Every other year, towards the end of pre-season, Northampton's players are given a pair of smart shoes. Courtesy of a club sponsor - one of the town's many historic cobblers – each pair is personalised with its new owner's 'Saints number', an individual mark of recognition given to everyone have represented the club's first XV.

James Pater was handed his first set with his number - 2,110 - inscribed on the sole, earlier this month. On Friday, he showed how well he can fill a pair of shoes. With club captain George Furbank having moved to Harlequins, Pater was named at full-back for the Prem opener against Newcastle Red Bulls. The 19-year-old crossed for his first try inside four minutes, scored his second inside 15 and ended the evening with a hat-trick, and the player of the match award, donated to him by original recipient Fin Smith.

"James' ceiling is incredibly high," said Northampton boss Phil Dowson earlier this year. "He's incredibly fast and dynamic. He always looks like he has time on the ball. He reads space exceptionally well, he's strong under the high ball, his passing is top quality, he's not afraid to carry the ball into contact or take defenders on, and he finds gaps you don't think are there."

Pater made similarly stealthy progress as a teenager. He only started playing rugby aged 12. "I always played football growing up," Pater told BBC Sport. "I didn't start rugby until I went to secondary school and joined Huntingdon Stags." Around the same time, a star turn helped secure rugby as Pater's priority. One of the lots in a local charity auction was a coaching session with England legend Jonny Wilkinson.