northampton vs bath returns to Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with the two teams separated by a single point at the top of the Prem Rugby table. Phil Dowson has made three changes to the Northampton Saints side for the 5. 30pm ET kick-off in front of a sold-out crowd. The meeting comes after two tight, high-scoring clashes already this season, including a Champions Cup quarter-final that Bath won 43-41.
Northampton Vs Bath goes back to Franklin’s Gardens
Northampton have not been beaten at home in over 12 months, and they go into this one still holding a narrow lead over Bath in the league standings. The Saints have won 11 of their 13 league games so far, while Bath have matched that record, setting up another top-of-the-table test.
The selection picture shows Northampton making targeted adjustments rather than wholesale changes. George Hendy moves to full-back in place of club captain George Furbank, who is unavailable while he goes through concussion protocols. Fraser Dingwall takes the captaincy, Tommy Freeman shifts back to the wing, and Ollie Sleightholme keeps his place after scoring in the win at Exeter Chiefs last time out.
There is also a return in the pack, with Luke Green coming back from injury at tighthead prop. Northampton keep the same half-backs, with Alex Mitchell at scrum-half and Fin Smith at fly-half after Smith’s late match-winning score at Exeter.
Northampton Vs Bath and the rivalry question
Phil Dowson has been careful not to inflate the storyline around the fixture, even with both teams sitting at the top of the table and their last two meetings producing 84 points and 11 tries. He said the noise around a lasting rivalry is being overstated and stressed that the game matters because it is the next one, not because of any long-running history between the clubs.
“It’s not something we talked about last year, ” Dowson said, pointing out that few were talking up a Saints-Bath rivalry when Northampton were eighth and Bath were leading the way. He added that both sides have been exceptional this season, which makes for an interesting battle, but not necessarily something that should be treated as bigger than the standings suggest.
For Sam Graham, though, the mood is different. The Saints forward, who came through the Bath academy, called these contests “Test match classics” and said the fixture carries extra spice because of his links to Bath. He added that family and friends are often in the crowd for the game and that he relishes the physical edge.
What the teams look like now
Northampton’s bench also shows the depth Dowson is leaning on, with a six-two split of forwards and backs. Robbie Smith, Danilo Fischetti, JJ Van Der Mescht and Chunya Munga are among the replacements ready to provide forward power, while Archie McParland and Rory Hutchinson give the Saints cover behind the scrum.
Bath arrive with their own strong side and remain level with Northampton in wins, but the Saints will be aiming to repeat their 41-21 league victory at The Rec in December. This is the third meeting between the teams this season, and the second in Northampton after the knockout thriller two weeks ago.
The stakes are straightforward now: top spot, home momentum, and a statement result in a fixture that has already delivered twice. For Northampton, northampton vs bath is no longer just a headline; it is the next defining test, with Saturday’s clash likely to shape how both clubs frame the rest of the season.
