Saints to play Tigers at Twickenham in aid of Rob Horne

Northampton Saints have announced that they will welcome East-Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers to Twickenham in round six of thePremiership in aid of former Saint Rob Horne.

The Australian international centre was tragically forced to retire from rugby at the end of last season after sustaining a career-ending injury playing in Saints’ victory over Tigers at Welford Road.

But Horne will now be honoured on Saturday 6 October (kick-off 3pm) as two giants of English rugby resume their intense on-field rivalry and lock horns again in the Gallagher Premiership. This will be the first time the two rivals have met at Twickenham since the 2013 Premiership Final.

“The outpouring of support for Rob at the end of last season from the whole rugby community in the East Midlands was overwhelming – and we wanted to act,” said Saints Chairman John White.

“The Club received countless requests from both Saints and Tigers supporters for a fitting way in which they could both bid farewell to Rob and also support him.

“Leicester Tigers’ chairman and board have also made it clear that they are very keen to help Rob in any way they can, and this is a superb way to do that.”

Horne pulled on the Black, Green and Gold jersey 21 times last season – scoring eight tries as a Saint and being named the Club’s Player of the Season in the process.

“Everyone at the Club has gone above and beyond to support me and my family through an incredibly difficult time,” he said.

“I’ve been humbled by the outpouring of support from both Northampton Saints supporters and many of the Tigers fans that were at that game too.

 “I am touched by the additional gesture the Club are making in staging this game, and I can’t wait to see my teammates run out at Twickenham.

“I hope we can raise some awareness for Brachial Plexus injuries, as well as being treated to another chapter in this storied rivalry.”