Former Northampton Saints player appeals for medal return

Northampton Saints celebrate after winning the Heineken Cup in 2000

A former rugby player has appealed to thieves to return his Heineken Cup winner's medal.

It was in a safe stolen during a burglary at the home of Andy Newman, near Towcester in Northamptonshire.

He was awarded the medal for his part in the Northampton Saints side that beat Ireland's Munster by a single point in the 2000 final.

Newman described the theft as "annoying" because he hoped to pass the prized possession on to his children.

He said: "If they want to anonymously pop it in an envelope and donate it back, that would be charming."

Northamptonshire Police confirmed it was investigating the burglary, which happened on 1 February, and appealed for witnesses.

Andy Newman played for Saints in the Heineken Cup again in 2001 before moving to Ospreys

A capacity crowd at Twickenham on 27 May 2000 saw Munster score the only try of the match, but Paul Grayson's three penalties secured the win for the Saints with a scoreline of 9-8.

Newman returned to live in the county after playing for Ospreys, London Scottish, Glasgow Warriors and Grenoble, and had only recently got the medal back from his father, who had looked after it for 20 years.

He was hoping it could be handed down to the next generation.

"I don't wear it, but it's annoying for my kids and family that it's been taken, because that's the sort of thing you pass on further down the line," he said.

"For anyone else, it's probably not worth very much."