Premiership
Northampton Quartet Extend Deals
Northampton Saints have confirmed that four of their players have agreed contract extensions with the Premiership club
Northampton Saints have announced that Harry Mallinder, Ahsee Tuala, Tom Collins and Paul Hill have signed contract extensions with the Premiership side.
With almost 400 appearances for the club between them the players extensions are a major boost for the Saints and the club’s director of rugby Chris Boyd is delighted with the business.
“We’re absolutely delighted to sign these boys on. They’re four Saintsmen who’ve been here for a long time and are all an important part of the fabric of our organisation. They’ve all played a good chunk for us, but a few of them are still young too and they’re all important cogs in our machine. We’re not completely finished in terms of our recruitment and retention, but we’re getting very close to getting the balance we want,” he said.
Mallinder is a Saints academy product and the utility-back has become a key man for the club, while Tuala is the most capped player of the lot with 113 appearances to his name and like Mallinder is a star for the team from full-back.
Fellow back Collins was their second highest try-scorer last season with 16 tries and at only 25 he looks set to only get better. Hill is the only forward of the lot and like Collins is young at 24, which for a prop makes his future bright.
It is a major boost for the club who are looking to battle at the top of the Premiership table this season, but sit in fourth following last weekend’s battering at the hands of league leaders Exeter Chiefs and face another tough task this weekend when they head to Saracens.
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
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