Northampton Saints
News: Lee Dickson signs a new contract with Northampton
Lee Dickson
By COYSDC
January 11 2010
Lee Dickson has signed a new contract with Saints, the first player re-signing of 2010. The German-born scrum half learned his rugby at Barnard Castle School, and was with Newcastle Falcons until he joined Saints in 2008. He was in the Saxons team that beat Ireland A . He was also called up to the England squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship.
DICKSON RE-SIGNS FOR NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Lee Dickson has signed a new contract with the club.
The 24-year-old scrum-half has been a virtual ever-present since arriving from Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2008, with just eight of his 50 appearances have been as a replacement. His 33 appearances in the Saints' 35 matches last season was the second highest total in the squad, and he has started all bar one of the Saints' games so far in the 2009/10 campaign.
A member of the 2007 Churchill Cup winning campaign and the England Under-21 2006 Grand Slam squad, Dickson has also represented England Sevens. But it his technical and organisational abilities that have made him a key part of the Saints team over the past 18 months, according to director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
"Lee has been able to adapt to whichever fly half we have paired him with and he has an excellent relationship with the forwards," he said. "His game management is good and he lets players around him know what he needs them to do. But as a young player Lee still has a lot to learn and he works hard with the coaches on developing his all-round skills. We think that there is plenty of improvement still to come from him and are very happy that he will be part of the squad for the next few years."
"I'm the most settled I've ever felt in my career," said Dickson. "The coaches have worked very hard to put a decent squad together and at the moment we're going OK. Northampton is a big club that is going places. That's why I signed in the first place and why I signed a renewal.
"The Saints as a club has exceeded my expectations. I knew it was a great club from my old coaches John Fletcher and Peter Walton, who had both played here, but it has more than lived up to that. It is a great town and a great fan base. Everything is rugby orientated and it's a great place to be at the moment.
"I don't want to get carried away, but the squad has belief and we can achieve what we want to if we put our mind to it. I want to be a part of something special here and play as well as I can."
The 24-year-old scrum-half has been a virtual ever-present since arriving from Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2008, with just eight of his 50 appearances have been as a replacement. His 33 appearances in the Saints' 35 matches last season was the second highest total in the squad, and he has started all bar one of the Saints' games so far in the 2009/10 campaign.
A member of the 2007 Churchill Cup winning campaign and the England Under-21 2006 Grand Slam squad, Dickson has also represented England Sevens. But it his technical and organisational abilities that have made him a key part of the Saints team over the past 18 months, according to director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
"Lee has been able to adapt to whichever fly half we have paired him with and he has an excellent relationship with the forwards," he said. "His game management is good and he lets players around him know what he needs them to do. But as a young player Lee still has a lot to learn and he works hard with the coaches on developing his all-round skills. We think that there is plenty of improvement still to come from him and are very happy that he will be part of the squad for the next few years."
"I'm the most settled I've ever felt in my career," said Dickson. "The coaches have worked very hard to put a decent squad together and at the moment we're going OK. Northampton is a big club that is going places. That's why I signed in the first place and why I signed a renewal.
"The Saints as a club has exceeded my expectations. I knew it was a great club from my old coaches John Fletcher and Peter Walton, who had both played here, but it has more than lived up to that. It is a great town and a great fan base. Everything is rugby orientated and it's a great place to be at the moment.
"I don't want to get carried away, but the squad has belief and we can achieve what we want to if we put our mind to it. I want to be a part of something special here and play as well as I can."
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Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 12/01/2010 06:09
ComeOnYouSaints.com
12/01/2010 06:09
12/01/2010 06:09
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:12:09:15:47 by Stockers.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:12:09:15:47 by Stockers.
great news for Lee and very well deserved for a young lad who seems to often suffer for affection from supporters simply because he's not sharky robinson...
It's interesting that no contract term has been announced. I wonder if that is a new policy.
12/01/2010 09:17
Quote "I don't want to get carried away, but the squad has belief and we can achieve what we want to if we put our mind to it. I want to be a part of something special here and play as well as I can."
That's just about what I said here
Re: Great news re: Jim....but? Posted by: Big Birdİ (IP Logged)
Date: 08 January, 2010 19:01
I quite like the way it's currently done.
All very quietly, not much speculation on the MB's, no great shouting in the press, and wham, the press release with the news.
The Saints have always looked after their players, our stock is rising, and any player in the squad who recognises the potential for this group of players should want to be a part of it.
That's just about what I said here
Re: Great news re: Jim....but? Posted by: Big Birdİ (IP Logged)
Date: 08 January, 2010 19:01
I quite like the way it's currently done.
All very quietly, not much speculation on the MB's, no great shouting in the press, and wham, the press release with the news.
The Saints have always looked after their players, our stock is rising, and any player in the squad who recognises the potential for this group of players should want to be a part of it.
Hard to believe that Lee is only 24, so still plenty of development in his skills to come, as Jim highlights. We will need some back up though to cover for injury and rest periods.
Good news though, first of many signatures hopefully.
Good news though, first of many signatures hopefully.
This is good news.
However, I do still believe that he needs greater competition for his place though. With Alan Dickens moving into the Management Team and Brake not seeming to have made the progress desired, then we are a bit weak for cover in the SH position.
Mike Blair would be a good option!
However, I do still believe that he needs greater competition for his place though. With Alan Dickens moving into the Management Team and Brake not seeming to have made the progress desired, then we are a bit weak for cover in the SH position.
Mike Blair would be a good option!
Great news for Lee and the club.
I don't think we are still in a Sharky mode, Rob, it is just that Lee tends to be a player who does his work quietly and without fuss. No stand out skills other than being good at what he does. If you judge his play by the way the team is set up he does a fine job. I was surprised he is so young so I am sure there is more to come. He clearly has the attributes that Jim wants. A player who springs to mind as similar is Yachvilli.
I don't think we are still in a Sharky mode, Rob, it is just that Lee tends to be a player who does his work quietly and without fuss. No stand out skills other than being good at what he does. If you judge his play by the way the team is set up he does a fine job. I was surprised he is so young so I am sure there is more to come. He clearly has the attributes that Jim wants. A player who springs to mind as similar is Yachvilli.
Ian, I imagine so...
BB, I imagine so...
Capt, I imagine so...
Ken, I imagine so... but wonder if there are not far cheaper and more available players south of the boarder, round glouscestershire (sp?) way....
BB, I imagine so...
Capt, I imagine so...
Ken, I imagine so... but wonder if there are not far cheaper and more available players south of the boarder, round glouscestershire (sp?) way....
Robbie, your imagination must be on overtime!
Just as long as we don't sign Gomersall.........
Just as long as we don't sign Gomersall.........
Not 100% convinced the best way to motivate a 24 year old who has just extended his contract is by discussing who we could buy who is better than him
An up and coming young player would be more sensible in my opinion, or a player from Nat 1 who relishes the opportunity (like Clive Stuart Smith)
Management don't rotate the squad so competition has to be on a level footing - moving to play 2nd team, no matter how successful the first XXIII are is probably not on most proven players career planning
An up and coming young player would be more sensible in my opinion, or a player from Nat 1 who relishes the opportunity (like Clive Stuart Smith)
Management don't rotate the squad so competition has to be on a level footing - moving to play 2nd team, no matter how successful the first XXIII are is probably not on most proven players career planning
I think this is good for Lee and good for us. But, as has been said, Dicko and Brakey is not a strong hand when injury comes calling.
I would be wary of going too far down the pecking order for a scrum half reserve. We might end up like Worcester. A good pack of forwards (even if some of them are a bit long in the tooth) and some outstanding outside backs but sadly lacking in the art of connecting those two elements together.
It is no disrespect to Lee to say that we need more and better scrum-half resource.
[lowrence.com]
I would be wary of going too far down the pecking order for a scrum half reserve. We might end up like Worcester. A good pack of forwards (even if some of them are a bit long in the tooth) and some outstanding outside backs but sadly lacking in the art of connecting those two elements together.
It is no disrespect to Lee to say that we need more and better scrum-half resource.
[lowrence.com]
broonie
12/01/2010 10:44
12/01/2010 10:44
as usual, robbie's got a neat observation there.
if you want value and consistency from a scottish scrum half (and they have a lot of good ones) look at lawson of glaws.what blair is good at is playing like mike blair in a team set up to play the mike blair way.
cussiter has always had the better all round game , and i rate lawson right at cussiter's heels . also , in cost terms he would be preferable to either blair or cussiter.
if you want a sassenach, look to youngs at newcastle as a contrast to lee .
i think lee's game management has come on well, he reacts well to the ball and runs well off the ball in both attack and defence , and his kicking game has come on a street in the last year.if he wants to get right to the top he has to work on arm/wrist strength and speed of pass (off 2 feet please ).
if you want value and consistency from a scottish scrum half (and they have a lot of good ones) look at lawson of glaws.what blair is good at is playing like mike blair in a team set up to play the mike blair way.
cussiter has always had the better all round game , and i rate lawson right at cussiter's heels . also , in cost terms he would be preferable to either blair or cussiter.
if you want a sassenach, look to youngs at newcastle as a contrast to lee .
i think lee's game management has come on well, he reacts well to the ball and runs well off the ball in both attack and defence , and his kicking game has come on a street in the last year.if he wants to get right to the top he has to work on arm/wrist strength and speed of pass (off 2 feet please ).
Are you being a little unkind, Broonie? I know orthodoxy has it that the dive pass wastes time in rejoining the action and is slower in getting the ball away from the breakdown but...
Dickson bounces up like an india-rubber ball. He's back into action far sooner than if, say, he'd been scragged late by his opposite number or a flanker.
The gold standard of scrum-half pass is the scoop away; one movement that encompasses pick-up and delivery. How many scrum halves are at that gold standard? Not many. Take last year's Lions first choice. He rarely passes from the stooped position but he provides two things: a genuine running threat and great delivery (even if it is two seconds 'late'). It was the thing about Phillips that really bugged me but as I have watched him more, it seems not to hinder his team's play.
I'd look on Dicko's dive pass as an allowable weakness. No longer orthodox but we don't suffer from it the way we think we might.
[lowrence.com]
Dickson bounces up like an india-rubber ball. He's back into action far sooner than if, say, he'd been scragged late by his opposite number or a flanker.
The gold standard of scrum-half pass is the scoop away; one movement that encompasses pick-up and delivery. How many scrum halves are at that gold standard? Not many. Take last year's Lions first choice. He rarely passes from the stooped position but he provides two things: a genuine running threat and great delivery (even if it is two seconds 'late'). It was the thing about Phillips that really bugged me but as I have watched him more, it seems not to hinder his team's play.
I'd look on Dicko's dive pass as an allowable weakness. No longer orthodox but we don't suffer from it the way we think we might.
[lowrence.com]
I think Tub that we are mostly discussing who would complement Lee and the team rather than who would be better. As I said earlier, Lee is still only 24 and has further improvement to come. It is a positive outlook!
What we must avoid is overplaying him and seeing burnout. That needs a new 9 of at least equal standard.
What we must avoid is overplaying him and seeing burnout. That needs a new 9 of at least equal standard.
broonie
12/01/2010 11:49
12/01/2010 11:49
i've obviously lost the ability to express myself accurately.i was trying to suggest that lee is a really good club player who is also improving but has some work to do to be test class.
phillips can afford his slow pass because, given his size and running ability the defence has to stay with him until he's got rid of the ball.
the main reason i'd like to see lee stay on his feet is to get a more powerful base for his pass (the balloons and dying quails are fewer than they were, but they have to go altogether), but also to keep all three of the kick/pass/run options alive until the ball has left his ownership.
phillips can afford his slow pass because, given his size and running ability the defence has to stay with him until he's got rid of the ball.
the main reason i'd like to see lee stay on his feet is to get a more powerful base for his pass (the balloons and dying quails are fewer than they were, but they have to go altogether), but also to keep all three of the kick/pass/run options alive until the ball has left his ownership.
Glad to see this news.
I don't think it's disrespectful to be discussing other targets for the S/H role (an area most seem to agree we are a little light in, especially with the "loss" of Dickens).
I would like to see a slightly younger/less experienced player snapping at Lee's heels (Brake?) and a slightly older/more experienced player (Blair/Cusiter etc) to help BRING THE OTHER TWO ON.
I don't think it's disrespectful to be discussing other targets for the S/H role (an area most seem to agree we are a little light in, especially with the "loss" of Dickens).
I would like to see a slightly younger/less experienced player snapping at Lee's heels (Brake?) and a slightly older/more experienced player (Blair/Cusiter etc) to help BRING THE OTHER TWO ON.
The one-piece scoop and pass was Sharky's speciality. He performed it brilliantly in the warm-up, usually one-handed.
But he didn't replicate it in game-play, which I always found puzzling. I was puzzled again, watching him for Wasps at the weekend.
But he didn't replicate it in game-play, which I always found puzzling. I was puzzled again, watching him for Wasps at the weekend.
Mike Blair is a class act who, at his best, gives you leadership, a more than decent passing game & a genuine threat of a break (e.g. 6N in Paris last year). He's rumoured to be looking for a change when his contract expires in the summer. Yes, please!
Chris Cusiter has only just started at Glasgow & so won't be available. Rory Lawson is a very decent player too, but who knows if he's likely to become available? Now if only we (Scotland) has 3 options like that at fly-half...
Chris Cusiter has only just started at Glasgow & so won't be available. Rory Lawson is a very decent player too, but who knows if he's likely to become available? Now if only we (Scotland) has 3 options like that at fly-half...
broonie
12/01/2010 14:28
12/01/2010 14:28
i think lawson comes out of contract this year.
blair's being hawked around like mad. hope we pass, tbh.
blair's being hawked around like mad. hope we pass, tbh.
I think youd get more for your money with Lawson
I wonder how Dickson and Dowson get on with Mickey Young?
And grats to Dickson, well deserved!
I wonder how Dickson and Dowson get on with Mickey Young?
And grats to Dickson, well deserved!
Excellent news indeed - great to see such a young player do well and it bodes well for the future of the club.
Nice one Dicko
....and I would go for Lawson, if only so that we can hear "they'll be dancing in the streets of Jimmies End tonight..."
....and I would go for Lawson, if only so that we can hear "they'll be dancing in the streets of Jimmies End tonight..."
Ian - not quite what you wanted, but "They'll be chuffed down at Franklin's Gardens about that"
Good news, as has been said above we need another 9 - not sure whether Dicko knows who's coming and is therefore in the knowledge he'll still be first choice next season?
Photo Gallery
Good news, as has been said above we need another 9 - not sure whether Dicko knows who's coming and is therefore in the knowledge he'll still be first choice next season?
Photo Gallery
I'm pretty sure a certain Mr Foden could play 9 if needed.. especially if his style of 15 isn't going to get the recognition at international level
Healey made a career of being first(ish) on the teamsheet with the number 19 or 20 jersey
Healey made a career of being first(ish) on the teamsheet with the number 19 or 20 jersey
According to this months FHM (featuring Una+bandmates) Foden still is our scrum half.
Great news regarding Mr Dickson, I too we need another SH to push LD and also to give the poor lad a rest!
Last time I saw John Brake play it was at a rainy Wandies game, would like to see him in an LV= cup game this season. Maybe off the bench for half an hour to see what he can do.
Come On You Saints
Great news regarding Mr Dickson, I too we need another SH to push LD and also to give the poor lad a rest!
Last time I saw John Brake play it was at a rainy Wandies game, would like to see him in an LV= cup game this season. Maybe off the bench for half an hour to see what he can do.
Come On You Saints
I am of the view we need two new scrum halves next year. The names that have been mentioned do not do it for me. I would like to see us looking further afield. Perhaps Steve could find us a diamond (pun) in SA or Russia (who's there Red Saint?). But also look to France where they seem to breed spiky scrum halves. And how about that new type of player who can double up at 9 and 10. You can never have enough cover.
And scrum half must be a priority for Dusty and the Academy. We used to have gluts of hookers and nines. Now it is wingers and locks.
Dom - that particular clip came from McLaren's last 6N commentary at Murrayfield - Scotland v France. There were four Saints in the Scotland team (Smith, Stewart, Pountney & Leslie) and Ollie Brouzet for France.
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Well done Dicko. I for one still rate him as a scrum half and at 24 he still has time to get better still. Don't understand the downer on Brakey either. Looked more than capable to me for teh Wandies and playing sevens. Can't see why he can't become number two unless others know different. At 18 Pointon can't be too far away taking Brakes place in the Wandies. If we do need another therefore perhaps an experienced player to replace Dickens would be the best bet. Like the idea of Stuart-Smith though Tub, looks a class act to me.
Saint til I die
Saint til I die
Howlin - Pointon (Ed, the 18 year old) isn't in the Saints setup, though Sam won't be too far away at 16.
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
12/01/2010 17:47
Interesting feature today in the Telegraph about the Pointon dynasty
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
Where is the elder boy now?
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
Where is the elder boy now?
broonie
12/01/2010 19:21
12/01/2010 19:21
Laurie, we apparently showed one of those around FG last year- colin gregor of glasgow who is equally happy at 9 or 10 . he's also a goalkicker.
Howlin, I'm not sure there's a "downer" on Brake. Just people haven't seen much of him (not helped by the recent lack of Wandies games/) lately.
As he converted to scrumhalf he probably had/has a steeper learning curve. Certainly looked lively when I've seen him.
As he converted to scrumhalf he probably had/has a steeper learning curve. Certainly looked lively when I've seen him.
Excellent news and the first of many!
Theres a sense of stability about the squad so hopefully it will be a tweak here or there. The real work will be adding the depth through the Academy and Hare and Dickins will have that sorted.
Theres a sense of stability about the squad so hopefully it will be a tweak here or there. The real work will be adding the depth through the Academy and Hare and Dickins will have that sorted.
Just re-read this bit "The German-born scrum half".
Was he actually born in Germany or technically Britain (as in was he born on a British miliitary base)?
Was he actually born in Germany or technically Britain (as in was he born on a British miliitary base)?
Was he born on a base?
There is no military hospital in Verden.
Could have been a home confinement - but somehow I seem to remember he has dual nationality.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
There is no military hospital in Verden.
Could have been a home confinement - but somehow I seem to remember he has dual nationality.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
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