Full reaction from Saints coaches as they sign contract extensions
A Formula 1 team can have the best car on the grid, but if they don't have a top driver, it's unlikely they will get that far.
Well, Saints have made sure they have both the car and the driver after it was announced that Phil Dowson, Sam Vesty and James Craig will be keeping this special show on the road in the years to come.
Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Fraser Dingwall and Alex Coles are among the players who have gone up the gears in recent years, and they have already committed their futures to the club this season.
And you feel they wouldn't have done that without knowing that the men who have helped to make them into the international stars they are today would be staying, too.
On Wednesday morning, confirmation came that director of rugby Dowson, head coach Vesty and coach Craig would also be remaining at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens for the foreseeable future.
And how great that will feel for everyone of a black, green and gold persuasion, when you consider what those men have achieved already.
A Gallagher PREM title win in 2024 was followed by an Investec Champions Cup final appearance a year later.
Those big matches arrived with Saints playing some of the most entertaining rugby in Europe, with homegrown talent at the heart of it.
And when you consider their budget in comparison to some other clubs, what has been delivered so far is nothing short of staggering.
This is what Dowson, Vesty and Craig had to say after signing their contract extensions…
Dowson: “I love this club – it’s been a huge part of my life as both a player and a coach. I have so many fond memories from my time here and a real appreciation for what Saints means to the town.
“We’ve got an incredibly talented playing group which I feel still has so much more to offer, supported by brilliant people across the club who are fully invested in what we’re building.
“This coaching team is a big source of enjoyment for me; the cohesion, trust, and balance we share is special, and we’re having a lot of fun doing it.
“Our focus remains on doing things the right way – developing local lads through the Academy and creating an environment for sustainable success. I’m still learning every day, and that’s exciting too.
"We all want to keep improving and ensure that Saints thrive at the very highest level.”
Vesty: “I’ve loved every minute of my seven years at Saints so far. We’ve built a playing squad and support team that’s already performing at a high level, but what excites me most is the potential to go up another gear and continue growing as a group.
“Seeing so many players committing to that vision by signing new contracts recently has been fantastic, and I’m really looking forward to this next stage and all the opportunities that are in front of us.
“There’s a core group of players that have been together for a long time now, and it’s epic to think about what they have already done, and what they’re capable of doing moving forward. But over the last couple of years, we’ve also had another wave coming off the Academy production line, which is really, really exciting. Their emergence keeps the environment fresh and inspiring.
“I feel like I am a different coach to the one who started here seven years ago. I’m definitely still learning and I’ve matured as a coach, but fundamentally my passion remains the same; I’ve always wanted to help people get better and that’s still the most rewarding part of the job.”
Craig: “Staying at Saints was an easy decision for me.
"The club is brilliantly structured from the Academy through to the senior squad, and we have a strong flow of talented players coming through, so we’re in a great place.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity Mark Hopley (Head of Academy) gave me to start coaching here seven years ago, and proud of the progress we’ve made. The club firmly believes in developing our own, and my own coaching journey is another example of that.
“This current squad of players has huge potential – they’re already performing at a high level, but I believe there’s even more to come from them.
"Then, from a coaching perspective, the opportunity to continue working alongside this team of coaches was really appealing. We enjoy each other’s company and what we do, we’re able to have difficult conversations and challenge each other, and that keeps the environment healthy.
“That culture makes coming to work every day genuinely enjoyable, so I’m really excited about what the next few years hold for Saints.”