Saints keep their Kiwi lock
Northampton Saints have announced that 32-year-old Kiwi lock Mark Sorenson has signed an extension to his contract with the club.
Sorenson is currently in his second season at Franklin’s Gardens, having moved south from Newcastle in the summer of 2010. In that short space of time he has already passed the 50-appearance mark – winning his club cap in the process – and experienced playing in a Heineken Cup Final and Premiership semifinal.
Born in Wellington, Sorenson moved to England in 2006 from Bay of Plenty, where he had been voted the team’s best forward. At Kingston Park he was a firm fans’ favourite, winning both the Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year awards in 2008.
This season he has featured in all bar two of the Saints’ matches in all competitions, helping the team to the Anglo-Welsh Cup semifinals and scoring his first try in the black, green and gold in December’s trip to Castres.
“I’m excited to have signed again,” he said. “It’s a rugby mad area, which is something I really like and reminds me of where I grew up in New Zealand. The Saints fans are really knowledgeable about their rugby and give us loads of support home and away.
“It’s been exciting to have been a part of the club over the past 18 months, especially playing in a massive match like the Heineken Cup final. It’s the type of occasion every player wants to be a part of.
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said he was delighted that Sorenson had signed again.
“Mark has been a good person to have around the club, for both his playing ability and experience,” he said. “This is why we signed him in the first place and why we wanted him to stay at Franklin’s Gardens.
“We have plenty of talented youngsters, but you also need some older heads who have experienced the highs and lows in the sport and can set an example for the younger lads,” he added.
The Saints also announced that hooker Ross McMillan – who has been on trial at Franklin’s Gardens since October – has signed a short-term contract until the end of the season. Brett Sharman has been ruled out for several months after having had an operation following a knee injury sustained in the Anglo-Welsh Cup trip to Bath at the end of January.
