It is with great sadness that Northampton Saints announces the passing of former player Clive Patrick Daniels.
The former Saints lock passed away peacefully aged 86 last month.
One of only 23 players to have donned the Black, Green and Gold shirt more than 300 times, Daniels made his debut in 1952 and would go on to become a constant in Saints’ second row for the next 15 years – making some 320 appearances before hanging up his boots in 1967.
An engineer by profession, Daniels was a part of what is widely considered a ’golden era’ of rugby in Northampton, playing alongside Hall of Fame legends Jeff Butterfield, Roger Horwood, Ron Jacobs, Dickie Jeeps, David Powell, Bob Taylor and Don White.
Daniels featured at county level alongside his time at Saints but missed out on an international cap by what teammate White was convinced was a shirt number mix up at a trial.
And after more than a decade on the pitch, Daniels remained an avid Saints supporter in his retirement too, enjoying nothing more than watching his old side triumph over local rivals Leicester Tigers.
After marrying wife Pamela in 1961, Daniels passed his love of the game onto daughter Elizabeth and later grandsons Thomas and William – both of whom favour the oval ball and hope to follow in their grandfather’s footsteps one day.
Daniels’ funeral took place on 26th March at Nuneaton Crematorium, with family and friends present.
