Northampton Saints might not have taken to the field in February but plenty of the Club’s players were in action throughout the month, representing the men in Black, Green and Gold out on loan across the Championship and National Leagues.
As a result, Saints’ coaches wanted to reward the hard work of those players by choosing the cinch Player of the Month winner from amongst the list of loanees – with 23-year-old prop Beltus Nonleh walking away with February’s trophy after a month of impressive performances saw him earn the coaches’ votes.
Fifteen players in all accumulated minutes away from the Club throughout the month, with Emeka Atuanya, Jake Garside, Aston Gradwick-Light, Geordie Irvine, Tom Lockett, Joel Matavesi and Ed Prowse all featuring at Bedford Blues through Saints’ strategic partnership with the Championship side.
Matthew Arden, Nonleh and Kayde Sylvester also featured in the Championship for Nottingham Rugby, while Ewan Baker and Will Glister both turned out at Leicester Lions in National League 1 and Reuben Logan, George Patten and Nick Tarr all represented Hinckley RFC in National League 2 West.
But it was Nonleh who impressed the most as he featured twice for Nottingham, beginning the month lining up against Gallagher Premiership opposition in a friendly fixture with Leicester Tigers before starting in a league clash against Doncaster Knights – with the prop continuing his good form into March as he dotted down a try against Ealing Trailfinders two weeks ago.
“Beltus is a great story in terms of how hard he has worked since coming into the Club,” said Saints’ Director of Rugby Phil Dowson of the young forward.
“He was at Sedgley Tigers before arriving here, and he was tearing up trees so we brought him in. Unfortunately, he had to have an operation on his foot when he first joined us which was tough for him.
“He came into an environment where he wasn’t able to train, wasn’t able to play and show what he is capable of. He dealt with that over a four- or five-month period and now that he has started playing, he is playing really well.
“Beltus featured a bit for Leicester Lions in National League 1 but now he’s playing at Championship level with Nottingham recently, and he is doing well to move up the levels.
“His Nottingham performances have been excellent in terms of how he has been moving around the field and in his ball carrying, along with scoring his try against Ealing.
“Beltus is just getting better and better; we are really pleased for him to have gotten over that injury and be able to play regularly and be progressing so well at this level.”
Phil Dowson, Director of Rugby
And Dowson was also full of praise for Saints’ other loanees, highlighting the continued importance of Northampton’s strategic partnership with Bedford.
“Our relationship with Bedford is still really strong,” he continued. “Tom Lockett, for example, has been outstanding for Bedford this season. And you’ve seen that form carried over into Saints matches, most recently against Stormers last week.
“Geordie Irvine, Jake Garside and Ewan Baker have all been showing what they are about at Bedford too, playing well at Championship level as well as against some Premiership opposition when Blues played Bristol Bears recently.
“Matty Arden has been playing regularly for Nottingham and that has been the best thing for him after struggling with injuries, both him and Kayde Sylvester. I am delighted that Kayde’s been able to string a good run of games together after a tough few seasons injury wise, for us to be able to watch him play regularly and perform well is great.
“I think that so many of our younger players are performing strongly across the Championship and beyond speaks volumes about the Academy pathway we have at Saints, and how hard that Academy coaching group, led by Mark Hopley, work. It’s a real credit to the Club.”
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