The big interview: Tom Vickers talks to Saints scrum-half Archie McParland

McParland, who sustained a horror leg injury during the early exchanges of the Gallagher PREM final win against Exeter Chiefs, was initially able to join in the party with his team-mates.

He even unusually sampled some alcohol, keeping his promise to his team-mates as he shrugged off his sobriety for one weekend only.

However, McParland's joy at claiming the PREM crown was cut short as just after the title parade, which took place the day after the final, he found himself in hospital for a week.

The scrum-half explained: "It was a bit of a scare in the final and I've never really seen anything like it so it was a bit of a shock when it happened.

"Unfortunately I was in hospital for a week after that from the day after the final because it got infected so that wasn't great.

"It was a bit of an anti-climax but it's healed now and thankfully I'm fine."

McParland added: "I went into hospital pretty much an hour or two after the parade because it (the injured leg) was hurting a lot and I didn't really know why.

"I had compression over it and when I was taking it off the doctor had a quick look at it and said I needed to go to hospital so I got it sorted sooner rather than later but I was still in hospital for a while."

McParland had headed into the PREM final as Saints' starter at No.9 following a superb season that saw him rise to prominence.

But his outing was curtailed after he tried to get back to stop Campbell Ridl scoring in the corner for Exeter.

While Ridl celebrated his early try, McParland had to get treatment before being helped from the field by the Saints medical staff.

"His leg was coming up behind him when he was sprinting, my knee was coming down and it sliced through my leg, straight down into my quad and then straight after that I had 38 stitches in my leg, which was quite a lot to be honest," McParland explained.

"I was basically getting surgery in the tunnel and then luckily enough I caught the last 10 minutes of the final and to be honest, all the feeling of pain and heartbreak from the injury went away knowing we'd won.

"It was a complete mix of emotions. Obviously I was hoping to get a shot with England this summer but as soon as I'd done it and the doctor said I would be out for at least six weeks, I knew it would be over so there was a bit of heartbreak there but the match was still on and I was watching it on TV while getting it all stitched up.

"It was massively mixed emotions but the fact we won made it a lot better."

Alex Mitchell, who returned from injury to be named on the bench for the final, ended up playing far longer than expected following McParland's early injury.

And though the showpiece didn't go how McParland had hoped from a personal point of view, it's clear that the black, green and gold being crowned champions washed away much of the early agony he felt.

"It's a dream come true," said the 21-year-old.

"In my first year here (when Saints won the PREM in 20204), I wasn't a big part at all because I only played a few games, so to be a bigger part of this team and to go on and win the pinnacle of domestic rugby is great.

"It was my first time playing at Twickenham. I'd been there a few times when I was younger so it was amazing, even though I was only on the pitch for 15 minutes.

"I took it all in and it was an amazing experience."

'An amazing experience' probably sums up McParland's season as a whole as he became a key cog in the black, green and gold wheel, so much so that England took note, calling him up for his first senior training camp in May.

Overall, McParland scored 14 tries in 25 appearances for his club last season and he was in a good place mentally going into the final against Exeter.

"I felt very confident," he said.

"It's just the whole build-up because we deserved to get there and with my team-mates around me, I feel very comfortable playing in this team.

"I was really confident and it's a shame it got cut a bit short but we won it and that's the main thing.”

Academy product McParland has spoken a lot about the mindset shift that has unlocked new levels for him with Saints.

He explained: "My mindset now is completely focused on myself and not worrying about other people.

"I felt in the past I would compare a lot and I would think about what the opposition were going to do and things that could go well and go badly.

"Now my whole focus and mentality is being present in the game and focusing fully on what I can control, which is what I can do well.

"What's made me feel more comfortable and play better is focusing on myself and not caring at all about the opposition."

The Saints coaches have always backed McParland to shine, trusting him in tough games from day one.

And McParland said: "They've had a lot of faith in me and I'm forever grateful for that.

"To be able to put it onto the pitch, I'd been training well and having the odd good game so to be more consistent with how well I'm playing was great."

McParland was that good last season that he claimed the breakthrough player and young player of the season awards at Saints' dinner.

But he was modest in his assessment of claiming those accolades.

"Those awards don't come if the team's not giving you that go-forward and if the team's not playing well so to get those awards is great for me personally but at the end of the day I couldn't have done any of that without my team," he said.

After a summer break, some of which was spent in Sicily, McParland has been rehabbing his quad as he bids to build on last season's impressive performances.

And it is clear that he and his team-mates are desperate to deliver a strong title defence.

"I think there's only been Leicester and Saracens who have won the PREM back to back and after winning it in 2024, we probably didn't handle it that well going back into the PREM," McParland said.

"This time around it's about really having a focus on keeping the same momentum we had last year.

"First thing is to win the PREM again - that would be amazing.

"Personally, I would love to get an opportunity with England, but that only comes from me playing well for Saints and training well here to get picked in the games.

"I've got to keep my head down, work hard and see what happens."