Northampton Rugby Football Club are to be awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Northampton.

Phil Larratt, Conservative leader of the Borough Council said, “I consider this to be something of a lifetime achievement award in recognition of all that the club has done, and continues to do, to raise the profile of Northampton.

“We need and ought to celebrate our successes, and the Saints are an excellent, high profile example of what is good about Northampton. The Saints’ achievements bring Northampton to the attention of the wider world.”