on BBC Radio Northampton about the promising start and the room for improvement, particularly regarding their set pieces and defensive organization. Meanwhile, Newcastle's head coach Dan McFarland acknowledged the positives from their performance, expressing a need to build on their progress throughout the season.