Have you ever wondered who would make up the all-time Northampton Saints XV? Well, the Club’s main partner, Travis Perkins, have decided to answer that question once and for all!
We rounded off the forwards last month and announced a monstrous pack, and after kicking off the backline with voting for scrum-halves, we move into the famous No.10 jersey this week.
We have five nominees for another hotly-contested position. Just fill in the form below to tell us your favourite ever Saintsman to play fly-half.
Voting will continue over the coming weeks, as we ask Saints supporters to select their favourite-ever backs to don the Black, Green and Gold jersey until we have the ultimate Saints XV.
And for each position, one lucky voter will be selected at random to win one of 15 exclusive ‘WE MARCH ON’ bobble hats up for grabs!
But with over 2,000 Saints to choose from, we’ve narrowed the fly-half category down to these five nominees to help you make your choice:
John Steele – #1589
Debut: 1988 | 149 apps
Wearing the No.10 jersey in the period shortly after ‘The Gang of Seven’ revolutionary takeover of the Club, John Steele helped form the nucleus of a powerful Saints team alongside the likes of Ian Hunter, Tim Rodber, Gary Pearce, Frank Packman, Harvey Thorneycroft and John Olver. Playing just under 150 times in Black, Green and Gold, Steele also notched up 33 tries and 1385 total points for Northampton – the fourth-most of any player in history. Steele went on to lead Saints to European glory as a coach in 2000.
Paul Grayson – #1658
Debut: 1993 | 259 apps
The look up at the posts. Back to the tee. The run-up, swing of the right leg and sweet ‘thud’ as boot hits ball. Up go the flags and the score board ticks over. This familiar routine happened nearly a thousand times in Paul Grayson’s 11-year career in Black, Green and Gold, as he played such an important role in the club’s ascent through the English and European game in the mid-to-late 1990s. His was the only name on the scoresheet as Saints lifted the Heineken Cup in 2000, and Grayson remains Northampton’s all-time leading points scorer. He made 32 appearances for England, scoring exactly 400 points and running out in the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups, before he stepped away from playing in 2005 to focus on coaching the Club.
Carlos Spencer – #1812
Debut: 2005 | 102 apps
During four magical seasons at Franklin’s Gardens, 35-time All Black Carlos Spencer was treasured by Northampton’s supporters for his imaginative kicking and passing game, and his ability to unlock defences. Arguably Saints’ biggest signing of the modern era on his arrival, the flamboyant style of ‘King Carlos’ ensured he would be granted legendary status after the departed the Club. His attacking skills were jaw-dropping; dummy passes, goose steps, dummy releases, between-the-legs passes, heel kicks, back-over-the-ruck kicks, backheel grubbers – Spencer had a sensational repertoire.
Stephen Myler – #1834
Debut: 2006 | 330 apps
Stephen Myler joined an exclusive group in 2018 as he pulled on a Saints jersey for the 300th time, and with a host of Club records to his name the fly-half left an unforgettable legacy behind at Franklin’s Gardens. In 12 superb seasons with Northampton where he notched up 2,655 points, Saints’ historic 2013/14 campaign stands out for the Widnes-born cross-code convert as he was instrumental in securing a Premiership and Challenge Cup double. Myler was named man-of-the-match in both finals, and notched up the most individual points in a season in Club history.
Dan Biggar – #1990
Debut: 2018 | 32 apps*
Current Saint Dan Biggar is only in his second season at Franklin’s Gardens, but he has already shown his world-class talent enough times in Black, Green and Gold to warrant a nomination for the Club’s finest. The fiercely competitive 66-time Wales international (and 2017 British & Irish Lions tourist) is arguably the best player in the world under the high ball, and has been one of the lynchpins of Chris Boyd’s revolution in Northampton. The fly-half made 23 appearances in his debut year at Franklin’s Gardens, ending the term with 191 points to his tally and helping Saints to their first appearance in the knock-out stages of the Premiership in four years.
Know who’s got your vote? Just fill in the form below to make your choice and be entered into the prize draw! Keep your eyes peeled for the final team on our social media channels once the voting is complete...
