In fact, back-row Mark Easter may be involved in the action against Leicester Tigers on Saturday as he has been named on the extended bench for the derby.

Easter, aged 22, has signed to Saints’ Academy from Nottingham RFC.

The other new recruit, which brings the Academy up to 15, is 19-year-old centre Ashley Maggs, who attended Colston’s School and played for England U18s Schoolboys. He has recently returned from a year out with Canterbury in New Zealand.

Academy director James Sinclair said: “Mark has done really well in pre-season and has shown a lot of potential in the pre-season games. He has fitted in well with the squad and will be a great asset to the Academy.

“Ashley is 6ft 4ins tall and nearly 16 stone, in the Neil Starling mould, and has played well for the Wanderers. We were looking for an athletic, physical outside centre for the Academy and Ashley filled our requirements."