Young Gun: Howard Packman – Northampton full-back

It’s not always about what you know, but who you know – and in Howard Packman’s case it was his dad’s rugby connections that landed him his golden opportunity.
A 12-year-old Packman was playing a school match when a Northampton scout appeared at the playing fields to cast his eye over the older boys.
Ordinarily the young speedster would not have had the opportunity to make an impression but also present that day was Packman’s dad – former Saints man, Frank.
Frank Packman played 376 times for Saints and when he ushered the scout towards the U12s, it just so happened his son was about to score a solo try.
Since then the full-back has worked his way up the Saints ranks and earned a spot in this season’s England U20 squad.
The 18-year-old doesn’t believe his dad’s status as a Northampton legend meant he would always follow in his footsteps, but making Frank proud has been no small part of his motivation to date.
“The scout came down to watch some of the older people and I was playing on one of the lower pitches,” he said. “My dad knew the guy so he asked him to have a look over here.
“Apparently I made a break or something and managed to score a try and they were like ‘bring him over’.
“Dad had got me into rugby when I was about five and I played touch for a couple of years. I really got into it and when I was 11 I went along to play for Old Northamptonians.
“I didn’t really see Dad play much but I watched lots of videos – well I have been shown lots of videos by different people!
“He is really supportive and he never pressures me into anything. He just wants me to do as well as I can – he has been really helpful.
“I have always wanted to make my parents, and especially my dad, proud but I also absolutely love it.”
Packman is considered one of the top prospects to come out of a formidable Northampton youth setup, which has produced Ben Cohen, Jamie Elliott and Courtney Lawes, in recent years.
And it is not just the rugby side of the experience that the teenager is enjoying – bunking with the other youngsters has taught him a few things as well.
“I share my academy house with Jordan Onojaife and Harry Betts, and it’s really good,” he added. “We share a bit of the cooking, the washing up and that sort of thing.
“It’s a good environment and everyone buys into it – it’s a lot different from living at home. You are learning all the time.”
On the pitch Packman has not found a mentor as such, but he admitted the arrival of Wales wing George North has since given him something to focus on.
“George is someone I am always watching in training,” he added. “I’m always trying to do similar things, not copying him, but you can really learn stuff from just observing.
“Guys like George, Ben Foden and Ken Pisi – the whole back three really – are all so good.
“We are always training with them so we have a lot of contact and they are always speaking to us. They are always up for chat just to see if you’re OK or to make sure you know what you’re doing.
“I prefer playing at full-back because you get the ball in more space – it is kicked to you and you get the chance to make decisions – but I also enjoy playing wing as well. I think Saints are looking at me for wing so that might be where I end up.”