The rumour mill has always been churning as to when the former All Black star is going to leave Northampton Saints.

Those in the know were sure he would leave when Saints were relegated, then again when his contract was due to expire at the end of last season.

But Spencer is still here and far from being a 'difficult' player to handle, director of rugby Jim Mallinder has held him up as an example to the youngsters at the club.

• Don't miss the Saints pull-out in Saturday's Chron packed with news, views and pictures ahead of the new season

It may come as a surprise to some cynics when Mallinder said: "I think the older players, Tom Smith, Bruce Reihana and Carlos, have been fantastic leaders and role models in terms of getting here early, never complaining and actually enjoying their work."

Virtually every player has said how tough pre-season training has been under new head of performance Nick Johnston, but for somebody with 35 All Black caps and shoulders bigger than most 4x4 bumpers, Spencer isn't about to admit to that.

"It's been easy, Nick Johnson's a big softy," jokes Spencer. "He's been light on the boys."

But seriously, he adds: "I've done a few seasons now you know, and they don't change.

"They're hard work, but they're supposed to be.

"The boys have had a bit of fun and done a bit of hard work at the same time, which we've needed to do."

And after three years without any major success, Spencer is keen to see the new two-year contract that he signed in February culminate with some silverware.

"I've enjoyed the last three years and I'm looking forward to the next two years," says Spencer. "Hopefully we can go somewhere as a club, because it's a great club.

"We've got everything here we just need to put it on the pitch.

"All the new signings are good, mate. Most of the guys are pretty good.

"I saw that three years ago, but we just weren't good enough to stay up.

"We've got new coaches in, new trainers in, new guys to try to get this club where it belongs and where it should be so that's pretty exciting for me. I'm just looking forward to the challenge."

So will this be his last two years in the game?

"I've got plenty of years left yet," says Spencer. "I'm in my prime, mate!

"I just carry on, and I'll track on until I've had enough, to be honest, until I can't get up in the morning and when I don't enjoy going to training.

"I love coming in and throwing a rugby ball around
and chucking the weights around in the gym – it's all
good, mate.

"When that day stops I think it's probably time to give up."

National League One was something of a doddle for Saints, but it at least gave fans

the chance to see Spencer at work with plenty of space.

Once he was shifted to fly-half after Christmas the man terminally dubbed as 'mercurial' was simply awesome.

The matadorial display against Plymouth in the mud and rain of Brickfields was a privilege to watch.

Spencer was picked in the Rugby Times National League One dream team by the division's coaches and was third in the Chronicle & Echo's Player of the Year voting. There might not be so much time and space in the Premiership, but Spencer still oozes class.

"Last year was tough to get up, because you knew you were going to go there and win," says Spencer. "The game you didn't quite get up for were the lesser teams and they're the teams that almost knocked us off.

"It was difficult to get up for every week, but it was enjoyable at the same time with some good long bus trips where the boys got to do a bit of team bonding, have a few vessels and what not, so that was good.

"I definitely prefer to be at fly-half in the Premiership,
but, mate, I'm happy with anywhere just as long as I'm on the pitch."

With so many options for Saints, Spencer could well find himself at centre or full-back this season, just like last season.

Long time partner and buddy Mark Robinson has gone, but the prospect of pairing exciting talent Ben Foden with Spencer is more mouth-watering than a packet of opal fruits.

Wherever he is on the pitch, Spencer is hoping the new laws will reward the speedy ball-carriers.

"It's going to be interesting," says Spencer.

"You hope the rules will speed up the game, which will suit the backs and obviously suit the smaller forward packs, which is one of us.

"Hopefully, it will open up the game."