Northampton Saints vs Castres Champions Cup preview: How to watch, confirmed lineups and recent form

Home team	Northampton Saints
Away team	Castres
Venue	Franklin’s Gardens
Competition	European Champions Cup
Kick off time	8:00 pm
Watch Live in the UK	Premier Sports

Northampton Saints vs Castres European Champions Cup preview as the sides meet at Franklin’s Gardens.

Northampton won three of their four pool games, picking up 16 points to finish fifth in the overall table. Castres won two of their pool games, finishing on 10 points and 12th overall in the table.

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Northampton Saints vs Castres confirmed lineups and team news

Northampton Saints (1-15):

Fischetti, Wright, Green, Lockett, van der Mescht, Kemeny, Pollock, Chick, McParland, Belleau, Ramm, Dingwall, Litchfield, Freeman, Furbank

Replacements (16-23):

Langdon, West, Kundiona, Prowse, Munga, Pearson, Weimann, Hutchinson

Castres (1-15):

Walcker, Durand, Corato, Ducat, Vanverberghe, Delaporte, Ardon, Papali’i, Fernandez, Herve, Karawalevu, Goodhue, Botitu, Ambadiang, Chabouni

Replacements (16-23):

Colonna, Guerois-Galisson, Azar, Maravat, Cope, Ramototabua, Arata, Palis,

Recent Form:

Northampton Saints (Home team): W-W-W-W-L

Northampton have only lost one game in the Prem this season and lost one game in the Champions Cup group stage. Their only loss in the last five games came against Bordeaux in the Champions Cup, suffering a heavy 50-28 loss. In their last match in the Prem, they beat Saracens 21-17 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They took an early 14-point lead, but the Saracens fought back to 17-14 ahead with just five minutes left. Archie McParland scored his second try of the game to bring them back in front 21-17.

Castres (Away team): W-L-L-L-W

Castres went through a tough spell, losing to Racing, La Rochelle and Bordeaux. The losses to Racing and Bordeaux were particularly heavy, by more than 20 points. In the last round, they took on bottom-of-the-table Montauban. Castres scored seven tries, including four in the first 28 minutes, to put Castres 28-3 ahead after 27 minutes.

Northampton Saints vs Castres head-to-head record (last five matches):

Date	Competition	Winner	Score
12th April 2025	Champions Cup	Northampton	51-16
7th December 2024	Champions Cup	Northampton	38-8
14th January 2017	Champions Cup	Northampton	28-21
22nd October 2016	Champions Cup	Castres	41-7
17th January 2014	Champions Cup	Northampton	13-3

Northampton have won each of the last three games against Castres and haven’t lost a game to them at home. They have played in the last two years, scoring 38 or more points in both games. When the sides met last season, the Saints put 41 points on the board against Castres, scoring seven tries, including two for Henry Pollock.