Where are they now? Northamption Saints' 2000 Heineken Cup winning side

Northampton are the first Premiership club to reach the Champions Cup final in five years and are looking to put their name on the trophy for a second time.

The first time was in May 2000, when three Paul Grayson penalties were enough to secure a 9–8 victory over Munster, who replied at Twickenham with a David Wallace try and a Jason Holland drop goal.

The last time they reached a Champions Cup final was in 2011, when they faced off against Leinster at the Millennium Stadium in a game that produced an all-time classic final.

Boks Office pay tribute to Cornal Hendricks | RPTV

Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger speak after the tragic passing of former teammate and Springbok winger Cornal Hendricks. Watch the full episode on RugbyPassTV

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Boks Office pay tribute to Cornal Hendricks | RPTV

Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger speak after the tragic passing of former teammate and Springbok winger Cornal Hendricks. Watch the full episode on RugbyPassTV

Watch now

They looked to have one hand on the trophy, leading 22–6 at half-time, before collapsing in the second half and losing 33–22.

The black, green and golds have twice won the Challenge Cup, beating Bourgoin in 2009 and then Premiership rivals Bath in 2014 at the adjacent Arms Park.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Northampton

20 - 28

Full-time

Bordeaux

All Stats and Data

But what became of the Saints’ 2000 Heineken Cup-winning side?

Paul Grayson: He played as a full-back or fly-half, was part of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad, and has worked in coaching, broadcasting and property.

Craig Moir: The Scotland winger worked in the computer services industry and is now a process worker for Valero Energy Corporation, having previously worked for Chevron.

Allan Bateman: The Wales and Lions dual-code international went to work for the NHS in the Haematology Department of Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend.

Matt Allen: The centre became a player development manager for the Rugby Players Association and is now a science teacher and head of rugby at Oxford’s Dragon School.

Ben Cohen: The England World Cup-winning winger keeps a low profile, runs the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, and works for LGBT+ rights.

Ali Hepher: The fly-half was called up for an England tour of South Africa but wasn’t capped. He joined Exeter Chiefs as assistant coach in 2009 and left his job in May 2025.

Dominic Malone: The scrum-half is now based in Bedford and is a director of the building and property development firm Number 8 Homes.

Garry Pagel: The Springbok prop, who spent four years at Saints, is now a farmer in his native South Africa, running Glenhope Farm near Martindale in the Eastern Cape.

Federico Méndez: The Puma hooker, sent off against England in 1990, returned to his native Mendoza, where he has had real estate and security businesses.

Matt Stewart: The Scotland prop, who was an Army PTI, now runs a workwear, embroidery, print and industrial supplies firm, Workwear Northampton.

Andy Newman: The lock became a player’s agent and is now a partner and head of international business development for LGT Wealth Management.

Tim Rodber: The England and Lions lock spent a decade at outsourcing firm Williams Lea before joining commercial property company The Instant Group, where former teammate Matt Dawson is also involved.

Don Mackinnon: The Scotland A flanker retired because of a knee injury and returned to Australia, where he is a telecommunications manager.

Budge Pountney: The Scotland flanker, who was director of rugby at Saints, is now a World Rugby Educator and Rugby Development Manager at Ulster.

Pat Lam: The Auckland-born Samoan No.8 went into coaching and has been director of rugby at Bristol Bears since 2017, after four years working for Connacht.

Replacements

Steve Walter: The hooker, better known as England World Cup winner Steve Thompson, has worked in the media and is a director of Powder Monkey Brewing Co.

Martin Scelzo: The tighthead has settled in Clermont-Ferrand, where he played for seven years. He runs an Argentinean restaurant, El Gaucho, while his son Martín plays for Stade Français.

Richard Metcalfe: The 7ft-tall Scotland lock, who helped Newcastle Falcons win the Premiership, has various business interests, including clothing and a café.

Jon Phillips: The former lock has been director of rugby at Moulton College and Tresham College, and is a rugby coaching consultant.

James Bramhall: The scrum-half is an RFU Community Coach in Bury and has coached several clubs, including Burnley RUFC. He has also worked as a policeman.

Andy Northey: A dual-code centre whose father Keith played league. He was head coach at Liverpool St Helens until May 2024 and has also worked as a publican and in security for the Westgrove Group.

Mark Tucker: A centre and winger who became a commodities trader at Tullett Prebon and now runs a property investment firm.