Frank Packman
Frank Packman
Saints Number: #1519
Saints Career: 1983-1996
Appearances: 323
Position: Wing
Career Statistics
Tries: 178
Conversions: 7
Penalties: 2
Drop Goals: 1
Total Points: 557
Representative Honours
East Midlands
England Colts
England B
Barbarians
Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2025
Frank Packman
Frank Packman was one of Northampton Saints’ greatest try-scorers and one of the most popular local players ever to represent the Club.
Raised in Greens Norton and educated at Sponne School, Packman began his rugby career with Towcestrians before joining Northampton. He made his Saints debut against Bristol on 3 September 1983 and immediately hinted at what was to come. Match reports suggested only misfortune and narrow decisions denied him a hat-trick on his first appearance.
Over the next 13 seasons, Packman established himself as one of the deadliest finishers in Club history. His 178 tries place him among Northampton’s all-time leading scorers, while his tally of 33 tries during the 1986/87 season equalled the Club record for tries in a single campaign.
Possessing a combination of power, acceleration and finishing ability, Packman became a firm favourite with supporters throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. One of his most memorable moments came in September 1990 when he scored Northampton's first try in Division One of the Courage League. Fittingly, it was the local lad who had helped guide the Club through the difficult years who marked the occasion.
Rugby ran through the family. His father, Alan Packman, served as groundsman at Franklin’s Gardens, while his son Howard Packman later followed him into Saints’ first team. Away from rugby, Frank worked as a police officer with Northamptonshire Police, balancing elite-level rugby with a demanding professional career during the amateur era.
After leaving Saints, Packman continued to play and coach at Wellingborough before returning to Towcestrians. The advent of professionalism came just too late for a player whose abilities would undoubtedly have flourished in the modern game.
Following his death in March 2021, his contribution to Northampton Saints was formally recognised with induction into the Hall of Fame in 2025. He remains one of the Club’s most prolific and fondly remembered try-scorers.
Hall of Fame profiles have been researched and compiled, with the Club’s grateful thanks, by the volunteers of Northampton Saints Foundation’s Heritage Department – whose work helps preserve and share the rich history of Northampton Saints.