Lawes signs new deal at Gardens
Northampton Saints lock Courtney Lawes has signed a new contract at Franklin's Gardens.
The 20-year-old lock, who won his first England cap as a replacement against Australia during the autumn, has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the game since making his first-team debut for the Saints during their promotion campaign from National League One.
He came to prominence with a man-of-the-match display in the European Challenge Cup win over Montpellier last season and was similarly eye-catching as Saints beat Bourgoin in the tournament final.
Lawes, who has built a reputation for fearsome tackling, strong lineout work and ball-carrying, was also part of the England Under-20 side which reached the World Championship final in Japan last year.
The player admits he never considered leaving Northampton.
"I was always going to stay at the club," he said. "It's a good place to be at the moment in every way - the coaches are great, the lads are great and with how we're playing at the moment.
"It is also always good to play for your hometown club in front of your own fans and hopefully I will be for a long time to come."
Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder is also delighted to see Lawes remain at the club.
He said: "Courtney has developed very quickly into being a good rugby player.
"But he is still very young and we believe that there is more improvement still to come, both physically and in how he plays the game.
He has spent a lot of time with (forwards coach) Dorian West on developing as a player and he still wants to continue learning.
"Courtney has also come up the ranks of the club and he is someone who other young players in the Northampton area can aspire to follow, through the Academy into the first-team squad and then England."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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