North was a great signing for Saints insists Diggin
NORTHAMPTON legend Paul Diggin says George North’s contribution to Saints’ title-winning campaign in 2014 should not be forgotten as the Welshman prepares to leave Franklin’s Gardens under something of a cloud.
The British & Irish Lions international has come in for heavy criticism this season and was fined for missing a training session last month.
But Diggin, who made 148 appearances in 15 years at Saints as a player and then academy coach, prefers to remember North’s debut Premiership season when Saints lifted both the Premiership trophy and European Challenge Cup.
“He is an unbelievable player and when he is on his game, he is one of the best in the business,” said Diggin, who ended his long association with the club in February. “I am glad we saw that first year of George North, when we won the league. After that Lions tour (2013), he was amazing. He is a genetic freak. I hated how big and strong he was compared to me.
“Since then, he has obviously had his welldocumented injuries with his head, and they have come at really bad times for Northampton.
“But for a young man to do have done what he has done, to get 70-odd caps at the age of 26, is unbelievable.
“He is also a great role model for the younger lads, and his work ethic is fantastic.”
In academy product Tom Collins, below, Diggin believes Saints have a readymade replacement for North.
The 23-year-old was on fire in the early part of the season until a foot injury saw him sidelined for almost three months.
“He was just so unlucky to get that injury after the momentum he had at the start of the year.,” said Diggin.
“We were top of the league, he was beating defenders for fun and was probably the top winger in England at the time.
“He can pull a rabbit out of the hat; he is your gamechanger. The more he plays the better he will be, and that’s the same for all academy lads.”
Having spent four years working in the Saints academy, Diggin is now in the process of building the foundations of a new career – with Barrett Homes.
“Rugby is all-encompassing. You have got to be passionate and have the fire burning all the time, and I felt mine was probably dwindling a little bit.
“I’ll always keep in touch with Saints because they are my club, but I needed a life change. “Next month I’m going to be starting work as a trainee site manager.”