Saints sign front row cover for Champions Cup quarter-final after EPCR permit player's registration

The EPCR Board has today unanimously agreed to a change in the Tournament Rules which permits the registration of front row players after the September 1 deadline.

“We are pleased that EPCR have adopted a sensible approach in today’s ruling,” said Mark Darbon, Northampton Saints Chief Executive.

“Given the length of time it took for this decision to be made, and the challenge of bringing in new players at this stage of the season, especially with all of the COVID-19 related measures in place, we would like to thank Gloucester Rugby who have agreed to loan us their 22-year old loosehead prop, Alex Seville, on a short-term basis until the end of September.

“Alex will join up with the squad on Friday and will be available for our European Champions Cup quarter-final match on Sunday.

“We are also grateful to Exeter Chiefs for the pragmatism they have shown in supporting today’s decision.”

This comes after Saints had a number of injuries in their front row. Northampton had just one fit loosehead prop in their ranks in the form of 19-year-old rookie Emmanuel Iyogun. 

The black, green and gold have been badly hit by injuries, losing all four of their senior loosehead props to injury. Nick Auterac suffered a hip flexor injury and was forced off the pitch against Bristol Bears before Francois van Wyk left the field with a knee problem in the defeat at Leicester Tigers last Sunday. Added to their woes is Alex Waller who is still working his way back from an Achilles problem suffered in February, while Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi is out for up to a year after suffering a similar injury against the Bears.