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Rugby group 'thriving' as it marks centenary year

Alex PopeNorthamptonshire
News imageNorthampton Old Scouts An old black and white image of a rugby team in 1935. Four men are sat on the floor with their legs crossed, with a man in the middle with a large shield at his feet. The next row of men are all sat down and then a row of men standing. Men in rugby uniform have their arms crossed. Northampton Old Scouts
The Northampton Old Scouts Lewis Shield winners against the Moccasins in 1935

A rugby club that has helped harness some of the biggest names in the sport, including Courtney Lawes, Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson, said it is "thriving" in its centenary year.

Northampton Old Scouts, based at Rushmere Road in the town, was formed in 1926.

Mark Holliday, its chairman, said: "We just believe strongly in pushing players through the club, making sure that the conveyor belt works and we feed the senior end of the club with home-grown talent."

It has also started free sessions for girls up to the age of 16 to "nurture" their talent.

News imageNorthampton Old Scouts A photo of a large group of women rugby players, they are in two rows, all sitting down. They are wearing striped rugby tops and shorts. They have a sign at their feet and they are by a brick wall. Northampton Old Scouts
The club has teams for men and women

Holliday, who joined the club in 1983, has played for them and has been a coach.

"I've seen it from all different areas," he continued.

"We've got a very strong mini junior section, and the academy is thriving, which is good."

News imageNorthampton Old Scouts A large group of rugby players, with one man lying down in the middle. One row is kneeling, the rest are standing. They are all outside and by a brick building. Northampton Old Scouts
Northampton Old Scouts at the end of a 2025 Boxing Day match

Chris Parr, its vice president, was a former player and coach before he retired from the field.

"I bowed out gracefully; I think you know when your coaching days are over when you get too old to run about with the players," he said.

He said the sport has a "very tall pyramid, but one or two do make it to the top".

That includes Lawes, who he coached.

"He was a great athlete; he was huge, even when he was 14 or 15 years old, so obviously he did get noticed, but he did slip through the net, and then he got picked up a bit later on, and as they say, the rest is history."

News imageGetty Images A composite image of Courtney Lawes, Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson all playing and dressed in Northampton Saints rugby kits. Ben in the middle is holding a rugby ball. Getty Images
Courtney Lawes, Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson have all played for Northampton Old Scouts before signing with Saints

Sharon Hartley has been a youth coach for about four years, after her children joined.

"It's run by a huge number of volunteers; it's much better to be involved than standing on the sidelines freezing," she said.

"The club has launched tag girls on a Monday evening from 18:00 to 19:00; it's free for any girls aged six to 16 to join.

"It's really helping them increase their confidence."

News imageNorthampton Old Scouts Five girls, sitting on the grass, after playing rugby. They are all in a kit and are smiling. Northampton Old Scouts
The club is keen to promote the sport to young girls

Hartley said: "The club's never really had a girls' section, and yet now they've got such a number of players that last season we had under-7s [girls] from across the county in a little mini festival for 42 players.

"The club believes in us as coaches to be able to bring and nurture the girls' game is incredible."

News imageNorthampton Old Saints A man standing by a rugby mascot, a lion, in a rugby kit. The man is wearing a blue suit, with blue shirt, striped tie, sunglasses and has short hair. They are standing in front of a brick building. Northampton Old Saints
Banny the lion, the club's new mascot that has been designed specially for the centenary season

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