Northampton Saints
News: Paul Doran-Jones gets a halo
By COYSDC
January 31 2011
Northampton Saints will today announce the signing of Paul Doran Jones for next season.
The 25-year-old prop joins the Saints from Gloucester, where he has played for the last two seasons.
Comfortable on either side of the scrum, Doran-Jones was capped by England in the 2009 Autumn Internationals and is in the England Elite Playing Squad currently preparing for the Six Nations. A member of England's touring party last summer, Doran-Jones has also played non-cap games against the Barbarians, Australia 'A' and the New Zealand Maori.
Educated at Wellington College, Doran-Jones joined Gloucester from London Welsh, with his previous clubs also including Lansdowne RFC, for whom he played while studying at University College, Dublin, and Leinster, where he spent four seasons between 2003 and 2007.
Doran-Jones's representative career includes caps for England Under-18 and Ireland Under-19 and Under-21, and in addition to his Aviva Premiership Rugby experience in the Cherry and White he has played in the Heineken Cup and in all of Gloucester's Amlin Challenge Cup pool matches this season.
He is excited by the prospect of joining the Saints.
"I played against the Saints in my first game for London Welsh and it's always been tough playing against them," he said. "They've got a history of having a strong pack and it will be great to be a part of the squad at Franklin's Gardens.
"I'm looking forward to getting in and training with the boys. I've been with a few of them with England and the banter's starting already. The likes of Dylan and Courtney and the other guys like Tonga'uiha and Mujati have done really well this season and I want to be a part of that.
"Gloucester has been a great club for me. It's tough to leave the place where I had my chance. The clubs are similar with great followings and histories and Kingsholm will always be a special place for me.
"But I'm looking forward to the challenge of moving to Franklin's Gardens and challenging for my place at the Saints. They are showing where they can be in the current Heineken Cup and I want to be competing at that level week in, week out in the future and improve myself as a player."
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said that Doran-Jones will be a good addition to the Saints squad.
"Paul is a quality prop who has the added benefit of playing on either side of the scrum," he said. "As we prepare for a tough Aviva Premiership and European campaign we need players who are flexible enough to play in a variety of positions, and to have props like Paul, Tom Mercey and Brian Mujati who can play at tight and loose-head will only be good for the Saints squad.
"Having quality players in these positions will mean that competition will remain fierce and will also continue to push our standards higher and higher, which we need if we want to stay competing at the top end of the Premiership and in the later stages of Europe."
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponNews: Paul Doran-Jones gets a halo
Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 31/01/2011 07:38
ComeOnYouSaints.com
31/01/2011 07:38
31/01/2011 07:38
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Unless I've missed the news further down the board, Saints have confirmed Paul Doran-Jones will join us next season from Gloucester:
Offy link
Photo Gallery
Offy link
Photo Gallery
It says "Northampton Saints today announced that Paul Doran Jones will join the club ahead of the 2011/12 season.".
It's an interesting choice of words suggesting that he will be with us earlier than what might be regarded as normal.
He looks like an excellent signing.
It's an interesting choice of words suggesting that he will be with us earlier than what might be regarded as normal.
He looks like an excellent signing.
Welcome aboard big man. Hopefully we'll see you here for a few years to come and can win some more silverware. So what do people think will be our prop movements at the end of the year? Will we keep Mercey, will Dreyer be off back to SA?
That's some good strength in depth. Delighted.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Anyone else wondering if his signing has been a done deal for a while, and was perhaps a factor in the departure of Euan Murray?
Oh, and a good signing - welcome!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:01:31:08:36:10 by shendy.
Oh, and a good signing - welcome!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:01:31:08:36:10 by shendy.
Will the East Midlands start to subside with the weight of decent props arriving?
Cracking signing. Welcome Saint Paul.....
Its perhaps an interesting observation that while our pack has been utterly transformed, five of our starting outside backs remain the same as our Championship season.
Its perhaps an interesting observation that while our pack has been utterly transformed, five of our starting outside backs remain the same as our Championship season.
I'm really pleased, he looks to be a quality young player who could mature to be a mainstay of England's scrum for a good while yet. Well done Jim et al!
I like this lads style.
All the plaudits have gone Tonga'uhia's and Mujati's way this season, yet he wants to come here to work with Dorian and force his way into the team. Excellent attitude.
As tedge said, I wonder if our new recruits realise what the Hood will be doing to them over the summer!!!
All the plaudits have gone Tonga'uhia's and Mujati's way this season, yet he wants to come here to work with Dorian and force his way into the team. Excellent attitude.
As tedge said, I wonder if our new recruits realise what the Hood will be doing to them over the summer!!!
Stoofer,
in that Championship season those backs played a major part in smashing the leagues points scoring record and Flash scored more tries than any other player. So not too shabby really.
"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.
in that Championship season those backs played a major part in smashing the leagues points scoring record and Flash scored more tries than any other player. So not too shabby really.
"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.
Excellent replacement for Murray and probably cheaper. Good news for a Monday morning !
Saint til I die
Saint til I die
very interesting statistic, stoofer.
interestingly , the rugby paper reports that joe has had a financial offer from saints, but is the subject of interest from the scottish pro teams and has also held talks with LI.
if he leaves, it will be an unusual instance of us trading off the present/future in favour of the present/past.
interestingly , the rugby paper reports that joe has had a financial offer from saints, but is the subject of interest from the scottish pro teams and has also held talks with LI.
if he leaves, it will be an unusual instance of us trading off the present/future in favour of the present/past.
Tbh it's hard to find a rationale for Joe staying. Shane too.
All the rumours I'm hearing relate to forwards. It'd be nice to open even the basest gossip rag and find us linked with a world-class distributing / goal kicking / turbo driven 10/12.
All the rumours I'm hearing relate to forwards. It'd be nice to open even the basest gossip rag and find us linked with a world-class distributing / goal kicking / turbo driven 10/12.
If the club favoured rotation then they could both stay, but whilst they stick to a first 15 only, to be disturbed only by injuries and internationals, then what's the point.?
Biggysaint
31/01/2011 22:34
31/01/2011 22:34
Bearing in mind we still have to play Glaws twice this season, hope Tiny goes easy on him..... 
it's one of those bits of recruitment where you can almost hear the click as a section of the jigsaw finally fits together. should suit both player and club.
i'm looking forward to a time when we can , within the celery cap, have tiny , mooj,mercy and doran-jones in a rotation, with waller also improving fast. jim and dorian will know that PDJ is not coming to warm a bench, and if we are set to go head to head with tigers over the next few years our fleet needs as many battleships as theirs.
until then, we risk either playing tiny and mooj into the ground or being found out in the tight.
PDJ is a good deal closer than tom at the moment, but i'm already impressed with tom's rate of improvement this season.the good news with tom is that a really good preseason could make a huge difference to him ; his upper body simply is not yet the finished article if he wants to play tight head , but with his level of experience and technique he could quite quickly become the real deal when he finishes off his physique.
it's a bonus that tom and PDJ can play both positions.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:01:12:10:28 by Broonie.
i'm looking forward to a time when we can , within the celery cap, have tiny , mooj,mercy and doran-jones in a rotation, with waller also improving fast. jim and dorian will know that PDJ is not coming to warm a bench, and if we are set to go head to head with tigers over the next few years our fleet needs as many battleships as theirs.
until then, we risk either playing tiny and mooj into the ground or being found out in the tight.
PDJ is a good deal closer than tom at the moment, but i'm already impressed with tom's rate of improvement this season.the good news with tom is that a really good preseason could make a huge difference to him ; his upper body simply is not yet the finished article if he wants to play tight head , but with his level of experience and technique he could quite quickly become the real deal when he finishes off his physique.
it's a bonus that tom and PDJ can play both positions.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:01:12:10:28 by Broonie.
Broonie, would you agree that Reggie Dreyer hasn't really developed as hoped? Do you see a place for him in the jigsaw?
steve, the way next season is shaping up, with the RWC in there, all bets are off.
tiny will go with samoa, mooj- who knows? PDJ , who knows?
alex has the look of being somewhat above the common run and i'd expect him to reach a higher level than reggie, but when? alex needs at least another 5 kilos without loss of speed - will he make that by next season ? he seems to be ahead in selection now, but is that on performance or potential, who knows.
prescott is regarded as a stop gap, but he's a specialist tight head and if mooj and PDJ are at RWC his value increases.if that is so, does reg's value decrease?
a short and tricky question, to which i can only find a long and bumbling answer.
tiny will go with samoa, mooj- who knows? PDJ , who knows?
alex has the look of being somewhat above the common run and i'd expect him to reach a higher level than reggie, but when? alex needs at least another 5 kilos without loss of speed - will he make that by next season ? he seems to be ahead in selection now, but is that on performance or potential, who knows.
prescott is regarded as a stop gap, but he's a specialist tight head and if mooj and PDJ are at RWC his value increases.if that is so, does reg's value decrease?
a short and tricky question, to which i can only find a long and bumbling answer.
shouldn't think Soane will thank you for sending him to Samoa Broonie, unless it's for his hols.
broonienli
01/02/2011 21:49
01/02/2011 21:49
oops! elderly moment there. sorry to tongans everywhere.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
Northampton Saints News 24/7
More Northampton Saints headlines
- End of season how the squad was used analysis
- This weeks rugby 1st - 5th July
- Weekend Rugby 27th/28th June
- Weekend Rugby 19th - 20th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 12th - 14th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 5th - 7th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 29th - 31st May 20206
- Weekend Rugby 22nd - 23rd May 2026
- Weekend Rugby 15th - 17th May 2026