Foden aims for extended Saints stay
BEN FODEN says he will be a Saints player 'for a long time'.
The flying full-back has declared he wants to play out the best days of his rugby career at Franklin's Gardens.
Foden helped Jim Mallinder's men to a European Challenge Cup triumph in his first season at the club and was an integral part of the side which won the LV= Cup, finished second in the Guinness Premiership and reached the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup last season.
And he starred for England on Sunday, scoring a try in their 35-26 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Such consistent form will draw envious eyes from club bosses all over Europe, but there is only one side Foden wants to play in and that is Saints'.
"I don't want to be seen as a player that hops around clubs," said the 24-year-old. "I love the coaches, I love the physios, the guys there and the atmosphere around the club. Hopefully next year we'll be doing similar things and it'll just show that Northampton is the place to be at so I'll be there for a long time.
"For me, I want to be a player that's involved with a successful club and hopefully next year we'll take a step forward and be in the final of the Premiership and the semi-final of the Heineken Cup and the challenges that it'll bring."
Saints' bright future will rely on the development of the young stars at the club and Foden is hoping that the academy coaches can unearth a few more players with the potential of England ace Courtney Lawes.
He added: "They've just cleaned out the academy and they're really putting a massive focus on it this year, on the guys who are going to come through, so we'll see what they do with the academy lads.
"Hopefully there'll be a few more Courtney Lawes and a few more Paul Diggins coming through the ranks and hopefully we'll be able to see them next year and the year after."
Meanwhile, Saints scrum-half Lee Dickson has been called up to the England Saxons squad to replace Paul Hodgson, who has joined the senior tour of Australia.
The Saxons begin their Churchill Cup campaign in Denver, USA, next Wednesday against Russia.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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