Self-isolated Saint: Rory Hutchinson

The Saints duo have been stocking their fridge with shepherd’s pies and prawn curries, while also making the conscious effort to stay in regular contact with their team-mates.

Hutchinson explained: “I have been on the phone with the likes of Piers Francis, Cobus Reinach, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell to see how they are all getting on.

"It’s important we all keep in touch.

“We have taken a three-week break from the club. It is about staying a home, but mentally, it is important to also go outside and do some exercise if you can.

“For us, we have been sent programmes and running sessions to try and keep us ticking over, so we are trying to do that to the best of our ability.

“Apart from that, as a team, we haven’t really been able to see each other, but we have been keeping in touch and we’ve played a lot of online gaming. The PlayStation has taken quite a beating!

“We are keeping the conversations flowing – and we keep communicating and working as a team on the PlayStation so it has been good fun.

“We are eating well, and – in a way – it has actually been good for myself as I have learnt to meal prep.

"I normally just go to the shop every day and grab whatever is on the shelves, so it has been a learning curve for buying food in the week.

"We’re doing okay up to this point.”

Little more than a month ago, Hutchinson was over in Italy earning his fifth international cap under Gregor Townsend, as Scotland defeated the Azzurri in the Six Nations.

And the centre admits that weekend in Rome now feels like a lifetime ago, having been following the guidelines given by Saints and unable to kick a rugby ball in anger since the 16-10 Gallagher Premiership win over Worcester Warriors at the beginning of last month.

Hutchinson said: “I can’t really believe what has happened since then, to be honest. I think no-one expected to be where we are today.

“Three or four weeks ago, we were out in the sun playing Italy away, so it just shows how scary this virus is.

"It’s turned quickly so hopefully we can stop this as soon as possible if everyone stays at home and stays safe.

“I’ve been trying to keep fit.

"I live with Alex Moon, so we borrowed some of the gym kit from the club which we have set up in the garage, and we have been working out every other day.

“We have been doing a few runs and gone out on the bike, so we are just trying to keep fit because we don’t know when the season is going to come back.

“I don’t think you can sit back and relax because it will be hard to get back out there when everything is back to normal."

Hutchinson took to social media last week to pay tribute to the work being done by the NHS during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

And the 24-year-old insists it is important for everyone to show their appreciation for the doctors, nurses and other staff who are working so hard to save lives.

“I tweeted my support because you have got to give all the wonderful NHS workers and all the volunteers all the credit because of the job they are doing,” Hutchinson told TalkingRugbyUnion.

“We will support them all the way and hopefully we can all get through this together.

“I know someone who works within the NHS so you realise how big of a job it is. My auntie works for them and she has been working so hard, and is doing a brilliant job.”

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