A part of the Saints set-up since the age of 13, Alex Coles signed on full time with the Club ahead of the 2018/19 season.
Featuring for both The Perse School and Shelford Rugby Club while making his way through the junior ranks at Northampton, Coles quickly progressed and was soon playing above his age for Saints' Under-18s during the 2016/17 season. And though injury disrupted his progress the following term, that did not stop the Saints' coaches recognising Coles' potential and bringing him into the Senior Academy that summer.
And after featuring for Wanderers, the towering lock made his first-team debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup in November 2018 before scoring his first try in Black, Green and Gold in January in Saints’ historic 111-3 win over Timisoara Saracens, before making his Premiership debut just a month later.
Coles has also earned international recognition, featuring for England Under-16s, Under-18s, and Under-19s before starring throughout the Under-20s’ 2019 season – with the lock representing the Red Rose in both the Six Nations and World Rugby U20 Championship.
And even with his international commitments, Coles featured some 17 times in the Black, Green and Gold during the 2019/20 term – despite being just 20-years-old at the time – including making his debut in the top-flight of Europe as Saints welcomed Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup.
And during the 2021/22 season, Coles took on the captain's armband while Club Captain Lewis Ludlam was on international duty – leading the side against London Irish and Harlequins in the Premiership Rugby Cup that term.
