Lock Matt Lord arrived mid-season in 2002/03 to cover the absence left by the injured former Springbok Johan Ackermann. The former North Harbour player had barely been in the country for 48 hours before being brought on as a replacement against Leeds Tykes at Headingley. Since then the mad hair and his heart-on-the-sleeve attitude has won him many supporters in the Saints crowd, and a shortlist place in the 2003/04 Player of the Season awards.

Lordy has gone on to win even more fans in 2004/05 season with his no-nonsence approach to some of the lowest points in Saints' history. There is never a doubt that this lock is playing for the honour of wearing the jersey when he takes to the field and for that he was rewarded with the Player of the Season Award.

Matt did not let anyone down last season either. The farmer’s lad continued to work hard and to lead by example as the competition in the second row began to hot up. Injuries to Selborne Boome and James Percival cut out some of the contenders but the arrival of French lock David Gerard certainly upped the ante. And, indeed, the scrap for the No 5 shirt became a straight fight between Gerard and Matt while Damien Browne ran the show from No 4. Lord played 28 games for Saints last season to bring him three away from his 100th game.

That milestone was reached early in the 2006/07 campaign in the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP match against Bath. That this game was played at Franklin's Gardens made the occasion particularly special, all the more so because Saints won! Matt finished the season with 23 appearances, split nearly 50/50 between selections in the starting line-up and coming off the bench as the second row was rotated throughout the campaign. Nevertheless he remains a fans favourite and has led the Saints side on a number of occasions, including the Travis Perkins Club v Country Challenge against Argentina.