Young Gun: Danny Herriot – Northampton prop

With Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Mujati both apparently on their way out of Franklin’s Gardens there are some big boots to fill in the Saints front row.
Tighthead prop Danny Herriott got his first taste of the Northampton first team three weeks ago in the LV= Cup clash with Harlequins.
Still only 19, Herriott has a little way to go before he cements his place in the Saints first team but the early signs are certainly encouraging.
And having signed a dual-registration deal with Moseley this season Herriott will get ample opportunity to stake his claim to Jim Mallinder and Dorian West.
“It was a great experience to get that first appearance for North-ampton,” said Herriott.
“Paul Doran Jones started the game but I came on for the last ten minutes. I had one scrum which went pretty well. It was on their ball but we didn’t go backwards. My scrummaging is probably my strongest area so it’s nice to know that it’s going ok.
“Coming into the season my ambition was to be involved at some point with the LV= Cup – to have done in the very first game is pretty good. I’m going to keep pushing and hopefully I can get back involved with the first team again when the ‘LV’ comes back.
“I’m also getting some game time with Moseley and Coventry so that’s a good experience for me.
“Ethan Waller is playing at Moseley with me and if you look back, a few of the guys at Saints have been out there and then broken into the first team.
“We know that if we perform there are opportunities there and if you look at Ethan and Alex Waller they have both done a similar thing to me and are getting games.
“Playing those sorts of games is really good for my development, going up against some big blokes and powerful scrummagers.
“I couldn’t ask for better mentors at Northampton with Dorian West looking after the pack and Paul Doran Jones helping me out as well.
“With the first team and the academy players training together I get the opportunity to scrummage against some very good players so that will only help my development.”
Having come through Northampton’s academy partner Moulton College and played all his rugby for Saints it would be easy to think Herriott is your typical Northampton player.
Originally hailing from Deal on the South-east coast, Herriott used to have quite a journey back and forth to Saints, with his father Dave having to drive him up to Franklin’s Gardens for the 300-mile-plus round trip.
He explained: “My dad has always been a big rugby fan and played for my home team back in Deal.
“When I was still living at home but training up at Saints he would give me lifts there and back.
“It’s always been my sport but even so I was lucky to have my dad helping me out like that.”
Now a tighthead, Herriott plied his trade on the other side of the scrum until the age of 18.
He added: “It was Ian Peel who convinced me to make the move from loosehead. It’s definitely the position I prefer.
“I’ve been working on my scrummaging and it’s definitely my strength but I do like getting my hands on the ball as well and trying to take the ball up.
“I was involved in the England U18s and U19s so I want to get involved with the U20s this year. I’m not in the squad at the moment but they have said I’m not far off so I will just have to keep working on it.”