Northampton Saints has today announced the five legends who will be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame this evening (Wednesday, March 15th).
The quintet includes two British and Irish Lions, a dominant figure from pre-war Saints and England rugby, someone who kept the club functioning as secretary and president for nearly 40 years, and the man who captained the team to Heineken Cup glory in 2000.
The five are, in chronological order:
BILLY WESTON Seventh on the all-time appearance list with 390, and a third of his 15 seasons spent as captain. First choice flanker for England for five years and a member of the first East Midlands team to win the County Championship
JERRY GORDON Mr Saints for 36 years between 1929 and 1965, overseeing all aspects of the club’s operations as secretary and then president, including helping the Saints get back on its feet in the years after World War II to become the leading team in the country
BOB TAYLOR One of the best flankers of his generation, with 313 Saints appearances, 16 England caps and four British and Irish Lions tests on the 1968 tour of South Africa. In later years he became a significant rugby administrator with both the East Midlands and the Rugby Football Union, of which he was president in 2007/08
PAT LAM The captain who lifted the Heineken Cup in 2000, who in three seasons brought a winning culture to Franklin’s Gardens culminating in that memorable May afternoon
PAUL GRAYSON The Saints’ record points scorer, with 2,786 from 259 appearances, including the three penalties which won the 2000 Heineken Cup. Also a British Lion in 1997 and a member of England’s Rugby World Cup winning squad in 2003
Murray Holmes, who chaired the Hall of Fame selection committee, says that it was a tough decision whittling down the 10-man long-list to the final five who will be inducted on March 15th.
“It was a long conversation to decide who would be on the final five,” he commented. “Everyone who was on the long-list deserved consideration as they have all made significant and indelible contributions to the history of the Saints, and the club would not be the same without them.
“However we believe that the five who have been chosen are the right people to be inducted on this occasion, and we hope that Saints supporters everywhere will join us in congratulating them on this special accolade.”
The inductions will take place at a special Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner in the Rodber Suite.
