Northampton Saints seek redemption

Northampton Saints are just one game away from ending a 10-year draught but face one final hurdle in Bath Rugby in this Saturday's Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final.

Top of the table Saints defeated fan-favourites Saracens in an end-to-end semifinal clash to reach the final for the first time since their victory in 2014.

Both Saints and Bath are relative strangers to this stage, with both teams having made just one final appearance each over the past decade. 

Ahead of a fixture sure to thrill and delight fans on June 8, let’s have a brief look back at how Saints have fared in 2023/24. 

Northampton ended last season with semi-final heartbreak at the hands of eventual champions Saracens but quickly got back on the saddle.

They signed new talent and brought on defence coach Lee Radford to improve their defensive systems after conceding 86 tries in 20 league games.

A stuttering start to the season losing 2 games but quickly got back into their stride winning the next 3 games. A loss to Leicester Tigers in Round 6 but it was smooth sailing after that with Dowson’s side embarking on an unbeaten run that set the foundation for their table-topping season.

Saints had mixed fortunes in 2024 kicking off the year with 2 wins but were humbled by Bristol Bears. They would then bounce back to with wins over Saracens and Leicester but lost to Harlequins in front of 60,000 fans at Twickenham Stadium.

Saints next delivered a historic 90-0 victory over of a much-changed Gloucester side, with Northampton scoring an incredible 14 tries to break the league’s record home points tally. 

Saints’ season would end in defeat to this weekend’s rivals, Bath. Something they will look to rectify this weekend at Twickenham.

Three semi-final defeats in the past five years have made it seem as if they bottle the games that matter most but in front of a thunderous home crowd, Saints dug deep to overcome Saracens 22-20 in a classic encounter this past weekend.

Saints have now been rewarded with a chance of immortality and ending a decade of hurt as they attempt to win only their second Gallagher Premiership Rugby title.