Freeman savouring his big breakthrough at Saints

Manny Iyogun came in and made a name for himself, lasting more than 70 minutes against ferocious Exeter and Sale forward packs.

Wing Josh Gillespie grabbed his first Premiership try, in a game against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.

And Tommy Freeman, a 19-year-old full-back with such promise, got the chance to grab some vital minutes, and not only from the bench.

Freeman was thrust into the spotlight on August 26, stepping in as a last-minute replacement for the stricken Harry Mallinder.

The Oxford-born player was handed a start on the wing against Bath after Mallinder was forced to withdraw from the starting line-up due to an ongoing knee injury.

And though Saints were to lose the game - two second-half sucker punch scores saw Bath secure an 18-3 victory at Franklin’s Gardens - it was a night to savour for Freeman.

“It was actually the day before that I got called in because Harry Mal went down with an injury,” Freeman explained.

“It was a late call-up but I was buzzing for it and kind of took it in my stride. It was all good.

“I was just focused on doing my role as a winger because I had been training at full-back and then switching over the the wing I concentrated on what I had to do.

“I had to make sure I did my best for the team and I really enjoyed it, especially with the boys at my back as well.

“It wasn’t until the end of the warm-up that (Sam) Vesty and Boydy (Chris Boyd) told me that I had nothing to lose.

“They said ‘if you do well, it’s a bonus, and if you don’t then you just learnings from it and we move’.

“It was definitely a weight off my shoulders before going out.

“As a youngster I just try to take as much as I can and learn as much as I can from those games.

“I’m playing with some top athletes and I just want to be like them one day.”

Whereas first-team games usually bring much more noise than those of the Wanderers, it has been a largely similar experience for Freeman so far.

No fans have been allowed into stadiums since March, and Freeman would have loved to have been able to show what he is made of in front of a full house.

“It was definitely a weird atmosphere,” he said.

“But nevertheless it was an enjoyable experience and great to make my debut.”

Freeman has some ideal role models at Saints, with two of the club’s established full-backs having come through the Academy and earn international appearances.

Mallinder, who was a key player for the England Under-20s, and George Furbank, who is part of England’s senior squad, have been helping the youngster to progress.

So what is he working on?

“Progression wise, it’s been about physical development to start with,” Freeman said.

“I was obviously picked up late into the Academy and I was on the skinnier side.

“It was a massive thing to work on the physical development, and in terms of rugby development I’ve got (attack coach) Sam Vesty and (transition manager) Jake Sharp in my ear all the time, working on my kicking, high balls and moving the ball well.

“It’s amazing to see Furbank doing so well because he was my age just a couple of years ago and he’s broke through really well.

“It’s the same with Harry Mallinder and Ace (Ahsee Tuala), who is awesome to watch because he’s got skill and flair, and it’s great to put things into my game that they’re quite good at.”

Freeman, who was released by Leicester Tigers for being too small during his teens, has struck up some good bonds since joining Saints’ Junior Academy midway through the 2018/19 campaign.

He said: “We’re all in Academy houses and there’s Ollie Newman, who is flanker who I played Eastern Counties with, Manny, who went to St Joseph’s College so I played school rugby against him, and there are good lads here.”