Saints supporters could be set for long-awaited Gardens return

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed in Parliament on Monday afternoon that the current national lockdown in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic will end on December 2.

He went on to announce that the previously utilised three tier system would be re-introduced, and as part of that, some supporters would be allowed to attend sporting events.

As part of his speech the Commons, Johnson revealed that a maximum of 4,000 fans - or 50 per cent capacity, whichever figure is lower - will be allowed at outdoor events, including sporting fixtures, staged in tier one, with up to 2,000 fans being allowed in a tier two area.

No crowds will be allowed to attend matches or outdoor events staged in areas in tier three.

Prior to the national lockdown being introduced on November 5, Northampton was in tier one.

It is not yet known what category the town or Northants as a whole will fall under, but an announcement is expected on which region will be in which tier on Thursday.

Saints fans have not been able to attend a match at the Gardens since February 29, when close to 15,000 watched their Gallagher Premiership defeat to Saracens.

Since that date, all matches have been played behind closed doors, and that will again be the case for this weekend's match with Harlequins.

If Northampton is placed into tiers one or two, then the first Gardens date when a section of the club's fanbase could be allowed back in will be the Champions Cup date with union Bordauex-Begles on Friday, December 11 (ko 5.30pm)