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!
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be asking Saints supporters to vote for their favourite-ever players 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!
We’re kicking things off with the front row, as our supporters decide which Loosehead Prop deserves a place in the all-time line-up. With over 2000 Saints to choose from, we’ve narrowed it down to these six nominees to help you make your choice:
Ray Longland – #678
1927-1948 | 356 apps
A stalwart of both Saints’ and England’s front row in his time, Ray Longland’s career in Black, Green and Gold spanned some 21 years (including two as captain) and 356 appearances. But it was his fearsome reputation for uncompromising forward play that made his name – with the prop rightfully entered into the Saints Hall of Fame in recent years.
David Powell – #1307
1963-1978 | 370 apps
Another Hall of Fame member, David Powell remains a Northampton Saints favourite. A 15-year career, with four wearing the captain's armband, 370 appearances, and a stint on the coaching staff would have been enough to write ‘Piggy’ into the history books, but the club legend consolidated this by providing the players and coaching staff with the best pitch in English club rugby for several years after retiring from playing.
Garry Pagel – #1728
1997-2001 | 111 apps
Already a World Cup winner when he arrived at Franklin’s Gardens, Springbok Garry Pagel proved a cornerstone of Saints’ scrum as the Club reached the pinnacle of European club rugby. Northampton’s pack became one of the most feared in England and Pagel let his rugby do the talking with his destructive scrummaging and a supreme winning mentality culminating in one of the Club’s finest hours at Twickenham on 27 May 2000, when they defeated Munster to lift the Heineken Cup.
Tom Smith – #1769
2001-2009 | 193 apps
One of the finest props of the modern era, British and Irish Lion Tom Smith’s eight year stint in Black, Green and Gold traversed not only Saints’ rise back to the Premiership, but two Premiership Rugby Cup finals, a Heineken Cup semi-final and three Heineken Cup quarter finals, with the legendary prop also a part of the side that lifted the European Challenge Cup in his final year at Northampton.
Soane Tonga’uiha – #1828
2006-2013 | 213 apps
Fan-favourite and Tongan international Soane Tonga’uiha – affectionately nicknamed ‘Tiny’ by Saints supporters – made the switch from Bedford to Northampton in 2006 before a career spanning 213 appearances saw him help the side not only secure promotion back to the Premiership but lift the Premiership Rugby Cup (scoring a try in the final) and the European Challenge Cup as well as reach the Premiership Final for only the second time in the Club’s history.
Alex Waller – #1882
2009-present | 280 apps (to date)
Born in Kettering, prop Alex Waller carved his name into Saints folklore with his extra-time try against Saracens in 2014 to give the Club a first-ever Premiership title. Current co-captain of the Club, Waller holds the Premiership record for making the most consecutive appearances in league history – with his streak seeing him through the 2011 Heineken Cup final and the historic Premiership and Challenge Cup double in 2014, before the prop lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup aloft in front of a packed-out Franklin’s Gardens in 2019.
Know who’s got your vote? Just fill in the form below to cast your vote and be entered into the prize draw! And keep your eyes peeled for the final team on our social media channels once the voting is complete...
