Northampton Saints
News: Chris Ashton Signs a new Contract with Saints
By COYSDC
January 14 2010
On the day Chris Ashton was selected to crash through the Saxons Squad, into the the England Squad for the six Nations, he has signed a new contract with the Club, the third such announcement this week.
CHRIS ASHTON SIGNS ON AGAIN FOR SAINTS
Northampton Saints today announced that wing Chris Ashton has confirmed his commitment to the club by signing a new two-year contract.
The Saints has been the only club in the 22-year-old winger's burgeoning rugby union career since arriving from Wigan Warriors in the summer of 2007.
Ashton, who was yesterday called up into the England Senior Elite Playing Squad for the 2010 Six Nations, made his mark with his first touch of the ball, scoring against London Welsh in the opening game of the 2007/08 season, and he has gone from strength to strength in the two-and-a-half years since.
After breaking the record for league tries scored in a single season in National League One, Ashton followed that up by being the 2008/09 European Challenge Cup's leading try scorer.
But it is 2009/10 that has very much been his year. He has scored 15 tries in his 16 games, including a hat trick at Newcastle and last-minute match winning efforts against Bath and London Irish. Furthermore he is the leading try scorer in both the Guinness Premiership (9) and Heineken Cup (5), with an LV= Cup score against Saracens making up the rest of his total.
So far he has 67 tries from his 62 appearances which, with a conversion kicked on the last day of the 2007/08 season, takes his current points total to 337. This season Ashton has also won two successive Let Yourself Grow Player of the Month awards.
Ashton, who earned his club cap when he passed the 50-appearance mark against Munster in October, had no hesitation in signing on again at Franklin's Gardens.
"The Saints has been a great club to be a part of over the past couple of years," he said. "I've settled here and there is a great bunch of lads. It was a hard year last year as I came to terms with the Premiership, but the coaches stuck with me and are helping me get better at rugby union. I'm still learning though and I believe I can improve a lot.
"It's exciting to be at a club that is going places. We're ambitious to be one of the top clubs in England and in Europe and can only get better over the next few years."
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder is very happy that Ashton has made the commitment.
"Chris has worked very hard on his game, especially over the past 18 months," he said. "After a fantastic season in National League One, he had a quiet first year in the Guinness Premiership. But he spent a lot of time learning the game and honing the small details that didn't get found out at the lower level and he is starting to reap the benefits now.
"He is both a natural finisher and a good reader of where an attack is going, so that if support is needed he is there to provide it. At 22 he is still a young player with plenty to offer and I'm delighted that he has decided to stay and be a part of the Saints."
The Saints has been the only club in the 22-year-old winger's burgeoning rugby union career since arriving from Wigan Warriors in the summer of 2007.
Ashton, who was yesterday called up into the England Senior Elite Playing Squad for the 2010 Six Nations, made his mark with his first touch of the ball, scoring against London Welsh in the opening game of the 2007/08 season, and he has gone from strength to strength in the two-and-a-half years since.
After breaking the record for league tries scored in a single season in National League One, Ashton followed that up by being the 2008/09 European Challenge Cup's leading try scorer.
But it is 2009/10 that has very much been his year. He has scored 15 tries in his 16 games, including a hat trick at Newcastle and last-minute match winning efforts against Bath and London Irish. Furthermore he is the leading try scorer in both the Guinness Premiership (9) and Heineken Cup (5), with an LV= Cup score against Saracens making up the rest of his total.
So far he has 67 tries from his 62 appearances which, with a conversion kicked on the last day of the 2007/08 season, takes his current points total to 337. This season Ashton has also won two successive Let Yourself Grow Player of the Month awards.
Ashton, who earned his club cap when he passed the 50-appearance mark against Munster in October, had no hesitation in signing on again at Franklin's Gardens.
"The Saints has been a great club to be a part of over the past couple of years," he said. "I've settled here and there is a great bunch of lads. It was a hard year last year as I came to terms with the Premiership, but the coaches stuck with me and are helping me get better at rugby union. I'm still learning though and I believe I can improve a lot.
"It's exciting to be at a club that is going places. We're ambitious to be one of the top clubs in England and in Europe and can only get better over the next few years."
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder is very happy that Ashton has made the commitment.
"Chris has worked very hard on his game, especially over the past 18 months," he said. "After a fantastic season in National League One, he had a quiet first year in the Guinness Premiership. But he spent a lot of time learning the game and honing the small details that didn't get found out at the lower level and he is starting to reap the benefits now.
"He is both a natural finisher and a good reader of where an attack is going, so that if support is needed he is there to provide it. At 22 he is still a young player with plenty to offer and I'm delighted that he has decided to stay and be a part of the Saints."
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Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 14/01/2010 06:37
ComeOnYouSaints.com
14/01/2010 06:37
14/01/2010 06:37
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Yet more excellent news. I'm sue I've said this before, but it's worth reiterating: Ashton undoubtedly has the raw talent and natural ability, but his progress is really a testament to the coaching and player management skills of JM and his staff.
The signature I'm really waiting for, though, is Tiny's.
The signature I'm really waiting for, though, is Tiny's.
More good news.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
More good news.Just what we need on a dull January day 
Bridesmaids no more.
Bridesmaids no more.
Excellent news!
Not to mention very early in the day too so does this mean something else is on the way today too?
Not to mention very early in the day too so does this mean something else is on the way today too?
No Tav
Just I need to get in early to beat the Press.
You really don't think anyone is in at the club (apart from Players) at this time of the morning, do you?
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Just I need to get in early to beat the Press.
You really don't think anyone is in at the club (apart from Players) at this time of the morning, do you?
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
I know what you mean Dave but my Twitter tweeted this up before 7am at least!
That came from Northampton Saints own Tweets.
Interestingly though as you say the article claims to have been written yesterday at 5pm but only appeared online this morning about 6am.
I do appreciate all of your efforts to get us the news at the best time in line with the club themselves.
That came from Northampton Saints own Tweets.
Interestingly though as you say the article claims to have been written yesterday at 5pm but only appeared online this morning about 6am.
I do appreciate all of your efforts to get us the news at the best time in line with the club themselves.
Tav
Stories from the club are released on an embargoed basis until a set time.
Barfly will have "tweeted" this from under his duvet after the time!
The fact that it is early is no guarantee that other news will be announced.
After all - today's news story is tomorrow's free disk space.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Stories from the club are released on an embargoed basis until a set time.
Barfly will have "tweeted" this from under his duvet after the time!
The fact that it is early is no guarantee that other news will be announced.
After all - today's news story is tomorrow's free disk space.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
This is like a great version of water torture, everyday there is the drip, drip, drip of great news...
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Great news indeed.
Also hoping on Tiny, but equally keen, if not more so to read the news that Juandre has signed on again.
Also hoping on Tiny, but equally keen, if not more so to read the news that Juandre has signed on again.
Wonderful news this week - I am delighted Lee, Ben and Chris have all re-signed. Our backline is getting better and better all the time - much credit has to go to the coaching team.
As for early Tweets from barfly - he could have been fast asleep and scheduled the Tweet using a service such as Twuffer.
As for early Tweets from barfly - he could have been fast asleep and scheduled the Tweet using a service such as Twuffer.
Good news and run up to an important game at the weekend. Team news tomorrow and maybe another couple of signings next week to boost everyone before Munster play their bogey team
I must admit there were occasions last season when I had doubts about Ashton as it appeared he was not coming to terms with the GP, but it goes to show what can be achieved when you have young, natural talent coupled with sound coaching,encouragement and patience, all of which he has clearly received in abundance and the fruits of which are now obvious. Well done to all !
Wa-hey...the news from FG just gets betterer and betterer 
Who's next then? Tiny? Freddie?
Who's next then? Tiny? Freddie?
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