Photo via BBC Sport

Saints' 'Slim Reaper' on picking up pounds and pointers from Wilkinson

Nineteen-year-old James Pater delivered a remarkable performance during Northampton's Premiership season opener against the Newcastle Red Bulls, crossing the try line three times to secure a hat-trick and the player of the match award. The young full-back, who received his first club number of 2,110 earlier in the month, transitioned to rugby after previously playing high-level football for Cambridge United's senior development squad and joining the Huntingdon Stags in secondary school.

His development was further boosted by a youth kicking session with Jonny Wilkinson at Pennyhill Park alongside his Shelford Under-16 teammates, helping cement his focus on rugby prior to entering the Saints academy.

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