Ben came to the Saints with a reputation as an extremely talented footballer. Since joining the club he has done nothing to dispel that, if anything that perception has become enhanced.

Although he came to the Gardens with aspirations to be the Saints' scrum-half, once he moved to full back - winning back-to-back man of the match performances in the process - Ben cemented himself as one of the team's prime attacking weapons.

A first England cap was followed by a European Challenge Cup winner's medal, and as 2010/11 continued Ben established himself as England's pre-eminent full back. His first England start came in the Six Nations trip to France, when his club partnership with Chris Ashton continued in style, and he was chosen to head down under with the national squad at the end of the campaign, but not before being shortlisted in the nominations for the RPA Players' Player of the Season.