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Five Northampton Saints players sign new deals
Ben Foden, the England international full back is the biggest name among five back players to sign new deals with the Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the Northampton Saints.
The 28 year old Foden has signed on a new contract to remain at the Franklin’s Gardens stadium for the foreseeable future, having already spent six seasons at the club. Foden also has earned 34 caps for the England national team but he is currently out of action as he recuperates from a knee injury.
The others to put pen to paper on a new deal with the club are Lee Dickson, the scrum half who has also been capped by England, Luther Burrell at centre as well as wingers Ken Pisi and Jamie Elliott. And speaking of these players signing new deals with the club, Jim Mallinder, the Director of Rugby of the Northampton Saints stated that it was one of the club’s main priorities to retain the services of those five players.
Mallinder went on to add that it is important for the future of the club to have a core group of players who understand the culture of the club and what the club wants to do in the future and these five players fit into that category.
The 28 year old Dickson joined the club in 2008 and recently passed the 150 appearances mark for the club and also has thirteen caps for England and started all three of their 2013 autumn international matches.
Burrell came into the club back in 2012 from the Sale Sharks and has been hugely impressive in his short time at the club and the likes of Ken Pisi and Elliott, who have been in sparkling form have been rewarded by the Northampton Saints for their efforts in recent seasons for the club.
Day admits he came close to quitting
Christian Day, the lock for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the Northampton Saints has admitted that he almost walked away from the game for good before joining the club some five years back.
The 30 year old has had a resurrection of sorts to his career since his move to the Franklin’s Gardens after stints with fellow English side the Sale Sharks and the French giants Stade Francais.
Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, Day stated that he spent seven great years at Sale and he was immensely successful at the club as well. He admitted that when he joined the Northampton Saints, he was at a crossroads as far as his career was concerned and mentioned that he honestly thought about giving up playing at that time.
Having progressed through the fabled academy at Sale, Day was a permanent fixture in the side for some seasons before he was allowed to move to France on a free transfer after being reduced to a bit part player in the 2007/08 season. However, life in France proved to be very difficult for him and he lasted there just a few months, making a couple of appearances in the Top 14.
But he has since rediscovered his touch with the Jimmies and has flourished under forwards coach Dorian West. And he hailed the tutelage of West stating that his development under West has been massive and he is thankful to him for turning his career around.
Day went on to add that he doesn’t see himself leaving the Northampton Saints anytime in the future, claiming that he loves playing for the club and loves representing the region as well and the more time he spends with them, the better he will get and repay them for the faith shown in him.