Rugby club gets borough freedom

Saints stars Matt Dawson and Ben Cohen with the Rugby World Cup

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

The Saints will be given the honour for the work they have carried out in the community and for raising the profile of the area.

The premiership club has been involved in setting up a children's study centre at its Franklins Gardens stadium and regularly holds rugby coaching sessions for hundreds of youngsters.

A motion to give the Saints the award was made at a borough council meeting.

Excellent example

Phil Larratt, leader of the 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."

Others to have been awarded the honour include the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the Northamptonshire Regiment (awarded in 1946) and Northamptonshire Police (1990).

A date has not yet been set for the club to receive the Freedom of the Borough.