East Midlands Derby at Twickenham

I can't believe there is no thread for this game yet, probably the biggest rivalry in club rugby.

This one is especially poignant as it is to raise money for Rob Horne who tragically lost the use of an arm in the corresponding fixture last year as well as a chance for the RFU to see how the new East Stand holds up (not literally I hope). Some history and info on what is happening on Saturday below:

Northampton Saints have launched an auction of unique and exciting prizes to raise money for former Saint Rob Horne.

This coming Saturday, Saints welcome East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers to Twickenham in aid of Horne. Rob will be honoured in round six of the Gallagher Premiership at the home of English rugby, after tragically being forced into early retirement during Saints’ away fixture against Tigers last season.

The Australian international centre suffered a brachial plexus avulsion, leaving him with paralysis and chronic pain in his right arm, so Saints will host this match to raise funds for his ongoing rehabilitation.

The Derby – where Saints and Tigers go toe-to-toe for the East Midlands bragging rights – is a match packed full of history and drama, and will be the perfect setting to give a true Saintsman in Rob Horne a fitting send off.

One of several ways in which Saints are raising money will be a week-long* silent auction, with all proceeds going directly to Rob.

A host of amazing prizes have kindly been donated by the Club, the RPA, some of Rob’s friends in Australia, and Saints players themselves – with these in particular being ‘money can’t buy’ experiences.

Ranging from a three-course dinner for eight with England duo Dylan Hartley and James Haskell, a painting by Lewis Ludlam and a group training session with nine Saints players, there are also plenty of non-rugby prizes to bid for too.

Prizes include...

•"A Night with the Islanders" where four people spend a night with Ahsee Tuala, Nafi Tuitavake, Api Ratuniyarawa and Ken Pisi having a traditional Island dinner
•Scrum Clinic with Saints' scrum coach Matt Ferguson and the front row club
•Tandem skydive with the Red Devils
•Custom-made coffee table by Tom Wood and Alex Waller
•Beer School for five people with Jamal Ford-Robinson at the Beer Guerilla in Northampton
•Signed international jerseys from England and Australia
•A clinic for coaches from Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd and his team
•All 23 Saints matchday shirts from the Derby at Twickenham, signed by the player who wore it during the game


In addition Saints are going a bit Barbarian, every Saints player will wear different socks from clubs across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk – with the 23 clubs involved also sending a member of their minis or junior section onto the pitch as team mascots when the sides take to the field.

Over 400 children from local clubs will be taking part in an under-8s tournament at Twickenham on Saturday morning.

With the Saints attack is performing and their defence under-performing this looks like it could be a high scoring game with a lot of tries scored.

Saints by 5

I am unable to go to this, but have made a donation equivalent to the ticket price at https://www.robhornederby.co.uk

Looking at the game, as I said elsewhere I feel much will depend on who is fit. Both sides have shown some appalling defence so could be interesting.