Northampton Saints
News: Two Re-signings Announced today
By Comeonyousaints.com
November 7 2012
Internationals sign new deals with Saints
Northampton Saints today announced that two of the club's international backs have put pen to paper on new contracts.
George Pisi and Vasily Artemyev both arrived at Franklin's Gardens after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but after just a year both have agreed brand new deals to stay in the East Midlands.
Twenty-six-year-old Pisi has had a sensational first 12 months in the black, green and gold. Not only was the Samoan centre named in the 2011/12 Aviva Premiership Rugby Dream Team but he picked up both the Supporters' Player and Players' Player of the Season awards with his club.
In his 31 appearances he has scored eight tries, but created plenty more with his powerful and skilful approach play.
“I'm enjoying my rugby over here,” he commented. “Saints is a good club, I've made a lot of new friends and this is a place which is moving forward. We're trying to play a good brand of rugby and Franklin's Gardens is a great place to play. Playing in the Heineken Cup is awesome; it's the best competition in the world.
“My wife is enjoying her time here as well, which is very important to me, and Northampton is a good place. Having Ken here is a bonus, it makes us a family. The fans are passionate and have made our stay here very pleasant.
“Hopefully there's a lot more to come from all of us!”
Artemyev, 25, has also played 31 times in his first 12 months in the world'most competitive club competitions. A hat trick scorer on his debut, the Russian s wing has crossed the whitewash nine times so far in his Saints' career.
But while, like Pisi, Artemyev says he is enjoying his Northampton experience, he acknowledges that there is plenty still to learn and believes that there is more to come.
“I've really enjoyed my time here at the Saints and am excited to sign a new contract,” he said. "It wasn't a hard decision to make and I'm really happy to stay at the club. It's been a massive learning curve for me as a player and I think that I still have a long way to go to be at the top of my game, but I'm enjoying my rugby, which is important for me.
“The whole town has been good and the people have been friendly, which has been important for myself and my partner to settle. It's a good squad and a good place to come into work, but while everyone says that there is a lot of potential here at the Saints we know that we have to keep on working. Having said that, there's a lot more in the tank for all of us.”
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said that re-signing both players so early in the season is a big statement of intent by the Saints.
“George and Vasily have shown already that they have the ability to contribute to a successful future at Franklin's Gardens,” he said. “George had a superb first season and has carried that on in the current campaign. Vasily has shown regularly that he has the talent to shine in the Aviva Premiership and although he knows that he can still add things to his game he is eager to learn and works with all of the coaches.
“We have a squad which includes England players on long-term contracts, already this year some of our best Senior Academy youngsters have put pen to paper, and with George and Vasily both having plenty more years in front of them we believe that the pieces are in place for a legacy of success at the Saints.”
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Harsh as it may sound, on current game form I think Vasily is incredibly lucky to be offered a contract extension so early into the season. For me at the moment, Vas would have to prove he warrants a new contract with his on-pitch performance by fighting tooth and nail to get over the whitewash, in much the same fashion as Digger did last season.
That being said, this could prove a boost to Vas, with the show of faith from Jim telling him that he believes in him, and thus hopefully his confidence will return.
We will see!
Vas is a work in progress, great flashes of talent, good pace and can beat players but all wrapped up in mistakes and errors of judgement. Let's hope he goes onto be as good or better than Ashton.
A good day all round I'd say. I can think of a couple of our players where my reaction would be "ok, good luck to you mate" and that would be that. These aren't two of them.
Well done to both players. Very happy for them.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
they seem to be contracting the "absolutely definites" from the academy good and early on the basis that this helps them to decide next season's academy good and early
starting early on renewals is as close to acknowledging that this year's recruitment needs to have a sharper edge than last year's as you could possibly expect from our current management.
that's good - who needs admissions and breast-beating if you get action instead?
My only concern with (or for) Vas is that he is having to learn in a harsh environment and in the glare of it all. The AP will find you out if your game is not spot on. The main area of development is with his ball handling. It is not instinctive nor sound. I'd send him to the Tom Smith or Mark Easter school of ball handling and get him to play cricket in the Summer.
Flash had the advantage of a year in Div 1 to help his transition. Vas has not had a quiet spell since he arrived.
I agree its a positive sign.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
I still think come the end of the year Vas will be our first choice winger, hopefully the new contract security can give him the confidence I think he lacks at times.
Read Vas's comments in the article. He knows he has more hard work to do to improve, which is a refreshingly honest contrast to some players we've had who thought they were the bees knees when in fact they were mediocre.
Anyone else remember when London Irish actually had all Irish backs in their team? you never knew what they would do next, and boy were they skillful footballers (and bl**dy tough).
Quote:Christy
Perhaps he needs a couple more Irish trained backs with him?
In a way you may have a point there...with the wider faster game we seem to be trying to play this season, we quite often go wide. If we were to punch it up the middle a bit more this might give Vas the space he needs. I've never thought much of Varndell, but with good work in the centre of the pitch he can certainly exploit the space out wide.
It might also help Ken who seems to have developed a habit of running out of pitch.
First stop putting Vas down ... compare his try tally to a certain scottish winger... Digger has been injured and there are more questions about other wing spots.
Second.... KP had to get a cap... this happened we signed. Next Jim said continuously he was saving some of the cap... this brought the Bourguin pair.
Third there was obviously some centre trawling in Wales which failed after which we went for Dom .... in my opinion a great move. This took a while.
The strategy can be early this year and thank goodness for our happiness.... STJ
All those quoting his try count last season, it’s worth point out that he scored 7 in 2011 - 2012. Six of those came in his first three games, the 7th came in December 2011.
Since then he’s scored 2 tries. That’s 2 tries in about 6 months of rugby… from a winger with good pace, a nice step and a nose for an angle. I’m sure he knows that’s not good enough and I’m sure the coaches know he’s capable of more – hence his new contract.
Point of note, I can remember two backs who scored three tries for us on their debut, one was Ashton, I’ll give you a hint as to the other… 1) he’s French, 2) he didn’t go on to have a glittering try scoring career with us.
It remains to be seen which camp VA will sit in, the former or the latter. I’m hopeful he’ll write his own history.
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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