With Saints' preseason getting underway today, as they host Dragons at Franklin's Gardens, summer signing Jamal Ford-Robinson says he's eager to don the black, green and gold and turn out for the first time at the Gardens later this afternoon.
The 23-year-old prop said that he's excited to experience the Gardens as a home player, having been impressed with the atmosphere when playing here for Bristol last season.
"I'm obviously really looking forward to that," Ford-Robinson said about making him Gardens debut.
"I played here with Bristol as the away team back in January and you really get to appreciate the support the fans give here.
"I can't wait to pull on a Saints shirt and run out in front of such a big crowd on the great pitch we have here."
Having been in training with the Saints squad for a few weeks now, the young prop says he's enjoying his time in Northampton so far.
"It's all going really well," he commented, "I've been here just over a month now and I'm enjoying it.
"Mitch got a week ahead of me while I was getting some well needed rest and relaxation."
But Ford-Robinson's summer holiday plans were scuppered by Eddie Jones as the England Head Coach called him into the squad to tour Argentina as a late call-up.
Linking up with fellow Saints Dylan Hartley, Harry Mallinder and Piers Francis in Argentina, Ford-Robinson said that the experience was invaluable and hopes that he can bring the knowledge he learned on tour to Saints as the season gets underway.
"The tour was good. It was quite unexpected.
"As soon as the season finished at Bristol, I moved up to Northampton so I could go on holiday and not have to worry about it when I came back.
"Then I found out I would be spending two weeks out in Argentina and it was good.
"It was good experience to bring to a new club and it was nice to get that involvement."
