Archie McParland embracing bigger Northampton Saints role ahead of Prem Rugby Cup semi-final

By Joshua Green

Northampton Saints scrum half, Archie McParland, highlights the excitement within the group ahead of this weekend’s Prem Rugby Cup semi-final against Exeter Chiefs.

McParland, who has been involved in four of Saints’ six group stage victories in the competition, knows his side is eager to put on a good performance at Sandy Park this weekend.

“There is a mix of experience within the group”, he said.

“This might be some players fifth game for Saints, but also people who have played many times, so as a group, we are very excited to go down to Exeter and put a good performance on the pitch.”

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Massive

The 21-year-old, who holds the record for the youngest player to debut for Northampton Saints, when he came off the bench at just 17 years and 222 days old, noted how important the competition is for the growth of younger players in the squad.

“The Prem Cup is a great competition. For people making their debut like me, three years ago, and a lot of players in the squad have made their debuts in the past month and a half, it is great for those individuals, but also, as a team, to go after another trophy is also massive.

“There [are] only three trophies you can win a year, and the Prem Cup is one of them. So, it is something we are looking to go and win.”

Transitioned

It wasn’t always the nine shirt that McParland had on his back, though: “When you’re younger, you sort of just get put at 10 if you’re good at rugby, so until I was 16, I played as a fly half or fullback.

“Then at age grade, Will Parkin, who was my coach at the time, moved me to scrum half as he saw me in that position in the long run.

“When Covid hit, that was when I started transitioning. I would always practice passing in the garden during lockdown, as well as my skills as a scrum half.

“So, when covid finished, I had pretty much transitioned to scrum half.”

Strong partnership

Throughout both the cup and league campaign so far this season, McParland has struck up a strong partnership with fly-half, Anthony Belleau:

“He (Anthony) has been really good in terms of giving me confidence to go and be me, and it’s been great to work with such an experienced player outside of me.

“The way that the scrum halves play out in France is something that I look to try and implement into my game, so having a French ten is good for that because he knows how to react to having a French scrum half alongside him.”

McParland and Belleau are part of a Saints back line that have scored more points (275) than any other side in the group stage of the Prem Rugby Cup, and the scrum half is enjoying being part of such an exciting backline:

“It’s great. There is a lot of talent and so much depth that if one person steps out, you know somebody else is going to step in with that same mindset; it’s great fun.

“Having spoken about my tries before, that all comes off the back end of the team’s hard work and the way we play.

Turning point

On coaches Sam Vesty and Phil Dowson, he added: “They both drive the way we play.

“Obviously, we play our games on the weekends, but during the week, in training and in meetings, it’s all their input, so it has been great to work with them over the past three years.”

McParland has started more games this season (7) and scored more tries (7) than he has in his previous two full campaigns for Saints, and the 21-year-old explained how he feels this season seems to be a turning point in his career:

“In my first year, I came in as third or fourth choice scrum half, so I spent a lot of time as a travelling reserve.

“Then, in my second year, I was involved a little more but picked up a shoulder injury, so being out for five months was a speed bump in my journey.

“But into my third year now, I started off the season a bit slow in terms of where I know I can be, but over these past few months I have been feeling good with my rugby and felt like I have been able to show to myself, the coaches and the fans what I am capable of.”

Follow Joshua Green on TikTok – @josh__greenrugby

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