European Cup record

Saints lifted the trophy in 2000 thanks to Paul Grayson’s three penalties in a tense 9-8 victory over Munster Rugby in the final. They reached the final again in 2011 but were beaten 33-22 by Leinster Rugby after leading 22-8 at half-time.

Last season

Northampton finished second to Leinster in Pool 1 and progressed to the quarter-finals as one of the best runners-up, after completing the double over Lyon and Benetton Rugby. However, they were soundly beaten 38-15 in the last eight by eventual winners Exeter Chiefs.

Director of rugby

Chris Boyd – The former assistant coach to the Sharks Super Rugby franchise and Tongan national side landed his first head coach role at Wellington Lions in 2011, which he combined a year later with a similar post in charge of New Zealand’s U20 side. In 2015 he took charge of Hurricanes, before being appointed director of rugby at Northampton in 2018.

Key players

Fly-half Dan Biggar, who has over 80 caps for Wales, racked up 73 points in last season’s Heineken Champions Cup – the fourth highest tally in the competition. Lock Courtney Lawes has been a regular for England over the past 10 years, while prop Owen Franks won the Rugby World Cup twice in his 108 caps for New Zealand.

Pool fixtures

Northampton will have the chance to exact revenge on Leinster in Pool A after their two heavy defeats to the Irish side last season. Saints’ other match-up is against Bordeaux-Bègles, whom they have never met in Europe’s elite club competition.

Northampton Saints, who were the 2000 European champions, are the next team to come under the microscope as we provide an overview of Pool A in the upcoming Heineken Champions Cup.