Chris Boyd: Outgoing Northampton Saints boss leaves ‘unfinished business’ at Franklin’s Gardens

Chris Boyd joined Northampton from New Zealand club Hurricanes

Chris Boyd has announced he is leaving Northampton Saints with “unfinished business” following their play-off defeat by Leicester Tigers.

The Saints lost 27-14 to their East Midlands rivals, who will meet Saracens in this season’s Premiership final.

“It could be the last rugby game I coach,” Boyd, 63, told ` Radio Northampton.

“I tried not to think about it because I was deeply hoping there might be another game, but as it turns out there isn’t.

“I have enjoyed my four years here fantastically. I have a bit of a feeling that there are still unfinished business, but I know the ship is in good hands from a management and coaching perspective, and from a leadership perspective and the youngsters are coming through.

“There’s a lot to be positive about, but I feel like there’s still some unfinished business in a way.”

Boyd is ‘sadly missed’

As the New Zealander was appointed in 2018he said he was confident he could help Saints become “one of the biggest and best teams in Europe”.

They won the inaugural Premiership Rugby Cup the following year. beat Saracens 23-9 with the help of attempts by Teimana Harrison, Tom Wood and Ahsee Tuala, but failed to achieve further trophy success.

Northampton also reached the Premiership play-offs in 2018/19 but lost 44-19 to the Exeter Chiefs and finished eighth and fifth in the following two Covid-hit seasons.

After finishing fourth that season, they led Leicester 11-6 in Saturday’s game at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, but a strong finish saw the Tigers reach their first final since 2013.

Last week Boyd said the English game needs more players who are willing to take more risks in order to thrive.

And ahead of the game, scrum half Alex Mitchell praised his influence on developing young talent.

“The chances he’s given the young English guys in particular, look how many of them have already become absolute club stars in the last four years,” he told ` Look East.

“He was brilliant. He’s black and white, there are no gray areas with Boydy so you know where we are and he will be sorely missed.

“To me in particular, he was a great mentor and someone I will always look up to.”