Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs Preview: Gallagher PREM Round 1
Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs Preview: Gallagher PREM Round 1
Northampton host Exeter Chiefs in Gallagher PREM Round 1. Preview, Athlete’s Lounge coverage, kickoff time in ET, and how to watch live on FloRugby.
Northampton Saints host Exeter Chiefs at Franklin’s Gardens in a Sunday Round 1 showdown that pits two recent champions against each other.
The Saints, winners of the 2023–24 title, enter the new season aiming to recapture the form that put them back on top of English rugby. Their home opener offers the chance to start fast and reset after falling short in 2024–25.
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Exeter remains a benchmark for consistency. Twice Premiership winners and 2020 European champions, the Chiefs have rebuilt through their academy while continuing to rely on a powerful forward pack. With their track record of grinding out results, they always pose a threat in the playoff race.
For U.S. fans, this fixture highlights two clubs that know how to win silverware. It is a matchup of Northampton’s speed and creativity against Exeter’s physicality and control.
FloRugby Top 100 Players To Watch
From the FloRugby Top 100 list:
- Tommy Freeman (50), Northampton Saints
- Alex Mitchell (66), Northampton Saints
- Fin Smith (91), Northampton Saints
- Henry Pollock (100), Northampton Saints
- Len Ikitau (72), Exeter Chiefs
Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs Storylines Heading Into Round 1
Exeter’s pack remains their foundation, with a reputation for control at set piece and discipline across the field. New additions such as Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba add a new dynamic element to the Chiefs' pack this season. Conversely, the home side will be without their four British and Irish Lions stars, who continue to be rested in line with the international protocols. The storyline: can Northampton’s pace unsettle the Chiefs’ structure, or will Exeter dictate terms through their forwards?
FloRugby Athlete’s Lounge Coverage
FloRugby’s Athlete’s Lounge streams free at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28. Hosted by Dallen Stanford with USA Rugby head coach Scott Lawrence, the show will preview Saints vs. Chiefs along with the rest of Round 1. Fans can watch on FloRugby, the FloSports app, YouTube, and Facebook.
Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs Kickoff Time
Sunday, Sept. 28, 8:00 a.m. ET — Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs, cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
How To Watch PREM Rugby Round 1
Fans in the United States can stream Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs live on FloRugby and the FloSports app. Full match replays and highlights will also be available on demand.
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Follow every fixture of the 2025–26 PREM Rugby season live and on demand with the FloRugby annual plan. Subscribers get access to matches, highlights, and exclusive coverage.
European Union Rugby Lives On FloSports And FloRugby
Rugby fans can stream every match from the Top 14, Gallagher Premiership, and United Rugby Championship on FloRugby, along with the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, making the platform the U.S. home for the world’s biggest club competitions and the game’s top players
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
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FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.