Head of Rugby: Chris Boyd
Captain: Lewis Ludlam
Ground: Franklin's Gardens
Capacity: 15,250
The Saints have become like the Curate's Egg: appetising one week, unpalatable the next. They finished fifth last season, a four-match winning streak in the middle of the campaign bookended by a run of defeats at the start and two at the end as their assault on the top four fizzled out. Courtney Lawes started only four league matches with Dan Biggar going two better and the pair will be absent at the start of this campaign after their Lions day in South Africa.
Northampton have largely looked to the southern hemisphere to bolster their squad with their signings including the South Africa wing Courtnall Skosan, Fiji's scrum-half Frank Lomani and the Stormers No.8 Juarno Augustus, player of the tournament at the 2017 U20 World Cup.
They have lost Harry Mallinder, but have a crop of young backs comfortable playing the heads-up rugby advocated by DoR Chris Boyd.
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell will be key. This is the season for him to turn potential into polish.
Like many of the chasing pack, their problem has been consistency: after winning at Exeter with a display brimming with grit and resilience, they then lost at home to Bath.
They pushed the top sides hard, yet they were doubled by Bath, thumped at home by Gloucester and lost at Newcastle.
They were more comfortable being the underdogs and that has to change if they are to make the top four.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Karl Wilkins (Béziers), Juarno Augustus (Stormers), Brandon Nansen (Brive), Chris Cook (Bristol Bears, short-term deal), Frank Lomani (Melbourne Rebels), Courtnall Skosan (Lions), Samson Ma'asi (retired)
OUT: Lewis Bean (Glasgow Warriors), Francois van Wyk (Leicester Tigers), Owen Franks (Hurricanes), Shaun Adendorff (Nevers), Reuben Bird-Tulloch (Ealing Trailfinders), Tui Uru (Bedford Blues), Tommy Mathews (Hartpury University), Ryan Olowofela (Jersey Reds), Harry Mallinder (released/Japan TBC), Henry Taylor (retired)
2021-22 FIXTURES
Sat Sep 18 (h) Gloucester
Sat Sep 25 (a) Exeter
Sat Oct 2 (h) London Irish
Sun Oct 10 (a) Wasps
Fri Oct 22 (h) Worcester
Sat Oct 30 (h) Leicester
Sat Nov 6 (a) Sale
Fri Nov 26 (a) Bristol
Sat Dec 4 (h) Bath
TBC Dec 26-27 (a) Harlequins
TBC Dec 31-Jan 2 (h) Saracens
TBC Jan 7-9 (a) Newcastle
TBC Jan 28-30 (a) Worcester
TBC Feb 11-13 (a) Leicester
TBC Feb 18-20 (h) Sale
TBC Feb 25-27 (h) Exeter
TBC Mar 4-6 (a) Gloucester
TBC Mar 11-13 (h) Wasps
TBC Mar 25-27 (a) London Irish
TBC Apr 1-3 (h) Bristol
TBC Apr 22-24 (a) Bath
TBC Apr 29-May 1 (h) Harlequins
TBC May 20-22 (a) Saracens
Sat Jun 4 (h) Newcastle
2021-22 SQUAD
Matthew Arden, Emeka Atuanya, Juarno Augustus, Nick Auterac, Dan Biggar, Callum Burns, Alex Coles, Tom Collins, Chris Cook, Fraser Dingwall, James Fish, Piers Francis, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Karl Garside, Jake Garside, Josh Gillespie, James Grayson, Ethan Grayson, Teimana Harrison, Mike Haywood, Oisin Heffernan, George Hendy, Paul Hill, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Rory Hutchinson, Geordie Irvine, Manny Iyogun, Tom James, Courtney Lawes, Tom Litchfield, Tom Lockett, Dani Long-Martinez, Lewis Ludlam, Reece Marshall, Sam Matavesi, Alex Mitchell, Alex Moon, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Brandon Nansen, Olliw Newman, Leroy O'Neil, Ehren Painter, Matt Proctor, Ed Prowse, Api Ratuniyawara, David Ribbans, Ollie Sleightholme, Kayde Sylvester, JJ Tonks, Ahsee Tuala, Connor Tupai, Alex Waller, Karl Wilkins, Duane Ratu Willemsen, Tom Wood
