Preview | Northampton v Ulster

Match Details

🤝 Northampton Saints v Ulster Rugby
🗓 Sunday 16 January, 3.15pm
🏟 Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens
🏆 Heineken Champions Cup
📺 Live on BT Sport

Officials

Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
AR 1: Luc Ramos (Fra), AR 2: Flavien Hourquet (Fra))
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin (Fra)

Team News

📋 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙉𝙚𝙬𝙨

Here is your Ulster squad to take on @SaintsRugby in the #HeinekenChampionsCup on Sunday afternoon 🤩

Full story ➡️ https://t.co/3W63XNlCjh #NORvULS | #SUFTUM ⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/NSi8gfSFcN

— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) January 14, 2022

2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ times a Saint.

The remarkable @Courtney_Lawes will lead us out against Ulster on Sunday 🐐

➡️ https://t.co/Ah10HhrMLl pic.twitter.com/hYMjolcULA

— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) January 14, 2022

Campaign so far

There have been contrasting fortunes for these two teams in Europe this season.

Northampton opened their campaign at home with a comprehensive 14-45 loss at the hands of Racing 92, while Ulster recorded a superb 23-29 victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne in France.

In Round 2, Northampton travelled to Belfast and the Ulster men battled to a 27-22 win to make it two wins from two, and compound the Saints to their second defeat in as many rounds.

Did you know?

• This will be the seventh clash between Ulster Rugby and Northampton Saints in the Heineken Champions Cup, with each team having won three games apiece.
• Northampton Saints have lost their last five games in the Heineken Champions Cup but have never lost more games in succession in the competition.
• Ulster have won 10 of their last 12 games against Premiership opposition in the Heineken Champions Cup.
• Northampton Saints have made the most tackles of any side in the Heineken Champions Cup this season (254), while Ulster (232) have made the joint-fourth most.
• Ulster’s Michael Lowry has carried the ball for 220 metres in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, more than any other player, while teammate James Hume has recorded the second-highest tally (214).

Last Time out at Franklin's Gardens

Back in April 2021, Ulster overcame an eight-point deficit at half-time to defeat Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens - sealing a place in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals.

Team Talk

“It’s important that we take our learnings from the weekend and draw a line in the sand. Northampton play an excellent brand of rugby. I imagine we will see an entertaining game of rugby on Sunday afternoon.”

• Dan Soper

Upcoming Games

Tickets are still available for the Clermont fixture at ulster.rugby/buytickets.