Boyd got me back on track - Ludlam

LEWIS left the Ludlam Franklin's Gardens turf in a Northampton jersey for perhaps the last time on Friday night, six years after he thought about ending his career because he feared it was going nowhere.

- PAUL REES

The 2017-18 campaign had been a chastening one for the Saints. They finished in the bottom half of the Premiership and in four meetings with Saracens in the league and Europe conceded a total of 234 points.

They successive suffered seven Premiership defeats at one point but despite the struggles, Ludlam's only league start, and first for the Saints, came on the opening weekend against Saracens at Twickenham, the ground he will return to on Saturday for the Premiership final before he joins Toulon, and he made just three appearances off the bench.

He started to think doing someabout thing different but then Northampton appointed Chris Boyd as director of rugby, a New Zealander with a reputation for open rugby and giving youth a chance. Ludlam has never looked back.

"Chris has had a massive influence on my career," said Ludlam, who is moving to France after 10 years with Northampton. "Before he came, I was thinking of packing rugby in and trying something else.

"Then he arrived and gave me and other young lads the opportunity to perform with little pressure. His message to us was to rip in, enjoy it and see what happens. For a coach to say that to you takes the pressure off and allows you to be yourself.