Northampton Saints celebrate Premiership win with parade

Summary

Northampton Saints celebrated their first Premiership title since 2014 with a trophy parade through the town
Thousands of fans lined the streets
Celebrations started from Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens at 14:00 BST
The parade finished at the Guildhall in St Giles Square in the town

Live Reporting

Alice Cunningham, Harriet Heywood and James Burridge

Farewell from us - and congratulations to Northampton Saintspublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 9 June
That's it for our live coverage of the celebratory parade - thank you for joining us, and congratulations to Northampton Saints on their victory!
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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What a season it has been for Northampton Saints - one no one will forget anytime soon
The players have departed on their open-top bus and the streets are now back to normal for a Sunday afternoon.
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
View from the open-top buspublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 9 June
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Watch: More video from the Northampton Saints bus parade
Fans still chantingpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 9 June
The team bus has driven off, the crowds are thinning out, but some fans don't want this moment of rugby history to end - they're still chanting.
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Fans are heading off after a memorable afternoon
'These fans are unbelievable, we wanted to do it for them'published at 15:54 British Summer Time 9 June
Media caption,
'These fans are unbelievable, we wanted to do it for them'
Farewell boys, you've done Northampton proudpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 9 June
The players are heading back onto the bus.
What a weekend. What a season. What a club.
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Celebrations are slowly wrapping up in Northampton
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Players wave farewell to the fans in the town centre
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Farewell boys
Alex Moon is in demandpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 9 June
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Alex Moon enjoys a last chance to meet fans before he leaves the club
A chance to meet your heroespublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 9 June
The players are now out meeting fans in the crowd - signing autographs and taking photos.
Fans are being given memories to last a lifetime.
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
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Young fans meeting one of their rugby heroes
Tommy Freeman delights seven-year-old Finnpublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, reporting in Northampton
Finn, 7, met one of his Northampton heroes - winger Tommy Freeman.
Finn's dad, Giles, said: "[Finn] has been really excited and we managed to get through the crowds so Tommy Freeman could sign our ball."
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Finn met some of the players
Paul Hill: 'I call this my home now'published at 15:37 British Summer Time 9 June
Prop forward Paul Hill admitted feeling hungover after last night's celebrations.
"We had a big do," he said.
Hill, who is among those leaving the club, external, was in reflective mood about his time at the club
"I have loved every second of being at Northampton," said the England international.
"I have been here nine years. I call this my home now."
Watch: The moment the trophy was liftedpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 9 June
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Watch: The moment the trophy was lifted
Courtney Lawes: 'We can sail off into the sunset'published at 15:32 British Summer Time 9 June
Courtney Lawes described the last 24 hours as "very stressful", but said he was happy he was able to give back to the club.
"I was pretty livid at how we played but we got the win, and sometimes you just have to find a way to win," he explained.
"This season has been class, regardless of what happened yesterday. It would have left a sour taste in the mouth if we hadn't got that win as we were the best team.
"We can sail off into the sunset," he said.
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
'I'm not an emotional mother, but today got to me', says Saints legend's mumpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 9 June
Val Lawes, mother of Courtney - another player who is leaving the club - described the win as "special".
"The home fans are amazing, thank you all for coming. It's absolutely brilliant," she said.
"It's even more special because it's the last one for so many of these role models, with Alex going and Courtney. What a way to end.
"I'm not an emotional mother but today got to me, it really did."
Image source, Rob Constantin/BBC
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Val Lawes' son Courtney Lawes will play in France next season
Watch: 'They have just made Northampton so proud'published at 15:29 British Summer Time 9 June
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'They have just made Northampton so proud'
Alex Moon: 'This is everything I could have hoped it could be'published at 15:22 British Summer Time 9 June
Northampton Saints lock Alex Moon, who is leaving the Saints, said: "This is everything I could have hoped it could be.
"As a follower of all sport, every sport, you dream of winning your league. This has been everything. It's been awesome."
A moment to savour - the trophy is lifted!published at 15:14 British Summer Time 9 June
What a moment for town and club - it'll give you goosebumps!
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
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The trophy is back in Northampton for the first time in 10 years
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Saints players sing to the crowds
'We were emotionally drained'published at 15:10 British Summer Time 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, reporting in Northampton
Matthew Fell described Saturday's emotional rollercoaster of a final.
"Credit to Bath, they didn't make it easy.
"After the match we were emotionally drained. We had Bath fans coming over to us saying 'Cheer up lads, you won'.
"But the Saints are great for this town. We're lucky to have them."
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Luke Doran (left) and Matthew Fell described Saturday's win as "emotionally draining"
'It's a fairytale' - Lewis Ludlampublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 9 June
Lewis Ludlam, who will be leaving the team and heading over to France next season, is speaking about the historic win.
"We've dreamt of this for a long time now... to finally get it across the line is a fairytale," he said.
"We know we weren't playing the way we wanted to, we left a lot out of there, but this group has a lot of trust in what we're doing.
"There is so much love in this group at the moment."
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Lewis Ludlam is leaving Northampton Saints
Plenty more celebrations to comepublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 9 June
Now the Premiership-winning Saints have arrived at the Guildhall, we're expecting several interviews to take place.
There will be some musical performances, as well as "other exciting activities", the club teased on Saturday.
The players are also expected to mingle with the crowd.
Watch: Parade buses arrive to jubilant crowd in town centrepublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 9 June
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Parade buses arrive to jubilant crowd in town centre
Team welcomed on stage at the Guildhallpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 9 June
The team is on stage and has been presented to the vast crowd at the Guildhall.
Interviews with individual players are expected to take place soon.