Rugby club's 'punishment car' may be restored by 2025

The Reliant Rialto is being restored by students at Northampton College

Mechanics working on a salvaged rugby team's punishment car hoped it would be ready to drive by the end of the 2025 rugby season.

The ruined vehicle, a Reliant Rialto, was discovered in woodland in Northamptonshire last year.

Former Northampton Saints players said members who made errors in training or misbehaved in some way were made to drive the vehicle for a period of time.

Students are helping with the restoration of the vehicle.

Jon Sleightholme, a former Saints player, was happy to pose for a photo in the car, circa 2002

It has been almost a year since the vandalised shell of the vehicle was found in Harlestone Firs.

Lennie Newman, a former Saints player and manager, volunteered to get the car renovated.

It was taken to Northampton College to allow motor vehicle engineering students to work on it.

The engine was in surprisingly good condition

Steve Bunker, a lecturer at the college, said progress had been slow, but positive so far.

"We had a lot of delays on decision-making - we'll leave it there," he said.

"The chassis is actually in better condition than we ever dared dream really.

"The body’s not too bad – some cracks we’ll have to rectify before we spray it.

"The engine actually turns over, which is a miracle."

The wheels have been sandblasted and powder-coated, and they now have new tyres.

Another Rialto was acquired so parts could be used on the restoration project

Mr Bunker said the team had to acquire another Reliant Rialto as part of the project.

He added: "Because of the vandalism that happened on the original, we don’t have any interior.

"It had all been broken so we bought this car to take the interior from [it]."

The donor vehicle still had its lights and other parts that would have been difficult to obtain elsewhere.

The refurbished car could make its debut next year

Going forward, mechanics students will sort out the chassis and the engine while body paint students will work on the outside.

Mr Bunker is determined that the newly-restored car will make its debut in 2025.

"We’d like to see it done hopefully for the last game of the season next year," he said.

If the Saints repeated the success they have had this season, the car could make its debut on the hallowed turf of Twickenham.