Saints lock in some big guns
NEWS: Northampton Saints have managed to sign another 19 first-team players – including some of the biggest names in the game.
England second row forward Courtney Lawes and Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar headline the signing spree at the Premiership club.
Lawes had been linked with a move to France, but the 31-year-old has agreed to stay with the club he has served since emerging as an academy graduate.
Other internationals stay at Franklin’s Gardens include Lewis Ludlam, Teimana Harrison, Piers Francis, George Furbank and Rory Hutchinson.
“Getting so many influential players bought in to what we’re trying to achieve, and committed to staying with us for an additional two or three years, is a huge coup for Saints,” Saints Director of Rugby Chris Boyd said.
“The connection and cooperation of our players to back the club long-term has been great to see.
“We firmly believe we have the players in place already at Franklin’s Gardens to compete at the very highest level of English and European rugby and to challenge for every trophy available to us.”
Alex Mitchell, Alex Moon and Fraser Dingwall – three Saints Academy graduates who all received their first England squad call-up during this year’s Six Nations – have all also put pen to paper on contract extensions.
Meanwhile, the likes of club co-captain Alex Waller, Mikey Haywood, David Ribbans, James Grayson, Ehren Painter, James Fish, and Lewis Bean have all also been rewarded for a string of impressive performances in Black, Green and Gold this term, plus Alex Coles and Samson Ma’asi move from Northampton’s Academy set-up into their first senior contracts.
The 19 players announced Tuesdayday follow a further nine Saints (Henry Taylor, Karl Garside, Harry Mallinder, Tom Collins, Paul Hill, Ahsee Tuala, Api Ratuniyarawa, Connor Tupai, and Ollie Sleightholme) who have also committed their future to the Club in 2020.
