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 week and announced a monstrous pack, and now it is time to move behind the scrum.
We have six nominees for another hotly-contested position – Scrum-Half. Just fill in the form below to tell us your favourite ever Saintsman to pull on the No.9 shirt.
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 Scrum-Half category down to these six nominees to help you make your choice:
Dickie Jeeps – #1174
Debut: 1952 | 273 apps
To this day, Dickie Jeeps remains Saints’ most-capped British & Irish Lion. He enjoyed a 13-year career at Franklin’s Gardens, notching up 273 appearances and 48 tries in the process, and captained the club in 1958. Jeeps is perhaps best known for his exploits with the Lions where he was first-choice No.9 for three Tours, starting a remarkable 13 Tests against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The scrum-half also held down the England starting spot for 24 Tests and captained his country 13 times.
Jacko Page – #1393
Debut: 1971 | 312 apps
Northampton’s most-capped scrum-half (on record), Jacko Page played 312 times for the Club during the 1970s and scored 153 points – 15 tries and an impressive 31 drop goals. Page was instantly recognisable on the rugby field from his bald head, but an outstanding kicking game and tactically astute play (alongside stand-off Ian Wright) meant that many believed his international career with England should not have been limited to five caps. With Page at No.9, Saints won the Daily Mail Anglo-Welsh Pennant and Sunday Telegraph English Club Championship during the 1975/76 season.
Matt Dawson – #1634
Debut: 1991 | 246 apps
A World Cup winner with England and three-time British & Irish Lions tourist (playing seven Tests), Matt Dawson made 246 appearances in Black, Green and Gold, and as an accomplished goal-kicker scored 693 points for Saints. The scrum-half was among the last generation of players to have started their careers during the amateur era, forming a famed partnership with Paul Grayson and winning the 2000 Heineken Cup (although he missed the final through injury). Known for his trademark sniping runs, Dawson’s tenure also saw Northampton finish as runners-up in the Anglo-Welsh Cup three times.
Lee Dickson – #1860
Debut: 2008 | 256 apps
Lee Dickson was part of Saints’ most-successful era after arriving in Northampton ahead of the 2008/09 season. The No.9 scored 33 tries in 256 appearances during a nine-year career at Franklin’s Gardens, winning the LV= Cup for the first time in 2010 before lifting the Premiership and European Challenge Cup titles in 2014. Dickson was a key cog in Saints’ runs to the 2011 Heineken Cup and 2013 Premiership finals, scoring in the latter, and was named as the Club Captain for the 2015-16 season.
Kahn Fotuali’i – #1931
Debut: 2013 | 80 apps
Kahn Fotuali’i played a huge part in Saints’ sensational double-winning season of 2013/14, having joined the club from Ospreys in the summer prior to that memorable campaign. The Samoan international spent three seasons at Franklin’s Gardens and racked up nine tries in 80 matches for Northampton. A No.9 with the turnover skills of a flanker, Fotuali’i’s superb ball skills, vision around the ruck and dynamic running ensured there were always fireworks whenever he pulled on a Black, Green and Gold jersey.
Cobus Reinach – #1981
Debut: 2017 | 76* apps
He might be leaving the Club for pastures new this summer, but Cobus Reinach’s sensational performances in Black, Green and Gold since his 2017 arrival at Franklin’s Gardens has seen the Springbok No.9 become a Saints supporter favourite. Winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa, and scoring a hat-trick against Canada along the way, Reinach continued a remarkable run of form that saw him named Saints Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Season in 2018/19. That term he lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup – Northampton’s first silverware in five seasons – and scored 17 tries in 30 appearances. Reinach also was named in the Gallagher Premiership’s Dream Team for his efforts across the season and collected the league’s top try-scorer prize.
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...
