19.03.2024

Northampton Saints go shooting on team bonding exercise

Northampton Saints players have been on team bonding trip to a shooting range before they take aim at the Champions Cup this weekend.

Captain Dylan Hartley and the Saints squad visited the Courteenhall Estate in Northamptonshire on Tuesday morning ahead of their European opener against reigning champions Saracens on Sunday.

But there was a west Midlands feel among the team from the east, as some of the group turned out looking like extras off the set of Peaky Blinders.

(L-R) Matt Beesley, Ben Nutley, Michael Paterson, Stephen Myler, Dylan Hartley and Rob Horne all pose at the Courteenhall Estate in Northamptonshire

(L-R) Matt Beesley, Ben Nutley, Michael Paterson, Stephen Myler, Dylan Hartley and Rob Horne all pose at the Courteenhall Estate in Northamptonshire 

(L-R) Kieran Brookes, Cobus Reinach, Ken Pisi, Courtney Lawes, Ben Foden and Jamie Gibson were also on site for a bit of shooting practice with their team-mates

‘Creepy Blinders’: Myler, right, put up this image and caption on his Instagram account

Hartley posed with a group of team-mates, including Matt Beesley and Stephen Myler, all decked out in blazers and flat caps, much in keeping with the 1920s period drama.

Others opted for more modern attire, with Courtney Lawes also on site, along with Ben Foden and Jamie Gibson.

Jim Mallinder and his squad have been on target with their start to this season and sit third in the Aviva Premiership after their first six games.

Harry Maillinder takes aim at the shooting range as he is given a few pointers

Horne is talked through the finer details of holding a rifle as he prepares to take his shot

It’s a fine response to what was a difficult start to the season, when they were humbled by Sunday’s opponents Saracens at Twickenham.

Mallinder’s men were beaten 55-24 in the season’s curtain-raiser and will be out to exact a bit of revenge at Franklin’s Gardens.

Best leave the guns behind though lads. South African scrum half Cobus Reinach fires as one of the Estate’s workers watches on

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *