PREM Cup: Harlequins 24 - 40 Northampton - Archie McParland hat-trick bags Saints away win

Harlequins sit at the bottom of Pool B with five points compared to second place Northampton who have 19 points. The points difference between the two teams couldn’t have been predicted at half time which saw Harlequins in the lead with a score of 19 – 14. The Quins also began the points scoring thanks to a try by Tom Lawday, then a successful conversion by Jamie Benson.

The Quins continued to score points in the first half with Lawday, Yendle, Cleaves and Benson all gaining points between minutes eight to 29. This put the home side in the lead at half time, but the second half proved difficult with only Anderson scoring for the team with a try in the 50^th minute.

On the other hand, the Saints were unable to score a try until the 31^st minute by Archie McParland, who went on to score a hattrick. He was the only Saints player to score points in the first half. Whilst the first half started slow for the away side, they soon found their rhythm as they came out on top, beating the Quins 40 – 24. In contrast to the Quins, the Saints improved their game in the second half with McParland, Belleau, Sleightholme and a penalty try all securing Northampton victory at the Stoop.

The 2026 Six Nations began last week and undoubtedly will have had some impact on this match as both teams have lost key players to international duties.

The Quins have lost four players to the tournament, including key players such as Chandler Cunningham-South and Marcus Smith. This creates holes in the squad, but the argument is there that multiple teams will have the same hurdles to face whilst the tournament continues.

The Saints have lost more players, with eight men currently fulfilling international duties such as Henry Pollock and Alex Mitchell. Mitchell is a regular starter for the side and so his absence will produce an element of irregularity for the team.

The Six Nations has an impact on teams, but it does not cause a disastrous effect. For instance, these teams last played each other on 3^rd January 2026 at Franklin’s Gardens where the Saints came out on top with a score of 66 – 21. Whilst the points difference is larger, the same team was victorious.

Whilst the Six Nations does not necessarily weaken the squads, it does produce some irregularities and a rotation of squad selection which the players need to adjust to.