Northampton Saints

In the second instalment of Talking Rugby Union's 'Pick of the Premiership' series, we have two enormous hits from the last round of action to whet your mid-week appetites ahead of next weekend.

Northampton returned to a winning formula in the Aviva Premiership with an emphatic 35-10 triumph over Newcastle Falcons.

Northampton's devastating start to their Aviva Premiership title defence is now a distant memory after they crashed to a 20-16 defeat against Wasps at Adams Park.

George North led the rout as Northampton opened their Aviva Premiership title defence by making a mockery of rebuilt Gloucester's optimism for the new season.

After a fantastic summer of rugby that has included sevens at the Commonwealth Games, internationals in the southern hemisphere and the start of the Rugby Championship, domestic rugby has finally come back to English shores for the start of the Aviva Premiership.

For 22-year-old George North the rise to international rugby stardom has been a remarkable, and explosive one and last year was no exception to this as the giant winger helped Northampton win the Aviva Premiership with his first season in the league.

Last season, Northampton enjoyed the most successful season in their history. Not only did they win the Aviva Premiership, the trophy they have coveted for so long, but they also brought home the Amlin Challenge Cup and made it to the final of the LV= Cup.

Global bosses could allow the Aviva Premiership to kick off during the knockout stages of Rugby World Cup 2015 in a bid to diffuse England's latest club-versus-country row

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder is confident Saints are well equipped for their Aviva Premiership title defence despite their lack of new signings over the summer.

British and Irish Lion Alex Corbisiero believes that resting his troublesome knee this summer will pay dividends for both Northampton and England in the new season.

Premiership champions Northampton Saints have signed Newcastle Falcons half-back Joel Hodgson.

English champions Northampton must wait to discover if they will be a tier one team in Tuesday's inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup draw.

Jim Mallinder has toasted Northampton's first Aviva Premiership title by signing a five-year contract extension with the Franklin's Gardens club.

So often this season a match has been described as a game of two halves. However, on Saturday afternoon at Twickenham Stadium we were treated to 4 quarters of pulsating rugby.

Dylan Hartley has revealed his year-long obsession to see Northampton crowned champions of England.

After 22 Rounds and two semi-finals, just two teams remain... on Saturday afternoon at the Home of English rugby, Saracens and the Northampton Saints will go head to head in the battle to be crowned the2014 Aviva Premiership Champions.

Schalk Brits admits Saturday's Aviva Premiership final against Northampton is Saracens' biggest "grudge match" as two contrasting cultures collide at Twickenham.

Dylan Hartley's involvement in the Aviva Premiership final and England's tour to New Zealand continues to hang in the balance.

Northampton prop Silesi Ma'afu has been handed a one-week ban and order to pay £500 costs after punching Leicester hooker Tom Youngs in Thursday's Aviva Premiership semi-final.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed Dylan Hartley's chances of participating in next month's tour to New Zealand are diminishing.