For four-and-a-half decades Don White was a totemic figure at Franklin’s Gardens, as a player, captain, coach, administrator and president.

He made his Saints debut in 1943 as a 16 year-old schoolboy in a 17-3 defeat to Coventry on February 27, 1943. It was an inauspicious start to a glorious career that spanned 18 years, 448 appearances (placing him second in the all-time list), 116 tries and 930 points as well as 14 England caps.

Recommended to the Saints by RVS Ward, a “scared stiff” White began his Saints career at prop. But by the time of his England debut – in 1947 against Wales in Cardiff – he was firmly established as a flanker, where he would remain. Indeed White scored the try at the Arms Park that helped England achieve an unexpected 9-6 win.

His first season of captaincy came in 1949/50 and under his stewardship Saints began to build a team that would dominate English rugby for a decade. That season also included a first ever Northampton victory at Stradey Park, an ideal way to begin four straight seasons with the captain’s armband.

Don White (with ball) and the Saints team of 1949/50

White also led the East Midlands and the Barbarians and had a reputation as a fiery player, about which he was unrepentant.

“If a wing forward does not get some stick from an away crowd, he is not doing his job. You have to upset them,” he said.

But White also had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the laws, as former Chronicle and Echo rugby correspondent Michael Green wrote following the news of his retirement.

“More than one referee, I fancy, will sleep peacefully of a Friday night… Frequently senior referees have been known to ask White’s advice on some knotty points (after the match, of course, although White would be happy to advise during a game). Minor referees, called upon to control a match in which he is taking part, have been known to go pale and grab the Rugby Union handbook. And not without reason. For White takes advantage of every sub-clause.”

White also had an unrivalled appreciation of players and under his stewardship Saints not only became regarded as the best club in the land but also the home to men who would go on to become rugby legends – Ron Jacobs, Jeff Butterfield and Dickie Jeeps. Their zenith came at Franklin’s Gardens in October 1953 when a Cardiff side captained by Bleddyn Williams was defeated 22-9.

Two more seasons of captaincy followed in 1956 and 57 and White retired from playing in 1961, aged 35.

Before the end of the decade, the shoe boss from Earls Barton had also become renowned as a coach, becoming the first official England coach in 1969. Under White’s guidance England achieved a first ever victory over South Africa at Twickenham.

White left England in 1971 but remained involved in the sport by being on the Northampton committee, becoming president for the centenary season of 1979/80. His involvement in the running of the Saints ended in 1988.

White was among the first group of players to be elected into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2005 and helped open the Church’s Stand in 2002.

Saints players paid tribute on Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final by wearing black armbands. And there will be a minute’s silence before Saturday’s GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP match against London Irish at Franklin’s Gardens.

Sean Lamont wearing a black armband on Sunday

“Don White was probably the greatest ever Saintsman, as a player, administrator and captain,” said former Saints, England and British Lions prop David Powell. “He was certainly the first Saints legend. I was privileged to know him and count him as a friend for several decades. He was a fantastic leader when I first arrived at the club and great company in his latter days when we spent many happy hours in the Crooked Hooker.”

Saints chairman Keith Barwell and chief executive Allan Robson also paid tribute to White.

“Don was a true pillar of the club who transcended the amateur and professional eras of the game,” said Barwell. “He was one of the first legends elected into the Hall of Fame, not just because of his 448 appearances for the Saints but also his hard work put in behind the scenes across several decades.”

Robson said: “I was proud to know Don, not just in my work but also as a friend. No one knew more about rugby than Don and he had a fantastic understanding of the modern game. He will be sorely missed both at the club and as a man.”

Everyone at Northampton Saints send their condolences to Don White’s family.