Weimann: Fresh Saints group ‘champing at the bit’ for Gloucester clash

Saints’ agonising defeat to Union Bordeaux Bègles in the Investec Champions Cup Final may have resulted in a feeling of deflation around cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this week, but Northampton Saints must dust off the disappointment ahead of their final outing of the 2024/25 season this weekend – according to scrum-half Jonny Weimann.

A trip to fifth-placed Gloucester awaits the men in Black, Green and Gold on Saturday (31 May, kick-off: 3.05pm) to round off the current campaign, with a youthful Saints squad now preparing to tackle the Cherry and Whites at Kingsholm.

Scrum-half Weimann – who was a travelling reserve for the clash in Cardiff – is relishing the chance to put everything he has learned so far this term, including during that Investec Champions Cup Final, into action this weekend.

Weimann said: “I was a travelling reserve so I got to warm-up on the pitch, and I've never heard an atmosphere quite like it. It was definitely surreal to be able to experience that and I really enjoyed it.

“It obviously wasn't the result we wanted, but was definitely a great learning experience for the whole squad, including myself. To be among the squad in a game like that was pretty special.

“We get our chance to put what we've been working on behind the scenes out on that pitch, and put our best foot forward to get more game time in future.”

After initially being released from Saracens’ age-group set-up, scrum-half Weimann has gone from strength to strength since joining Saints. 

His debut season in Black, Green and Gold has seen him don a Saints shirt eight times so far, becoming Saint #2098 back in November and earning a Gallagher Premiership debut in Round 12 of the competition.

And learning alongside the likes of soon-to-be British and Irish Lion Alex Mitchell, 100-cap Saint Tom James and England Under-20s’ Archie McParland, is something Weimann has relished. 

“I wouldn't say there’s a better place to be at than Saints, with the Club giving young lads opportunities to showcase themselves,” added Weimann. 

“Obviously if they think you’re good enough, you’ll get thrown in. They won’t wait for you to get old or anything, they’ll put you in and give you that exposure if they think you’re ready.

“It’s the all-round game that has probably improved for me and I’ve learned a lot off TJ [Tom James], Archie [McParland] and obviously Mitch [Alex Mitchell] as well.”

Looking ahead to Saints’ final match of the season, Weimann is looking forward to heading back to Kingsholm for the first time since featuring there with Saints’ Under-18s in the Premiership Rugby Academy League Final. 

He said: “I’ve heard about The Shed and how they’re normally quite rowdy.

“Obviously us Academy boys were there last season. We played the Final there against Bath and we lost, so hopefully we can get a better result this weekend.

“It should be a good experience and although some of our players haven’t played a lot, we’ve still got quite a few experienced players playing, so it should be a good blend and hopefully we can get on the right side of the result.

“If Tomos Williams is playing – he’s obviously going on a Lions tour this summer – it would be good to match up against him.”