Summary

  • Northampton Saints secured the Prem title with a 26-17 win over Exeter Chiefs on Saturday

  • Thousands of jubilant fans gathered outside the Guildhall in the town centre to welcome the players and the trophy

  • An open-top bus carried the squad and coaching team there from Franklin's Gardens, setting off at 14:00 BST

  • The club had invited supporters to "line the streets" and create "a sea of black, green and gold" to celebrate

  • The parade headed along Weedon Road, St James Road, Mare Fair and Gold Street before looping around All Saints Church, arriving at a stage outside Guildhall at about 14:30

  • Music and interviews were hosted on stage by stadium announcer Pete Nuttall

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Live Reporting

Written by Aimee Dexter and Carroll Weston.

  1. It's goodbye from us

    It's time to bring our live coverage of the celebratory parade to a close.

    Thank you for joining us, and congratulations to Northampton Saints on their victory!

    Several Northampton Saints players and club members are standing on a stairway which leads into Northampton's Guildhall. Nearly all of them are wearing medals. They are all standing around a large silver trophy.
    Hundreds of people are standing in a town centre and are behind a metal railing. Most of them are wearing Northampton Saints T-shirts and hats.
    A red open top bus is making its way through the crowd. On the top floor it has players and club members from Northampton Saints. People are standing beside the bus and are waving and filming the bus.

  2. Proud Saints fans reflect on 'amazing' weekend

    What an afternoon, what a weekend!

    As fans headed home after giving Northampton Saints a hero's welcome on their open-top bus parade, the word many used to sum up the club's title achievement... "amazing".

    One fan said she felt like crying with pride, while another said "it just shows you how special Northampton is as a rugby town".

    Proud Saints fans on how the club makes the town 'special'

  3. 'It means so much to us'

    Aimee Dexter
    BBC News

    Sam Vesty has short brown hair. He is wearing a green T-shirt which has branding on it. He is standing in the Guildhall.

    Sam Vesty has coached at Northampton Saints since the summer of 2018.

    The Saints have clinched the trophy for a third time, having previously been crowned champions of England in 2024 and 2014.

    "There are loads of people who are influenced by what we do, but we do not see that day-to-day.

    "But when you see that, it means so much to us and we realise the impact we have," he said.

  4. 'Feels like a dream'

    Aimee Dexter
    BBC News

    JJ van der Mescht was signed by Northampton Saints ahead of the 2025-26 season.

    The 27 year old said: "It has been great and feels like a dream.

    "I did not think my first season would be this great and coming here with all of these boys and the community it is something special."

    JJ Van der Mescht is standing off centre to the right. He has short brown hair and is wearing a green T-shirt and a medal.

  5. Farewell, lads

    Here's the moment the trophy was carried away as the players headed back on to the bus.

    The bus is taking the players and cup back home

    Bus

  6. 'Amazing atmosphere', says Fin Smith's dad

    As fans file away from the Guildhall after a momentous afternoon, the father of Saints fly-half Fin Smith, Andrew Smith, said the atmosphere in Northampton had been amazing.

    "It is great for the parents to be here all together... and they have done it again," he said.

    A woman in a blue coat stands smiling next to a man in a purple rugby top. A man in a navy blue and white horizontal polo shirt rests his head on the rugby player's shoulder while a man in a white jumper and gold necklace smiles at the camera. In the background is a rugby pitch and stadium.James Burridge/BBC

  7. Furbank's family support player at parade

    Aimee Dexter
    BBC News

    Relatives of captain George Furbank were among the family and friends of players at today's parade.

    His father, Tim, said the Prem win had been "incredibly emotional", given it marked the end of Furbank's decade at the club.

    "He is such a good lad and I am so happy he has this fairytale send-off," he said.

    Four people are standing in front of a pitch where a team has played rugby. They are all smiling.Tim Furbank

  8. Watch: Players lift the Prem trophy

  9. Don't break the trophy!

    Aimee Dexter
    BBC News

    This is how the English Gallagher Prem trophy was kept warm overnight.

    Northampton Saints posted a picture on Facebook of Fin Smith and Henry Pollock with the trophy, asking the players to "please bring it back in one piece".

    Two of Northampton Saints players are in a bed which has white bedding. In between them is a silver trophy which Northampton Saints won.Fin Smith

  10. A sea of black, gold and green

    Aimee Dexter
    BBC News

    What a turnout! Thousands of Saints fans have filled the streets outside the Guildhall in Northampton town centre.

    The crowd has painted the town black, gold and green as they gathered to watch the players on stage.

    Thousands of people are watching players talking on a stage. Most of them are wearing Northampton Saints rugby shirts and are holding flags.James Burridge/BBC

  11. 'It's been a dream,' says Furbank

    George FurbankGetty Images

    George Furbank takes to the stage and tells fans his decade with the club has been a dream.

    The 29-year-old full-back has finished his decade with Saints and is set to join Harlequins next season.

    "It’s been a privilege and I’m going to miss you lot next year," he says.

    "I didn't know how to feel after the final whistle, there was sadness, joy and relief.

    "It has been a special 10 years here and I owe a lot to the fans and the club... it has been a dream."

  12. Our champions

    Saints team

  13. Ecstatic fans greet Saints bus

  14. Crowds cheer as the bus arrives at Guildhall

    A double decker red bus is heading through a town centre. Rugby players are standing at the top and are surrounded by fans watching.James Burridge/BBC
    Bus

  15. People have now lined up around the Guildhall

    Carroll Weston
    in Northampton town centre

    It’s black green and gold colours as far as the eye can see here in Northampton town centre.

    Lots of “Shoe Army” chanting. Lots of people here today after being at Twickenham yesterday.

    One lady I spoke to is already losing her voice from shouting! It’s also very, very hot. But we’re all smiling and waiting for the team bus to arrive in the next few minutes.

  16. Fans show their love for Furbank

    Aimee Dexter
    BBC News

    George Furbank fans are ready to bid him farewell. The group below have even come armed with a sign.

    The 29-year-old full-back has finished his decade with Saints and is set to join Harlequins next season.

    Two women are holding a carboard sign which says FURBS 4EVER in different colours. Several people are standing behind them and are wearing Northampton Saints rugby shirts.Carroll Weston/BBC
    Hundreds of people are standing behind a barrier and are ready for a parade to take place. Several of the are wearing Northampton Saints rugby shirts.Carroll Weston/BBC

  17. Jubilant fans line the streets

  18. Dignitaries to welcome the team at the Guildhall

    Aimee Dexter
    BBC News

    Dignitaries, including the Mayor of Northampton, Mike Hallam, are joining the hundreds of fans ready to watch the parade.

    They will greet the team when they arrive at the Guildhall at about 14:30 BST.

    Four people are standing next to each other in a doorway, including the towns the mayor and a councillor. They are all smiling and looking towards a crowd.Carroll Weston/BBC

  19. The parade is under way

    RouteNorthampton Saints

    A reminder of the route...

    From Franklin’s Gardens, the bus heads along Weedon Road, St James Road, Mare Fair and Gold Street.

    A loop around All Saints Church will follow before the parade finishes at the Guildhall, where there will be a stage, at about 14:30.

  20. How did we get here?

    Phil Dowson's Saints side topped the table at the end of the regular Prem season, securing them home advantage for last week's win over Leicester.

    It completed an impressive turnaround for the Green, Black and Gold after they finished eighth in the previous campaign - though that season did result in a Champions Cup final appearance.

    Saints won 14 of their 18 league fixtures this season, two places and nine points ahead of Saturday's opponents Exeter.

    Victory in the Twickenham showpiece was a repeat of the side's opening league fixture of the season, which ended in a 33-33 draw after an astonishing fightback from the Chiefs.

    And now it's time for the players, club staff and fans to soak it all up and celebrate.