Northampton Saints
Clark signs on for more
By Saint Tim
September 21 2011
Northampton Saints today announced that Calum Clark has signed a new contract with the club. The 22-year-old forward has just started his second season at the Saints, having arrived at Franklin’s Gardens last summer from Leeds Carnegie.
After making his debut in the East Midlands derby win over Leicester Clark went on to play more times in the first team than any other Saints player, his start in the Heineken Cup final being his 35th appearance of the season.
Along the way he captained the Saints team on a number of occasions in Aviva Premiership Rugby and LV= Cup. This built on the leadership experience gained in the 2009 IRB Junior World Championships, when Clark skippered England to the final.
His performances ensured Clark was overwhelmingly voted the Saints Young Player of the Season by the club’s supporters.
With three more starts already under his belt this season Clark is well on the way to his Saints club cap, and he believes that the Saints fans will see a lot more from him over the next few years.
“I certainly hope that the fans will see me improve in the next few years,” he said. “I definitely feel like Northampton is the right club to be at, especially at this stage of my career. The coaches are very hands on and talking to us as players. They’re focussed on the team winning and players getting better as individuals and achieving the most they can.
“Moving to a club that is in a strong position off and on the field has really helped me plan for the future. I’ve been able to focus on the rugby and I definitely feel like I’ve improved as a player.
“I’ve been here for a season and we’ve enjoyed a fair bit of success, even though we didn’t finish the last campaign in the way we wanted. Hopefully there’s more to come from me personally and from us as a squad.”
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder says that having Clark commit himself to more service at the Saints this early in the season is a great statement of intent by the player and club alike.
“In a short period of time Calum has become an integral member of the squad,” he said. “He can play in both the back row and second row, which gives a lot of flexibility, and he always gives a hundred percent to the team effort. Calum has also shown his leadership skills on many occasions and it is easy to forget that he is still in the early years of his career.
“He certainly has a bright future ahead of him and I’m delighted that he has chosen that it will be at the Saints. We believe that we are a club that is on the up and securing the commitment of players like Calum is very important for us.”
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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
On a slightly related subject: what's with his bits of tissue sticking out of his ears?! Mum (Mrs MK Al) thinks he forgot to take them out after cleaning his ears!
FHS.
Saint til I die
This was an immediate release one so basically a cut and paste. If we get an embargoed one we can put a little more effort into personalising it for the board. I was lucky here the release came in just as I broke for lunch and could thus get it as an article before the news broke on the offy :-)
“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
And as to those ears I had wondered if he was related to Dr Spock
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:22:00:34:07 by angelsaint.
Quote:angelsaint
I had wondered if he was related to Dr Spock
Yes, I thought he was trying to look like a pediatrician too.
(sorry, AS, couldn't resist
) Such passion as well.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
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