Julia Chapman Set to Lead Northampton Saints with a Steady Hand and Focus on Continuity

Northampton Saints' incoming chief executive Julia Chapman has pledged to maintain stability and build on the club's recent successes rather than initiating any "drastic changes" when she takes over later this year. Chapman's appointment follows Mark Darbon's departure to become the CEO of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, the organisers of The Open Championship.

Chapman, who is currently the Saints' chief operating officer, will assume her new role as the club begins its Premiership campaign with a season opener against Bath on 20 September. Her transition comes on the heels of a landmark season for the Saints, who secured their first Premiership title in a decade.

In an interview with BBC Radio Northampton, Chapman acknowledged the achievements of the previous season while emphasizing that her focus will be on enhancing and sustaining the club's progress. "We had an amazing season last year, but I don't think anyone is saying that everything was perfect all the time," she said. "It's a fantastic time to be taking over in many ways because it's a very different set of challenges. It's about how do you take all the great things the club has achieved and find a way of continuing that."

Chapman highlighted that her approach would not involve a turnaround or addressing any perceived problems but rather building on the club's strengths and seeking areas for improvement. "It's not about a turnaround, it's not about fixing problems necessarily. It's about looking at what we've done so well and seeing where we can continue, but also how we can get better," she added.

With her extensive experience as chief operating officer, Chapman is well-acquainted with the inner workings of the club and has already established strong relationships with key figures, including director of rugby Phil Dowson and his coaching staff. "One of the things I did in my current role is work with the guys on the salary cap and the management of the playing budget," Chapman noted. "There's always conversations about how we make everything fit within our budget. We're a small club here, we're all on the same site, we all know each other, so the relationship is there."

Chapman praised Darbon's transparent and collaborative approach during his seven-year tenure, which she plans to continue. "We have a reputation of being a really friendly, open, welcoming, and honest club, and that's something I definitely want to continue," she said. "No-one does a job like this in isolation; it's about building a great team around you and trusting those people to deliver."

As she steps into her new role, Chapman outlined her initial priorities, which will involve assessing the current strategy and considering how to adapt and bring new ideas. "We have a really good strategy in place, so this isn't about U-turning or drastic changes of direction. It's about looking at where we are, how we need to adapt, and hopefully bring some new ideas to the table as well," she explained.

Looking forward, Chapman expressed excitement about deepening the connection with supporters and enhancing their experience. "Getting closer to our supporters and really understanding what it is that brings them here time and time again, what it is they love about the club," she said. "How do we translate that into bringing new people here to watch us? How do we keep supporters we've already got happy, and how do we bring the joy of the game to a whole new generation?"

With Chapman's steady hand at the helm, Northampton Saints are set to build on their recent triumphs and continue their journey with a focus on continuity and growth.