Who Should We Emulate?

Lots of fans, players and even management make constant reference to the Warriors “needing” to be like Exeter Chiefs.  But I don’t agree, I think we need to set our sights higher!

Cast your memory back to the last game of the 2004/5 Zurich Premiership, Warriors at home to Northampton Saints. 8,500 fans turned up to watch the likes of Delport, Rasmussen, Windo, Gillies and Sanderson take on, the then fellow relegation contenders, Saints.  We won that game 21-19 thanks to tries by Raz, Powell and Hickey, finished the season in 9^th place and watched in relief as Harlequins were relegated.

The following season we bettered that finish coming in joint 7^th (8^th).  It looked like we were in the Premiership to stay and that we were progressively getting better.

In the 2006/7 season Northampton Saints found themselves in our current position – last. Ending the season in bottom place 1 point behind us, having finished in 11^th place.  A 9-10 away victory, on New Year’s Day 2007, at Franklins Gardens proved the decisive result.  This should have kicked us into gear to progress up the league and could, easily have ruined the Saints – it would appear it had the opposite affect – on both teams.

The relegated Saints squad included the likes of Diggin, Cohen, Spencer, Thompson and Hartley.  After a successful season in National Division 1, winning both the league and the cup, Northampton have gone on from strength to strength.

Building a squad, bringing on youth and building on a winning culture around the club Saints have won or contested for silverware in every season since their relegation.

THIS is what we want to emulate.

In the same period we have lost top talent, such as Wood, Kitchener, Benjamin, Kvesic, Mullan, been relegated twice and won promotion once, but not really contested for anything higher than the relegation battle in the Premiership or group stage European rugby.

Yes Exeter have a sound business model, Yes they have taken on the premiership and pushed for European glory, but in 8 year’s time would I rather we had followed the Chiefs route or the Saints route?  The statistics speak for themselves:

Northampton Saints, since being promoted back to top tier rugby:

2008/9

Guiness A League Winners

Amlin Challenge Cup Winners

2009/10

Anglo-Welsh Cup Winners

2010/11

Heineken Cup Runners Up

2011/12

Anglo-Welsh Cup Runners Up

2012/13

Aviva Premiership Runners Up

2013/14

Anglo-Welsh Cup Runners Up

Amlin Challenge Cup Winners

Aviva Premiership Winners

Right now we can only dream of club honours anything like those of Saints, but they have proved it is possible, following relegation, to climb to the top.

Retaining the likes of Creevy, Thomas and Pennell was a massive step in the right direction.  Signing experienced and exciting players like Sanderson, Mulchrone, Biggs and Mills shows that the club are pushing, they are serious about becoming a top club. 

Nick Johnston could be our key man for finally becoming the big club we all know the Warriors can be.  He has been there and done it.  Johnston joined Saints in 2008 and has been part of the revelation that are now, Aviva Premiership Champions - Northampton Saints.

Can we look forward to back to back Premiership finals in 2021?  If so, it will, in part be down to the clubs desire to bring in talent, expand the academy and create a winning rugby culture.  Should it happen then not only can we look forward to teams like Toulon and Leinster coming to Sixways we can look forward to having one of the best grounds in English rugby.  Get the results, bring in the fans and the Sixways 20/20 plan will be completed – 20,000 seats by 2020.

We are 1 year into a 5 year plan, I think we need to look further ahead, going 1 better than the Chiefs and doing it the Saints way.