Paul Diggin

Winger Paul Diggin had a remarkable 2004/05 season from the moment when he was asked to step into the boots of Bruce Reihana when Saints played Sale in front of the Sky cameras. The youngster, born and bred in Northampton, did not let anyone down and survived a crunching tackle from Jason White, and put in one of his own on Jason Robinson. He followed this performance with a his debut try against Saracens in front of a packed Franklin's Gardens and a call-up from the England U21s squad. He finished last season with a try against Worcester Warriors on the final day of the league which cemented his place on England U21s' World Championships trip to Argentina.

Paul earned a first-team contract at the end of 2005/06. And in the injury crisis of 2006/07 he became virtually undroppable with a string of committed and eye-catching performances. He has also become something of a try machine, scoring four in the Heineken Cup alone, and won selection at full back for the quarter final in San Sebastian, pushing club captain Bruce Reihana to centre.

Paul signed a one-year extension to his contract at the end of the season and no one is more determined to help get Saints back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. He has played regularly throughout the season and had a particularly enjoyable January. Not only did he make his 50th appearance (earning a treasured club cap in the process) in the EDF Energy National Trophy trip to Doncaster Knights, but Paul also became the first Saints player to score five tries in a single league game. Sedgley Park were the victims, the headlines the beneficiary!

His performances have been such that he has been rewarded with a further two years contract extension and Paul will stay at the Gardens until at least 2010.