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Chris Boyd extends Northampton contract despite 'unacceptable' 2019/20 season
New Zealander Chris Boyd will remain at Northampton until the end of the 2021/22 season after the director of rugby signed a contract extension on Friday ahead of Saints’ 2020/21 new season opener at Sale. Boyd arrived at Franklin’s Gardens in 2018, delivering a Premiership Rugby Cup trophy in his first season, as well as berths in the semi-finals of the Gallagher Premiership and quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
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While Saints’ post-lockdown form suffered a dip during the pandemic-hit 2019/20 league campaign, Boyd still had a Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final and qualification for Europe’s elite competition in 2020/21 to show for his efforts.
Now, with at least two more years at the helm ahead of him at Saints, he is set to focus not only on delivering success with Northampton’s players, but also on continuing to upskill a talented group of young English coaches in Phil Dowson, Sam Vesty, Ian Vass and Matt Ferguson.
“After the progress and success of my first year, for me unfortunately last season was unacceptable,” said Boyd. “But I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far at Saints and I’m determined to help this group of players and management staff realise their individual and combined potential.
“I’m delighted to extend my contract at Franklin’s Gardens. Saints is a fantastic organisation – from the owners, board and chief executive, through to the incredible sponsors, supporters and Northampton community.
? "I’ve been coaching over 30 years now and this would be my favourite stadium. When it’s full, it’s magnificent."
Chris Boyd on why staying at Saints was a ‘no-brainer’. pic.twitter.com/FzNGP2O1eE
— Northampton Saints ? (@SaintsRugby) November 20, 2020
“It’s a real family, which I’m proud to be part of, and that has made the decision to continue very easy for me. Saints currently presents such an enticing challenge, the decision to extend was a no-brainer. I’m totally committed to enhancing and growing the club on and off the field.”
Boyd made the switch to Northampton from the Wellington-based Hurricanes, having coached the New Zealand franchise for four years and winning the Super Rugby title in 2016.
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He previously gained experience with South African franchise Sharks, working as an assistant coach in Durban from 2009 to 2010, and coached the Baby Blacks (New Zealand’s U20s) between 2011 and 2014, as well as acting as an assistant coach during Tonga’s 2011 World Cup campaign.
Saints chief executive Mark Darbon believes Boyd is the right man to continue to drive the standards at Northampton. “In his first two seasons at Franklin’s Gardens, Chris has had a significant impact,” he said.
“Under his stewardship, alongside the excellent coaching team he has built, Saints have played some of the most exciting, free-flowing rugby in the Premiership – and we have shown that with a young group, on our day we are more than a match for anyone.
“I know he has not yet achieved the consistency of performance he is looking for, but he is bringing through a crop of players who we hope will guide Saints to success over the next decade, and we know this will come with time.
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“But what strikes me most about Chris is the impact on and off the pitch he has had on the culture of our squad, coaches and indeed all the staff around the club. He is a fantastic leader and our squad would run through a brick wall for him, so we are delighted to keep him in Northampton for two more seasons at least.”
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How would everyone have reacted if Dylan Hartley said "I play for my country" as Pablo Matera did in the Tri-Nations ?@DylanHartley does not think it would have gone down well! pic.twitter.com/GMwmyUnZO3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 19, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Hi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
3 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
3 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
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