Ben Broster - Tighthead Prop

Age 26, born London, England.  

He qualifies to play for Wales through his Welsh mother. He made 2 cap appearances in the summer of 2005, against USA from the bench and against Canada, scoring a try in his first full start for the Wales team,. He joined Saints for the 2008/09 season after spending only one year and 9 games with Llanelli Scarlets.

Broster, a product of the Saracens academy, having played in his youth at Haywards Heath RFC, made his Premiership debut for the Watford club in 2002, ironically against Saints. After a total of 67 appearnces he moved to Scarlets in 2007 to further his ambitions within the Welsh set up.

Apparently, his nickname is Shrek!

Roger Wilson - Number 8

Age 27

Born into a famous rugby family, Roger's grandfather, Harry McKibbin and his uncles, Harry Junior and Alastair have all represented Ireland. Roger first wore the green jersey himself on Ireland's summer 2005 tour to Japan. He was also part of the Ireland A squad that participated in the Churchill Cup in the USA and Canada in June 2006 and again in 2007.

As well as devilish good looks sufficient to cause a mass swoon amongst the ladies of Franklins Gardens, Wilson displays all the physical attributes necessary for a top-class No.8. He held down a regular starting spot in the Ulster XV since his debut in September 2003 against the Ospreys, and earned the Ulster Player of the Year title at the end of 2004-05. He played in every game in 2006/7 playing 26 times for the province. In recognition, he was awarded the Irish Player of the Year title for the 2006/7 season. In all, he played 111 times for Ulster.

Roger played school rugby at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and was part of the 1998 and 2000 schools cup winning teams.

It is said that his party piece is an impressive rendition of  "doing the cockney" (look it up) perfected while frequenting the Crescent area of Belfast and Red Light District of Amsterdam, Holland. Look out Semilong!

Neil Best - Flanker

Age 29, born Belfast

Roger Wilson's brother in arms from Ulster's back row is Neil Best. As Saints fans will have seen from Best's appearances in the Ireland shirt during the summer internationals, Best displays a hard edge that will more than replace the former Saints enforcer, Paul Tupai. There can't be many players who have sent Cobus Visagie packing as Best did when playing against the Barbarians!

Best's tackling is very much something for the aficionados of the hard hit. When you have a visit from Mr Best you won't forget in a hurry! A product of the Malone and Belfast Harlequins clubs, Best has played over 100 times for Ulster.

He won his first Irish cap in Nov 2005 at Lansdowne Road against the All Blacks. He kept his place in the 2006/7 squad for the Six Nations and toured to Argentina that summer. He was also prominent when Ireland beat Australia in Dublin, winning the Man of the Match, in autumn 2006.

Although described by Keith Wood in the above match as being "slightly mad really,"  Best holds a BSc and an MA in Chemical Engineering.

Neil was also a member of the Ireland squad for the 2007 World Cup.

There may well be nicknames or infamous incidents from his past but I'm not going to bring them up!

 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe - Lock

Age 34, born Buenos Aires, Argentina

Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe, to give him his full name is Saints' second "foreign" player, alongside the other bloke called Carlos. Maybe it's the law that they all have to be called Carlos?

One of several players signed from Sale Sharks by Saints Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder, Nacho (as he is called for ease of pronunciation) brings much experience and nous to the Saints tight five powerhouse. Given the exciting second row talent emerging from the Saints Academy, Nacho's arrival will provide a very capable mentor to the Young Ones. When signing Nacho, Jim Mallinder said, "We have some good young locks here at Franklin's Gardens, the likes of Alex Rae, Phil Hoy and James Cannon. But they have a lot to learn and playing alongside a player like Ignacio will help their development immensely."

Lobbe has been on the international scene with Argentina for years, having played in the last three World Cups and winning nearly 70 caps, finally retiring after the second autumn test against Scotland last November.

Before Sale, Nacho played for Castres, Bordeaux and the Liceo Naval club, moving to England for the 2004-05 season, where he made his debut against Connacht coach. He captained Sale on many occasions and has ECC and Guinness Premiership winners medals to his name.

On the pitch Lobbe is a passionate leader of men; it is a role he assumes off it too, raising morale during training with his sense of fun.

"When I'm joking what I'm trying to do is to take anyone who is down and pull them up. It is very important for team spirit and bonding."

Christian Day - Lock

Age 25, born Blackpool.

Also joining the trek down the M6 from Sale, via a three month sojourn with the pink clad lot in Paris, is young second row forward Christian Day. His signing came shortly after Saints failed to net Springbok second row Victor Matfield, and whilst no-one can claim that the two are of equal ability, there is a clear opportunity for Day to push himself forward on to the bigger stage.

Like Nacho Lobbe, Day was part of the Sale squads who won the ECC in 2005 and the Guiness Premiership in 2006.However, the former England Under 21 captain found himself fourth or fifth choice at Sale and has made the move to gain more regular first team rugby.

When signing for Saints, Day said "I've played against Northampton a few times in the Premiership. It is a great place to play and the team has great support. Hopefully I can be on the right side of the fans! I've also worked with Jim Mallinder before and am looking forward to playing for him again."

Stuart Friswell - Hooker

Age 25, born Rugby.

Friswell started his youth rugby aged 8 with Rugby which keeps matters nice and simple for a front rower but he moved up the road, from Lions to join Leicester Academy at the age of 16.

He first joined the England age set up in 2002 winning a Under 19 cap against New Zealand and moving up to the Under 21 team where he played alongside Christian Day, Mark Hopley, Nils Mordt and Jon Clarke. Most recently, Friswell spent two years with Coventry after a spell with Plymouth.

Saints boss Jim Mallinder said: "Stuart is a good young English hooker who adds strength in depth in a position where you cannot have too much cover. He has a good background in the game and impressed us last season."

Scott Gray - Flanker

Age 30, born Harare, Zimbabwe.

Gray joins the Saints from Doncaster Knights where he spent last season following the demise of his previous side Border Reivers .The 30-year-old Scotland international, who has also played rugby league in Australia, moved to the Borders from Bath, where he had to compete for game time with the likes of Feaunati, Lipman, Beattie and Scaysbrook.

Gray arrived in the South West from league side Brisbane Broncos and prior to that, ACT Brumbies. He holds caps from Australia Under 21's and also his native Zimbabwe Under 21's and Schools. He was also qualified to play for England and South Africa before opting for Scotland.

Gray scored two tries when the Knights played Saints in October.

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder said: "He showed his quality with a powerful performance in October. He has experience at the highest level."

Mallinder added: "He is a physical player whose commitment cannot be questioned. But he also supplements this with pace, game understanding and superb ball skills, particularly in the lineout. He will be a good asset to the Saints as we build towards next season."

Gray said: "I've played at Franklin's Gardens on a number of occasions. It is fantastic to play in the special atmosphere the fans provide and on a superb pitch. It brings the best out in a player.

Next instalment - the backs

(ed: Pictures will follow)

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