Northampton Saints
News: Saints add King to Coaching Staff
By ComeOnYouSaints.com
January 4 2013
Northampton Saints today announced that Alex King will be joining the club's coaching staff ahead of the 2013/14 campaign.
Over the past five years the 37-year-old former England fly half has built up a reputation as one of the most exciting coaches in European rugby. King joins the Saints from Clermont Auvergne, where as assistant coach he helped the French club win the Top 14 for the very first time in 2010, and reaching the 2012 semi-final of the Heineken Cup.
This season Clermont remain undefeated in a Heineken Cup pool which includes Leinster and Exeter and currently lie second in the Top 14 table.
But while King says that he is focused on bringing more silverware to the Stade Marcel Michelin this season he is looking forward to developing himself further as part of Jim Mallinder's coaching staff at Franklin's Gardens.
"I'm very excited about the prospect of joining Northampton Saints, which is one of the biggest clubs in Europe," King commented. "In Jim Mallinder the Saints have a director of rugby that I respect greatly and a good, young team with plenty of talented English players. The club also has a great support base and I hope that I'll be able to help bring success to Franklin's Gardens.
"I've had an amazing six years in France as a player and a coach. I always wanted to play in France and immerse myself in a different culture. I have done that and learned a great deal by working with great coaches like Vern Cotter, Joe Schmidt and Franck Azema.
"I feel that I am more knowledgeable about the sport and hopefully I can bring that to Northampton. I'm certainly looking forward to working with Jim, Dorian West and the other coaches at the Saints and believe that it is the right fit for me professionally and personally. It's the right time for me to come home to England and to a club like the Saints, which has a very bright future under Jim's leadership."
As a player King won everything there is to win in England, including two Heineken Cups and four league titles with London Wasps, and Mallinder says that this knowledge, along with his more recent experience in France, will help the Saints take the next step in the club's development.
"We have been inundated with applications from coaches over the past few weeks, but I believe that Alex is the right person to help us move forward as a group," the Saints director of rugby commented. "As a player he was part of an excellent London Wasps team, and as a coach he has helped Clermont Auvergne become one of the top clubs in Europe.
"He has built up a considerable amount of experience in a short space of time and is a coach who has some exciting ideas. I'm looking forward to Alex joining us in the summer and establishing himself at Franklin's Gardens."
The Saints also confirmed that Alan Dickens will be remaining at Franklin's Gardens in a combined role that will see him continue as Academy Manager and in the first team coaching group.
"Alan is an important member of our coaching group and I am looking forward to him continuing his excellent work leading the Saints Academy while developing himself as a coach with the first team," Mallinder added.
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“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Quote:Saint Tim
Signed early enough to have an influence over signings for next season?
I'd like to think so, Tim. Perhaps some of our existing players who are up for renewal will sign on the Saints dotted line now too.
I'm excited about what Alex can bring. Welcome aboard.
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Reckon he can bring Fofana with him?
Also fair play to Robbie R for suggesting King in an earlier post (sorry RR can't find it) good spot.
and good for recruitment too now if Kingy can get our backs firing like Clermont wooo hooo!
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
we must have gone loaded for bear when we hunted this one down.
*been there got the T shirt
*show us your medals - 10/10
*connections - might well bring a player or two and will certainly know the french market.
*will he fight his corner in the boot room - surely
*outsider's view? -yes. good for Jim in welcoming this.
*fresh ideas?-yes.
*will there be a few envious clubs tonight ?-yes, i think there will be.
any more to come ? i'd love to see one more to come and look after defence and the breakdown (attacking and defending) where i have a feeling we may be a year or two behind best practice at present.
Best of luck to him at Saints.
A top bloke, great player and from all accounts an excellent coach.
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Now to move past the sleeping giant phase.
Quote:StBleach
I don't think anybody saw that happening..
I knew ten years ago!
Still worried about the remainder of the season though. September is a long time away.
Quote:LaurieK
This seems a very good signing. I wonder what Alex's job description will cover. Is he mainly regarded as an attack coach or is defence there as well. Great that the club has acted so speedily. That is as good as the result.
Still worried about the remainder of the season though. September is a long time away.
I think he is currently Skills/Defense .. But i am too lazy to check that.
Welcome to the Saints Mr King
Bridesmaids no more.
"sup·port·er"
Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Welcome Kinga and best wishes
Quote:Bob Stainsby
Great News well done Saints and Jim!!!!
Also fair play to Robbie R for suggesting King in an earlier post (sorry RR can't find it) good spot.
and good for recruitment too now if Kingy can get our backs firing like Clermont wooo hooo!
Cheers Bob, glad to see some of my sources are still reliable!!!
Quote:Your "kidding"... Oh hang on I thought you wrote goat?MoANjAm
@Lloydie? You owe me a groat!
Great prediction mate bet u wish you had bet on it?
i really look forward to some exciting rugby being played with maybe 1 or 2 new signings
Quote:LaurieK
I wonder what Alex's job description will cover
DOR in Waiting, for when the board decide that the JM/DW team have run their course?
Quote:smitferbrainz
Best bit of recruiting made since I've been following Saints IMO. Welcome Kingy. Hope to see our backs developing big style next season with top player signings to follow....hopefully. It's key Saints follow this up with quality backs recruitment even if it means shifting a few on.
I hope that he hasn't just been employed to coach the backs; the whole team, includin the forwards, need to buy into the attacking strategy. I.e. it's no good being able to pull off fantastic backs moves if you're front row get in the way, or recieve ball that they shouldn't.
Very excited by this, just a shame he's not joining tomorrow! Think we've got the defence sorted, not givin lots of kickable pens away, just not scoring tries! If we can solve problem that then we are back at the races this season let alone next season!!
Quote:Rubadubdub; remember Seb Tubb?Quote:smitferbrainz
Best bit of recruiting made since I've been following Saints IMO. Welcome Kingy. Hope to see our backs developing big style next season with top player signings to follow....hopefully. It's key Saints follow this up with quality backs recruitment even if it means shifting a few on.
I hope that he hasn't just been employed to coach the backs; the whole team, includin the forwards, need to buy into the attacking strategy. I.e. it's no good being able to pull off fantastic backs moves if you're front row get in the way, or recieve ball that they shouldn't.
Very excited by this, just a shame he's not joining tomorrow! Think we've got the defence sorted, not givin lots of kickable pens away, just not scoring tries! If we can solve problem that then we are back at the races this season let alone next season!!
Fair enough but I think we "have" the forwards even with Mooj and Tiny leaving. I don't think we "have" the backs either now, let alone next season. I hope that AKs signing will attract quality backs to the club as well as quality forwards. It's behind the pack we need fixing and with better quality backs behind an already cohesive pack we could do something next season. I think part of AKs signing is about attracting better quality players to the club.
Also, I've just re-read my last post; it comes off a bit shirty towards you doesn't it! Soz! Not my intention at all pal. It's just that the game has moved on from the one that I used to play; much more integration in practice, with far more attack and defence drills than forwards/backs drills. Obviously forwards have scrimmage and line out drills. But everything else from rucking, mauling, handling, tackling and attacking has to be a team effort.
For some weeks there have been comments on ths board about whether or not Saints is a club that will attract the best players. I have certainly wondered, as have others. I feel better about this area now. I think players will want to come here now. This coaching signing will be noticed. The ESPN commentators were talking about it in the Wuss v Tigs game. Today may be the best day in our season.
Quote:Alan B
does he still have nightmares about Big Ben?
Charge down conversions!! Twice in that quarter final wasn't it..
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