Prem Rugby Final Preview

Published on 19 June 2026 at 12:52

Northampton Saints vs Exeter Chiefs

Kickoff: 3pm, Saturday 20th June

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Watch on: TNT Sports or ITV

 

The 2025/26 edition of the Gallagher Prem will conclude on Saturday afternoon when Exeter take on Northampton. If recent results are anything to go by, we are in for an epic encounter. The first match between these teams this season finished 33-33 with each team dominating one half. The second finished 28-35 in favour of Northampton. Phil Dowson's men are definitely the favourites to win but no one should be writing off Exeter.

 

The big news for Northampton has nothing to do with the starting team but rather on the bench. Alex Mitchell, despite previously being believed to be out for the season, is back in the squad just in time for the final. Other than that, Dowson has backed the team that swept past Leicester on Friday night. The mass of forwards on the bench will be Northampton's biggest asset and will be crucial to counter-act the weapons possessed by Exeter.

 

Meanwhile, the Chiefs also have some positive news. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is back in the starting line-up after an eventful afternoon watching in the stands on Saturday afternoon. Paul Brown-Bampoe is missing but, other than that, the Chiefs are basically at full strength. The back-row battle will be crucial with Exeter opting for massive bulk and Northampton having some more speed in the back row. 

 

This will be a great game but I expect Northampton to have too much attacking flair for Exeter to handle and just about edge it in the end.

 

Team news

Northampton Saints

Starting XV

1.Emmanuel Iyogun 2.Curtis Langdon 3.Elliot Millar Mills 4.Alex Coles 5.Ed Prowse

6.Josh Kemeny 7.Tom Pearson 8.Henry Pollock 9.Archie McParland 10.Fin Smith

11.George Hendy 12.Rory Hutchinson 13.Tom Litchfield 14.Tommy Freeman 15.George Furbank

Bench

16.Craig Wright 17.Danilo Fischetti 18.Luke Green 19.JJ van der Mescht 

20.Tom Lockett 21.Callum Chick 22.Alex Mitchell 23.Fraser Dingwall

 

Exeter Chiefs

Starting XV

1.Scott Sio 2.Max Norey 3.Josh Iosefa-Scott 4.Dafydd Jenkins 5.Andrea Zambonin

6.Tom Hooper 7.Ethan Roots 8.Greg Fisilau 9.Stephen Varney 10.Harvey Skinner

11.Campbell Ridl 12.Len Ikitau 13.Henry Slade 14.Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 15.Olly Woodburn

Bench

16.Joseph Dweba 17.Ethan Burger 18.Bachuki Tchumbadze 19.Christ Tshiunza

20.Ross Vintcent 21.Kane James 22.Tom Cairns 23.Will Haydon-Wood

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