Northampton Saints, the Saints of the Midlands

A vicar, a parish and the Saints

The club was founded in 1880 through an initiative by the Rev. Samuel Wathen Wigg, vicar of the St James church in Northampton, who ran a class for young boys in the parish. The team was initially called Northampton St James, hence the nickname Saints, which has been in use since the 1880s. Their jersey features black, green and gold, a unique combination in English rugby. Northampton, a historic town known for shoe manufacturing in the heart of the Midlands, has made this club one of its great symbols, with a loyal fan base passed down through generations.

The other foreign clubs

There are also foreign clubs:

• Cardiff Blues.
• Edinburgh Rugby.
• Glasgow Warriors.
• Newcastle Falcons.
• Scarlets.
• Zebre RC.

All the clubs are gathered on the foreign clubs page.

From Twickenham 2000 to English titles

The European summit came in May 2000: at Twickenham, the Saints beat Munster nine to eight and won the European Cup in a tight final decided by kicks. The club later added the European Challenge in 2009 and again in 2014. In the league, their crowning moment came in 2014 against the Saracens after extra time, and then again in 2024 against Bath, at the end of a season marked by a highly praised attacking style. In 2025, Northampton returned to the Champions Cup final, which they lost to Bordeaux-Bègles.

Franklin's Gardens, a garden turned stadium

After playing on several grounds, the Saints settled at the end of the 1880s on a site then known as Melbourne Gardens, a pleasure garden in the west of the town. Renamed Franklin's Gardens after its owner at the time, the site became one of the most iconic stadiums in English rugby, expanded several times to exceed fifteen thousand seats. On European match nights, the knowledgeable and demanding crowd drives the team on in a noise that impresses visitors.

Good deals

Good deals can also be found in the good deals, promotions, clearance, sales, Black Friday. The new arrivals showcase the latest collections, and the items shipped in 24 hours are prepared and sent out within 24 hours. The highlights of the year come in a stable order: Black Friday at the end of autumn, the end-of-year holidays, the winter sales, the French Days in spring, followed by the summer sales and back-to-school.

Frequently asked questions

Does Northampton Saints play rugby union or rugby league?

Northampton Saints plays rugby union, which is the format of the English championship and European cups. English rugby league is historically more rooted in the north, in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria, far from the Midlands.

Which world champions have played for Northampton?

Scrum-half Matt Dawson and winger Ben Cohen played for the Saints when they won the 2003 World Cup with England. Later, second-row Courtney Lawes, a local lad, wore the club's jersey throughout his England career.

Who does Northampton face in the derby of the East Midlands?

The East Midlands derby pits Northampton against the Leicester Tigers, neighbours located less than an hour's drive away. It's one of the oldest and most intense rivalries in English rugby, always highly anticipated at Franklin's Gardens.

What is the Premiership won by the Saints?

The Premiership is the professional English rugby union championship. The best clubs from the regular season compete in semi-finals, followed by a final at Twickenham, where Northampton has triumphed in 2014 and 2024.

Which players were part of the 2024 title-winning team?

The 2024 victory was achieved by a generation nurtured or revealed at the club, like scrum-half Alex Mitchell, fly-half Fin Smith, and winger Tommy Freeman, all of whom became England internationals. Their fast play has forged the recent reputation of the Saints.