Northampton Rugby

James Wilson, the full back for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the Northampton Saints has signed a new and improved contract that will keep him at the Franklin’s Gardens club for the foreseeable future. The 29 year old player from New Zealand becomes the second player in the last one week to have agreed a new contract with the club after team mate Stephen Myler put pen to paper on a new and improved deal with the club on Wednesday.

Wilson arrived at the English club just last summer after spending a year with Bourgoin having spent the majority of his playing career with Southland in the Ranfurly Shield as well as the ITM Cup. And speaking about his new contract with the club, the player stated that to put it in mild words, he is absolutely over the moon. He also stated that he is grateful for Jim Mallinder, the Director of Rugby of the Northampton Saints as well as the other coaching staff for giving him the opportunity to play at the club and having been given the chance to play for a long period with the club from Franklin’s Gardens is absolutely fantastic.

Wilson stated that the team environment is extremely fantastic and he it feels great to be a proud of that environment  – adding that each and every player tries to give it his all and the club tries to play a brand of rugby that is beautiful.

Wilson also mentioned that over the next few years, he sees the Northampton Saints getting better and better and in due time, will compete with the cream of the crop. Jim Mallinder also stated that he is delighted to see his star player extend his contract with the club as the club tries to tie down its best players.

Jim Mallinder, the Director of Rugby for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the Northampton Saints has admitted that his side deserved to be knocked out of the Heineken Cup, the most prestigious competition for rugby clubs in Europe. The Jimmies suffered a last gasp defeat at the hands of the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland when a last gasp goal from Peter Horne condemned the English club to the next few months without European games as their record is not good enough to qualify them for the next best European competition, the Amlin Challenge Cup as well.

The Jimmies, who currently lie in fifth in the Aviva Premiership table have been having a stop and start season so far, brilliant in one game and absolutely rubbish in another and they went into the game against the Scottish giants knowing only a win with a bonus point would see them stand the slightest chance of qualifying to the next stages of the competition.  But that was not meant to be and in spite of their best efforts which saw the Northampton Saints score three tries, they lost out 27-20 after Horne scored in the last seconds of the game.

And Mallinder admitted that it is the inconsistency of his side that cost them a place in Europe. He stated that it is proven that when they want, they can get the wins they need as displayed with the against Ulster away from home as they became the only visiting team to win there, but the key issue was to be consistent, which they are not.

The Northampton Saints will now need to concentrate on the Aviva Premiership as they try to keep up the pace with the leading pack and hope to ensure qualification to the playoff as soon as possible.