Saints sign promising English youngster

TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints revealed that centre Fraser Dingwall has put pen to paper on his first senior contract at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 19-year-old initially signed for the club’s Senior Academy at the start of the 2017/18 season, having been on the books with Saints since 2012, and starred for England Under-20s in both the Six Nations and World Championships earlier this year.

Dingwall will now continue to represent the club for at least two more seasons, and the starlet insists the choice to sign on again was not one he had to agonise over.

"This was definitely an easy decision for me to make," he said.

"I’ve grown up at the club, having been here since I was 13, and it’s really good to know I’m here for at least another two years.

"Without doubt Northampton is the best place for me to grow as a player. I’m still young, but I’m learning so much from the coaches and trying to develop my game with the great players around me.

"I’m thrilled to have a good run of first-team games under my belt now and I’m really enjoying my time on the pitch at the moment,"

Dingwall rose through the ranks at the Club while also representing Bedford School, and was soon recognised at international level with both Scotland and England age group appearances.

Several strong showings for Saints’ under-18s in 2017 earned him a call-up to the Northampton Wanderers side in the Premiership Rugby A League, and he helped the side to back-to-back titles in the competition.

But this season Dingwall has really exploded on the Gallagher Premiership stage, making his full debut against Leicester Tigers at Twickenham before impressing in the Premiership Rugby Cup, and then scoring a scintillating try in the league against Wasps at the Gardens.

Saints’ director of rugby Chris Boyd said: "Fraser is a really talented footballer who has grasped his opportunities to play for Northampton with both hands so far this season.

"He’s part of a fantastic crop of exciting young players coming through our Academy, and has progressed an enormous amount in the short time I’ve been with Saints.

"Fraser is a popular member of the squad and, at 19 years old, his best is of course still to come – we’re really excited for him to reach his full potential here at Franklin’s Gardens,"