Northampton Saints Promote Jim Henry to Defence Coach for 2026/27 Season

Northampton Saints have promoted Jim Henry to defence coach ahead of the 2026/27 season, turning to a man who knows the club inside out to fill the vacancy left by Lee Radford's departure to Scotland.

Henry steps up after four years on the Saints coaching staff. He arrived at Franklin's Gardens as forwards transition coach ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, having previously coached at Loughborough University. A strategic partnership between Saints and Championship side Bedford Blues also saw him serve as defence and forwards coach under Mike Rayer at Goldington Road.

His ties to the club run deeper than his coaching tenure. Henry was part of the Northampton squad that won the 2009 European Rugby Challenge Cup and the 2010 LV= Cup before moving into coaching with the Saints Senior Academy in 2010.

This past season, Henry — then working as an academy coach — was handed responsibility for leading the first-team defence throughout the Premiership Rugby Cup. He drew praise for the side's character after a comeback win away at Harlequins in February.

Director of rugby Phil Dowson highlighted Henry's work ethic and rugby knowledge in confirming the appointment. The club published the announcement on 11 August, slotting Henry into the role Radford had occupied since 2023.

Radford, a former rugby league player who coached Hull FC and Castleford Tigers and served as defence coach for Samoa, was announced as Scotland's new defence coach by Scottish Rugby in October 2025. At the time, it was confirmed he would remain with Saints until the end of the season before linking up with the national set-up.

Henry's promotion also opens a pathway for a familiar face. His previous role will be filled by academy coach and former Saints hooker Reece Marshall, who made 60 appearances for the club between 2015 and 2022 before retiring and moving into coaching.

For Saints, the appeal is obvious: continuity. Rather than bringing in a fresh voice from outside, Dowson has handed the defensive reins to someone steeped in the club's culture and already familiar with the playing group. Henry's trial run during the Cup campaign gave him a taste of the job at senior level. Now it is his full-time.

With pre-season preparations underway and a new Gallagher Premiership campaign on the horizon, Saints have their defensive structure settled early — no small advantage when the first whistle approaches.