Northampton Saints’ fourth ‘Community Game’ will take place when Coventry Rugby visit cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in a Premiership Rugby Cup encounter.
The men in Black, Green and Gold take on one of their historic rivals on Saturday 8 February (kick-off: 2.45pm), in what is the crucial penultimate pool stage round of this year’s competition with knock-out places up for grabs. The two sides served up a cracker in November’s reverse fixture at the Butts Park Arena, as Saints came from behind at the break to win 19-10.
Each year, the ‘Community Game’ sees Saints celebrate the Club’s outreach programmes, which will come to the fore on matchday. Saints in the Schools, Project Rugby, Walking Rugby, Wheelchair Rugby, Little Saints, Shape Up With Saints, and CHAMPS will all be showcased with festivals, taster classes and demonstrations happening throughout the day – as well as a women’s rugby session.
And Northampton’s thriving relationship with local grassroots clubs will also be celebrated, with Saints’ players leaving their usual match socks in their kitbags and instead wearing those from clubs across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, North Essex and Suffolk for the game to provide an injection of Barbarians-like colour to cinch Stadium.
The Club is also staging a host of new, family-focused activities for the fixture – with junior and child tickets priced at just £5* across all ticket categories!
- Kids takeover – young fans will be able to apply to become a crucial part of the matchday, with roles as Saints’ mini-announcer, mini-mascot, mini-steward, mini groundsman, and mini-social media producer available (applications to follow next week).
- Bernie’s Diner returns for this match – families can enjoy some great food before and after the match in this laid-back restaurant, with youngsters also able to meet some Saints players as well as Northampton’s canine mascot.
- Are you new to rugby? Struggling to get your head around any of the laws of the game? Saints’ Community team will be delivering several short Workshops before the match to help explain some of rugby’s unique rules and strategy.
- Fan Clappers will be distributed at the match for supporters to make some extra noise from the sidelines!
- ‘The Hornbrokers’ brass band will be with us on matchday, playing some familiar tunes in the Supporter Village and stadium bowl.
- A magician and a balloon artist will also be providing entertainment in the Supporter Village before the match.
- Half-time will see a ‘Little Saints’ race on the pitch – with participants from Northampton’s community programme for children aged under five taking to the hallowed turf for the first time.
- Bernie’s activity sheets and match bingo cards will be available for young supporters to complete before the match and during the game
- Poster-making workshops will be held in Northampton Saints Foundation’s classrooms before the match – supplies will be provided so young fans can create posters and signs to wave during the match and then take home afterwards.
- Want to get your family on the Big Screen? Saints’ Family Photo Booth will be set up in the Supporter Village, complete with fun Black, Green and Gold props and fancy-dress items, so you can take a family snap and upload it directly to the screens inside the stadium bowl.
- Young supporters will also get the opportunity to showcase their artwork on the Big Screen, with Saints replacing their usual player imagery with pictures drawn at community camps.
“The Community Game goes from strength to strength each year, and we’re confident this year’s match against Coventry will move this onto another level,” said Saints’ Community Manager, Ben Lawrence.
“So much is going on at cinch Stadium before, during and after the game. It is the perfect opportunity for families to come along and have a fantastic and affordable day out, with junior and child tickets costing just £5* across all categories.
“The match also proves a great opportunity for supporters to learn about the great work the Club’s community department do within our region across our schools, inclusion, health or wellbeing programmes – as well as camps and festivals.”
Tickets for Saints vs Coventry are available now from just £17 adult and £5* child/junior.
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