Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a men's rugby club founded in 1880 who play in the Gallagher Premiership (Tier 1). Their home ground is The Gardens, which holds 15,249.
Last updated May 2026
Key facts
| Founded | 1880 |
|---|---|
| League | Gallagher Premiership |
| Tier | Tier 1 |
| Head coach | Phil Dowson |
| Home ground | cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens (The Gardens) |
| Capacity | 15,249 |
| Nearest station | Northampton |
| Local derby | Leicester Tigers |
| Marquee fixture | East Midlands Derby vs Leicester Tigers |
| Matchday pub | The Thomas A Becket - between station and ground |
| Official website | https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk |
Honours
- Heineken Cup winners in 2000
- Premiership champions in 2013-14 and 2023-24
Club history
Northampton was founded in 1880 by Reverend Samuel Wathen Wigg as Northampton St James giving rise to the Saints nickname.
The club lifted the Heineken Cup in 2000 by beating Munster 9-8 in the final.
Northampton won their first Premiership title in 2013-14 and a second in 2023-24.
The Saints play at Franklin's Gardens which has a capacity of 15249.
Phil Dowson was promoted to director of rugby in the summer of 2022 and led the club to its 2024 Premiership crown.
Recent seasons
Northampton Saints beat Bath 25-21 in the 2023-24 Premiership final at Twickenham to claim their first English title in a decade.
Saints reached the 2025 Investec Champions Cup final losing 28-20 to Union Bordeaux Bègles in Cardiff.
Phil Dowson was promoted to director of rugby in summer 2022 overseeing the title run.
Henry Pollock made a stunning 2024-25 breakthrough scoring ten tries in 22 appearances winning three annual Saints awards and earning a Lions tour call-up.
Notable players
Club legends
- Matt Dawson
- Ben Cohen
- Dylan Hartley
- Courtney Lawes
- Paul Grayson
- Tim Rodber
Current squad
- Fin Smith
- Tommy Freeman
- Alex Mitchell
- George Furbank
- Henry Pollock
- Tom Pearson
Turning Northampton Saints footage into insight
Every match Northampton Saints play holds a goldmine of detail. Framesports turns rugby footage into the analytics that actually matter and data that builds smarter game plans, collected by analysts and checked by humans. See how it works on the Framesports features page.
Frequently asked questions
When were Northampton Saints founded?
Northampton Saints were founded in 1880.
Where do Northampton Saints play?
Northampton Saints play at The Gardens, which holds 15,249. The nearest station is Northampton.
What league do Northampton Saints play in?
Northampton Saints compete in the Gallagher Premiership, tier 1 of English rugby's league structure.
What have Northampton Saints won?
Northampton Saints's honours include Heineken Cup winners in 2000; Premiership champions in 2013-14 and 2023-24.
Who are Northampton Saints's local rivals?
Northampton Saints's local derby is against Leicester Tigers.
Who is the Northampton Saints head coach?
Northampton Saints are coached by Phil Dowson.
Other Gallagher Premiership clubs
Spot something wrong, or want this page updated? Email support@framesports.ai and we’ll fix it.
Framesports is an independent rugby platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Northampton Saints.