Iona Sipa, a back-row from the NPC side Southland, is on trial at the club for the next couple of months.

The 28-year-old who plays at either No 8 or blindside flanker, is 6’1” and weighs in at 17st 5lbs.

Pastor Jim Winning, following in the footsteps of Saints’ founder Rev Samuel Wathan Wigg, is the new club chaplain and he took part in the Christmas Carols with the Saints event on Sunday.

He said: “I will provide a pastoral role for the players, staff and their families. I will be available to them through the club or when I make my weekly visit.”

Pastor Winning, a Cobblers season ticket holder and a Glasgow Rangers fan, works at Duke Street Evangelical Church in Northampton. He is a member of SCORE, an organisation that provides chaplains for sports organisations, including football, rugby league and horse-racing.