Two signings for Saints

Northampton yesterday made two emergency signings in Scotland loose forward Ross Beattie and former Bath prop Simon Emms to bolster their injury-hit squad.

Both Beattie and Emms will go straight into the first-team squad for Saturday’s Powergen Cup tie against Bedford as Northampton struggle through an injury crisis that has ravaged the Saints’ pack.

Beattie, the former Bristol captain with nine Scotland caps to his name, arrives at Franklin’s Gardens from Celtic League side the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Emms, who has played for both Llanelli and Bath.

Both players arrive at a club in the mire. The Saints still have a chance of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, but they sit rooted to the bottom of the Premiership. The club have also had to address a “fracas” which occurred between players at a bar in Toulouse following Saturday’s Heineken Cup defeat.