Northamptonshire Police have launched an investigation following social media threats that led to the evacuation of spectators at Northampton Saints’ Champions Cup match against Cardiff on Sunday.

The incident occurred at the Franklin’s Gardens stadium in Northampton on October 18, shortly after Saints secured a 28-12 victory over Cardiff. At the final whistle, players from both teams left the field immediately and retreated to the changing rooms. Approximately 13,983 fans were instructed to exit the stadium promptly, although staff and media personnel remained on site.

Typically, Northampton players would spend time post-match signing autographs and meeting family and supporters, but due to security concerns, this customary gathering was cancelled. The club received threats via social media before and during the match, prompting local police to be called to the venue to assess the situation. A police statement said the evacuation was carried out as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all attendees.

During the second half of the game, some spectators detected a burning smell in the Church’s Stand, which was later attributed to a heated gilet rather than any deliberate security threat. Northamptonshire Police confirmed that this was unrelated to the social media threats that triggered the response.

The club and the police emphasized that the welfare and security of fans, players, and staff remain a top priority. They also thanked supporters for their cooperation during the evacuation process.

Cardiff, which had a contingent of away fans despite a challenging 5:30 p.m. kickoff and travel logistics back to Wales, apologized to their supporters for the disruption. A club spokesperson expressed regret that players, staff, and fans had to be swiftly moved after the final whistle due to the safety issue.

Northampton remains the only English club among the weekend’s Champions Cup fixtures to claim victory in their opening match. Director of Rugby Phil Dowson opted to rest several key players, including Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman, ahead of the upcoming Gallagher Premiership clash against Leicester Tigers on Saturday.