Northampton Saints are delighted to announce that Phil Pask will become the Club’s next President, with his tenure commencing at the start of the 2026/27 season.
A hugely respected figure at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens and across the wider rugby landscape, Pask brings a lifetime of experience to the ambassadorial position.
“It has been an absolute privilege and honour to have been involved with Northampton Saints since my first game more than 40 years ago,” Pask said.
“During that time, I’ve been fortunate to play and work alongside some of the world’s best players and coaches, supported by remarkable management and staff – and, of course, the best supporters you could ever ask for.
“I am incredibly proud of the journey that has taken me from Worksop Rugby Club to a career at Saints, and I will always be grateful for the support I’ve received along the way – particularly from Keith Barwell and his family. Their belief and backing helped guide the Club through the transition from the amateur game to the outstanding professional organisation we are today.
“I am truly humbled to be asked to take on this role. Throughout my career, I have always tried to represent the very best of what it means to be a Saint in everything I have been involved in.
“And, along the way…I may even have a few stories to tell, for anyone who would like to hear them!”
The President is a non-executive, honorary role and is appointed for a three-year term. Pask will support the Board and the Club more broadly by acting as a public ambassador for Northampton Saints.
He will help to promote the Club’s culture and values, support strategic initiatives, help preserve the Club’s history and heritage, and champion Saints through visibility, advocacy and relationship-building at home and away matchdays, and other non-rugby events.
Pask steps into the role in place of Keith Barwell OBE, who is standing down after 15 years as President at Saints.
“We are absolutely delighted that Phil has agreed to become the next President of Northampton Saints, with his tenure beginning at the start of the 2026/27 season,” said Club Chairman, Ella Bevan.
“The Board was unanimous in its support. Phil’s dedication to this Club, his deep knowledge of the game, and the respect he commands across rugby make him a natural choice to represent Saints.
“As a former player, and as someone who has served both the Club and the sport at the very highest level, he will be a superb ambassador for everything we stand for.
“My father, Keith Barwell, took on the Presidency in 2011 following more than two decades of transformational leadership as Chief Executive and Chairman. While he once hoped to hold the role for life, the ongoing effects of Parkinson’s Disease mean he now feels the time is right to pass the responsibility on.
“Our entire family are thrilled about Phil’s appointment – and I know I speak for everyone at the Club in once again thanking my father for his extraordinary contribution to Northampton Saints.”
A former Northampton player, Pask made his debut in 1986 to become Saint #1551 and amassed more than 250 appearances (150 of which came for the first team) during a decade-long playing career with the Club as a forward – establishing himself as a reliable squad member during the amateur era of English rugby.
Pask retired from playing in 1996, transitioning seamlessly into a performance role at Saints having already earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Science, and then completing his chartered physiotherapy training, both at Birmingham University.
He served the backroom team at Saints as a fitness trainer and then physiotherapist – contributing to Northampton’s victory in the 2000 Heineken Cup Final. Pask furthered his expertise with a Master of Science degree in Physiotherapy and Sports Injury, before later being awarded a PhD.
Away from cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, Pask was England’s senior physiotherapist for more than two decades, focusing on injury prevention and player welfare until his retirement in 2019.
His tenure encompassed England's triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign, subsequent World Cups in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019, as well as multiple Six Nations Championship victories. He also served as the senior physiotherapist for the British and Irish Lions, touring New Zealand in 2005 and 2017, South Africa in 2009, and Australia in 2013.
Pask joined Saints’ board as a non-executive director in January 2007, serving until September 2012, when he stood down due to expanded commitments with the England team.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished physios in the areas of rehabilitation and the treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries, Pask continues to work as a Chartered Physiotherapist at Witty, Pask & Buckingham – a practice he developed with Paul Witty, who was Saints’ physiotherapist when Pask joined the clinic in 1992.
Pask also regularly provides supporting commentary on Saints’ matches for BBC Radio Northampton.
Julia Chapman, Chief Executive of Northampton Saints, added: “It’s hard to think of anyone more deeply passionate about Northampton Saints than Phil.
“Phil has experienced this Club from every possible angle: as a player, as part of the performance staff, and as a Director. That breadth of experience gives him a unique understanding of what Saints stand for, both on and off the field, and it’s what makes him such a powerful advocate for the Club.
“He is an outstanding ambassador. Phil attends virtually every match we play, home and away, and the way he represents Northampton Saints – the pride he shows, the way he speaks about the Club, and the welcome he extends to others – is exemplary.
“He has also been hugely supportive of our heritage work, including the Hall of Fame, and has been a passionate champion of our past players’ community.
“Phil truly lives and breathes Northampton Saints, and that love for the Club is completely infectious. He will do a fantastic job presenting Saints to the wider world, and so he is a perfect fit for the role of President.”