Northampton ‘security incident’ believed to be a hoax

Police were summoned to Franklin’s Gardens at around 19:00 BST on Sunday after threats appeared on social media, but the disturbance that interrupted Northampton’s Champions Cup victory over Cardiff appears to have been a hoax. The match had begun at 17:30, and when the final whistle sounded both teams left the pitch immediately as a precaution.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said enquiries into the incident are ongoing and that officers are working closely with the club and their policing partners on the investigation.

Northampton, who defeated Cardiff 28‑12, expressed regret that supporters could not see the players after the game. The club said the security incident forced both sides to depart the field straight away and thanked fans for their understanding and cooperation. It added that the safety of supporters, players, staff and officials will always remain the top priority.