Gibson makes rapid return as Saints suffer big injury blow

It was announced that Jamie Gibson will be making a rapid return to Franklin's Gardens, having only recently left the black, green and gold at the conclusion of his contract.

But the reason for Gibson's comeback is that Tom Wood has been ruled out for three months, meaning the 33-year-old will miss the rest of the season.

Gibson has rejoined as injury cover until the end of the current campaign, which resumes for Saints with a Gallagher Premiership fixture against Wasps at the Gardens on August 16.

The 29-year-old back row was released last month when his contract ended, and Saints boss Chris Boyd told this publication last week that he had found it tough to let the flanker go.

"Mate, it was really tough, but at the end of the day, those conversations were not about ability, they were financial decisions," said Boyd when speaking about the departures of Jamie Gibson and centre Andy Symons.

"It was just unfortunate that we had half a dozen guys who were left off contract and we had to shave a bit off our budget and lot two or three players as a consequence.

"It was really sad because I enjoyed working with both of them, they're both good men and they would have both made good contributions to the Saints.

"But we had no choice and they were redundancies in a lot of ways.

"We've been conscious that we wanted to keep our family together and we almost did it, but not quite."

Gibson has made 125 appearances for Saints since arriving from local rivals Leicester Tigers in 2015.

He has been a consistent performer and regular in the first-team squad for the past five years, notching up more than 30 matches in a single season twice and just under (29) during the 2017/18 campaign.

That though was arguably Gibson’s finest season in Northampton colours as he was voted Saints Supporters Club player of the season.

He was also named in the BT Sport Dream Team for his fine efforts, having made more turnovers in the Premiership than any other player that term.