19-year-old Joe made his Saints debut as a 72nd-minute replacement against the Welsh. It was the another big step in the career of a youngster who recently spent 13 months out of the game following knee surgery.

Five months after his comeback game against Leicester U19 on Easter Sunday, and after a full summer of training and conditioning, Joe was understandably excited when the call came from the Saints coaches that he was going onto the field.

“I was nervous at the start but I wanted to get on and try to make a difference,” says Joe. “I was hoping to make an impression this season but I wasn’t expecting it this early. It was a great experience and I was glad to be involved and get that experience as a young player. It was amazing.

“The nerves went as soon as the ball was kicked off at the restart. Because we’ve trained fully with the first team this year it doesn’t feel such a big step because you’re playing with your mates.

“[Forwards coach] Dorian West told me to go out and play my normal game, try to get my set-piece right and do what I can around the park. With the first throw there were a few nerves but I’ve always enjoyed my throwing and it was nothing different to a normal game, although in front of 11-thousand people of course!

“I was a bit nervous about scrums because it was a big step up from what I’d been used to. They were quite a bit more physical than what I’d played against before. I made quite a few hits as well so I was pleased. I tried to do as much as possible in my 10 minutes.”

There was also another landmark for Joe on Monday – selection in the England Under-20 squad for the coming season.

“It’s been a good week!” he says. “I’d been told by [Academy manager] Rob Hunter in pre-season that I was in the provisional squad. Obviously because I hadn’t been playing I didn’t know what my chances were. My Dad found out on the internet and people have been congratulating me since. It is awesome because I really want representative honours. I’ve played England Under-18 and really enjoyed it so it’s good to be back there.

“The other hookers (London Irish’s James Clark and Leeds’ Scott Freer) weren’t in England squads I’ve been involved in so it will be interesting to see how we get on.”

Joe was supported during his injury rehab by the Chris Kokta Memorial Trust. Each year funds will be made available to a player or players in the Northampton Saints Academy to support them through their transition into the Academy and into the senior teams, and to enable them to continue with their education or training. The Trust has also paid for coaching for 60 children at Weston Favell Primary School and sponsored lads in the residential coaching courses.

For more information on the Chris Kokta Memorial Trust click here.