World Cup winner discusses Northampton Saints’ ‘difficult’ task and who has ‘every chance’ of lifting Premiership title with ‘worldie’ steering the ship

Paul Grayson has cast doubt over whether Northampton can retain their Premiership title this season, admitting he fears they have lost too many key players.

The former Saints and England fly-half enjoys legendary status at Franklin’s Gardens following an outstanding playing career in the black, green and gold.

The 53-year-old went on to spend a number years on their coaching staff and holds the club close to his heart.

Reigning champions

Northampton were crowned champions last season after an epic Premiership final win over Bath at Twickenham but they have since seen some influential stars move on.

Long-serving captain Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam joined Brive and Toulon respectively at the end of last term while Dave Ribbans departed for Toulon in the summer of 2023.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for Saints to win the Premiership again this season,” Grayson told Planet Rugby.

“You strip out Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Dave Ribbans out of your pack and that’s nearly 50% of your starting eight who have gone.

“Courtney is world-class and the other two guys are international class, so they’re hard to replace and they’ve got some young boys in the squad.

“If Saints can make the play-offs, I think they will have done well.

“Last Sunday’s win over Bath was a good example of what they’ve got, potentially, and I do like a league where more than one team can win.

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“In a salary cap competition, there should be rotation in who wins it – no one team should dominate for an extended period of time.

“In the Premiership, there is a player drain with lads going to France or Japan but also a constant wave of talented young players coming through.

“That means the title should bounce about from club to club and, if you’ve got a good environment like Northampton have, you’ll be there or thereabouts every season.”

Although Saints edged out Bath 25-21 at Twickenham last May to be crowned champions for the first time in a decade, Grayson reckons Johan van Graan’s men could take some stopping this year.

He reasoned: “Given the squad Bath have got and how close they came last season, it could be their time.

“They look good to me because they’ve got strength in depth and just need to keep their key players fit.

“Finn Russell is obviously a worldie, so they’ve got every chance.

“Ultimately it’s a fight to get into a knockout competition and you’ve got potentially two games to get it right where your whole season’s work can be decided and rewarded.”

Grayson also expressed his sadness at Worcester Warriors, London Irish and Wasps going bust in recent years.

“The league feels a bit thin now with just 10 teams,” he added.

“They have talked about expansion and 12 teams feels about right, but I actually think the product itself is as good as it’s ever been.

“Northampton played Bath last weekend in such a close content and the content of the game, on a freezing cold afternoon in the middle of winter, was easy on the eye.

“The game looked good; it’s just a shame the powers that be can’t quite get their ducks in a row to maximise that.”

Job at Wigan

Grayson is currently working for Super League champions Wigan Warriors as a kicking consultant on a part-time basis.

Although a renowned union man, he grew up in league territory in Chorley and is loving his role with Wigan.

Grayson explained: “I like the influence of league on union, in the way that attacks are shaped and certainly the way that Lee Radford brought a great defensive game to Northampton took them to the title last year.

“He did a fantastic job and the flow of coaches between the two codes is great for union and league.

“Like I say, I think the game of rugby union itself is in a really good spot – it’s the other stuff about how the game is governed that needs sorting.”

Two of Grayson’s three sons have followed in their father’s footsteps and are involved in rugby.

“James, who was at Northampton, is playing in Japan for the Mitsubishi DynaBoars,” said Grayson.

“He’s loving it; he’s playing well and is running a team. Ethan was with Saints, then he signed for London Irish and they went bust so he was jobless.

“He got a job playing in the States for San Diego Legion, came home in his off-season, was coaching the local college and went up to Newcastle Falcons where he bumped into Steve Diamond.

“Steve had offered him a contract when Steve was at Worcester and Alan Dickens, who was Ethan’s England Under-20s coach.

“They said ‘what are you doing’ and Ethan explained he was coaching in his off-season, so they said ‘we’ve got some injuries, do you want to come and play?’

“He was on the bench against Harlequins, but Brett Connon got injured in the warm-up and Ethan started at 10 – his first game at fly-half since he’d been at school.

“Two or three weeks later, they beat Exeter to finally end their 25-game losing streak in the Premiership and Ethan kicked a load of points including a drop-goal.

“He’s gone back to San Diego to do his season there and, with a bit of luck, he’ll be going back to Newcastle next year.”

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