Northampton coaching team sign contract extensions

Northampton Saints have announced that coaching group including director of rugby Phil Dowson has signed contract extensions.

Dowson made close to 200 appearances for the Saints between 2009 and 2015 and joined the club as an assistant coach in 2017.

The 42-year-old was appointed the director of rugby ahead of the 2022/23 season succeeding Chris Boyd.

“I’m loving my time at Northampton Saints, as I always have done – whether it be as a player, coach, or now as Director of Rugby,” said Dowson to the club's official website.

“I’m really excited about the group we have together now, and seeing where we can take the Club moving forward.

“The difference from being a coach to being Director of Rugby has been huge, but I’ve been helped hugely by the likes of Chris Boyd, Sam Vesty, the other coaches and the department heads at Saints to make that transition.

"You have to learn quickly when you make mistakes, but I’ve really enjoyed the whole process and I really feel like I have found my feet now in my second year."

Meanwhile, the club also confirmed that coaches Sam Vesty and James Craig have signed new deals.

Vesty initially arrived in Northampton in 2018 as Attack Coach, having cut his teeth at Worcester Warriors following his retirement from playing in 2013. Former Saints lock Craig will continue being in charge of line-out and defensive breakdown coach.

“Signing on again at Saints was a very easy decision for me. It’s a fantastic place to be, we’ve got a great playing group, and I’m excited to see how far they can go," said Vesty.

“This Club is very much about the people who are here – players, coaches, staff, supporters and so on. My family and I feel at home, we love living in Northampton, and we are surrounded by people who support us.

“Everyone’s attitude at the Club is geared towards wanting to be better every single day, and any help I can provide on that journey is really what motivates me, so I jumped at the opportunity to stay on.”