England lock Alex Coles signs new deal with Northampton Saints

England lock Alex Coles becomes the latest player to sign a new deal with Northampton Saints.

Coles started playing for Shelford Rugby Club before joining the academy of Northampton Saints at the age of 14. In 2018, he made his club debut for Northampton in a Premiership Rugby Cup match against Wasps.

The 24-year-old recently racked up 100 appearances for the Saints last weekend in the Premiership win over Sale. He has scored 10 tries with three of it coming this season. He claimed the Club’s Breakthrough Player of the Season award in 2021/22 season.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be staying on with Saints. This is my boyhood Club, they spotted me out of school, have brought me through the system here since I was 14 years old, and have invested so much time and effort into making me the player that I am," he told the club's official website.

“I love playing here; it’s a proper rugby town, a Club full of tradition and history, and I feel like all the people around Northampton are so invested in us as a team – that was a big part of my decision.

“On the pitch, it feels like we have something special brewing and I wanted to make sure I am involved in that. There’s a big group of guys that I’ve grown up playing alongside, and now I really want to be part of a group that delivers success for Northampton by winning some trophies."

Coles joins the likes of Sam Graham, Robbie Smith, and Fraser Dingwall and director of rugby Phil Dowson is excited about the prospect of the club's chances.

"He's grown into an incredibly important player for us," said Dowson.

"It's his natural intelligence, his desire to get better, and his ability to influence those around him that is so important for us.

"To have played 100 senior games at 24 years old in such an attritional position, and to have been recognised on the international stage too, is very impressive - but we are sure there is still a lot more to come from him."