Club captain George Furbank and Saints excited for the new season

Sometimes dreams do come true.

In the space of 10 years, George Furbank went from watching in the stands as Northampton Saints lifted the Gallagher Premiership title to being on the pitch to repeat the feat himself. 

Now he is his club's captain.

The 27-year-old said it was a "no-brainer" to say yes when Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty asked him this summer if he wanted to succeed Lewis Ludlam with the captaincy.

"It is a pretty surreal moment," Furbank said. "I got to experience a little bit of it last year, jumping in when Luds (Lewis Ludlum) was injured, which I loved doing.

"To be named club captain, I feel pretty proud to be honest. As a Saints fan, being able to captain my side, it is an incredible feeling.

"I gave my Mum a call, let her know the news and she spread it to the rest of the family. They are quite proud.

"I used to go to Saints games with my Dad. He is quite excited I think."

The England international sat in the South West stand of Allianz Stadium a decade ago as Saints beat Saracens 24-20 with an Alex Waller try at the death.

A decade later and the homegrown full-back was one of the stars of the show for Northampton as they played out a 25-21 thriller with Bath Rugby.

England trio Tommy Freeman, Ollie Sleightholme and Alex Mitchell all crossed the whitewash for Saints, who now have the task of defending their title.

They begin with a trip to the Rec for a repeat of last season's Final beneath the Friday night lights, a fixture certain to get the pulse racing for the new Gallagher Premiership Rugby season.

The first domino to tumble on a season that will conclude at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 14 June, Furbank believes the challenge of retaining their crown will act as more than sufficient motivation for Saints to go again.

"The obvious team goal is to finish in that top two again, get a home semi-final and go from there really," Furbank said.

"Within the group there is going to be some different individual motivations. 

"For the core group of us that were here last year, there is the opportunity to become the greatest Saints team and go back-to-back and be the only Saints team to have done that. That is a massive driver for me.

"There are some new lads that have won the Premiership with another club, but will be desperate to do that with Saints.

"There will be other lads who have not won the Premiership before, not featured in the final, that will be wanting to make their mark.

"There is lots of individual motivation. But we are all pulling together for the same goal."

While others could see being reigning champions as daunting, Furbank sees it as a privilege.

In years gone by back-to-back league titles have been a rarity in Gallagher Premiership Rugby, let alone in sport as a whole.

In their last title defence, Northampton reached the semi-finals only to lose out 29-24 to Saracens at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.

This time around Furbank is savouring the challenge of setting the tone in the league.

"If you are the chased team, you have obviously done pretty well the year before," Furbank said.

"It adds an element of pressure to each one of your games. Teams will be ramped up for it.

"It is a hard thing going back to back. In sport, not many teams do it. Which means it is a tough challenge.

"But it is one that we are relishing and excited to do."