Saints skipper Dylan Hartley has been included in the British & Irish Lions squad for this summer’s tour of Hong Kong and Australia.
The hooker was the only member of the current Northampton team to make the cut, meaning there was disappointment for the likes of Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes.
But Hartley will be joined by future Saint George North, with the Wales wing always a certainty to be selected by Warren Gatland.
The names of the men making up the touring party were announced at a press conference at 11am on Tuesday by tour manager Andy Irvine.
And for Hartley, who will compete against England team-mate Tom Youngs and Wales star Richard Hibbard for a starting spot, and North there was reason to celebrate.
Lions squad
Full-backs: Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg, Rob Kearney
Wings: Tommy Bowe, Sean Maitland, George North, Alex Cuthbert
Centres: Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Brian O’Driscoll, Manu Tuilagi
Fly-halves: Owen Farrell, Jonathan Sexton
Scrum-halves: Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs, Conor Murray
Props: Cian Healy, Adam Jones, Dan Cole, Matt Stevens, Mako Vunipola, Gethin Jenkins
Hookers: Dylan Hartley, Richard Hibbard, Tom Youngs
Locks: Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell, Geoff Parling, Richie Gray, Ian Evans
Back row: Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, Dan Lydiate, Sean O’Brien, Justin Tipuric, Tom Croft, Sam Warburton