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England back row to share joint captaincy at Saints

By Online Editors
Northampton Saints will be captained by Lewis Ludlam. (Getty)

Lewis Ludlam has been named Northampton Saints’ co-captain for the 2020/21 season by Director of Rugby Chris Boyd, and will lead the squad alongside Alex Waller this term.

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The 24-year-old flanker has enjoyed a whirlwind two years since the Kiwi coach arrived at Franklin’s Gardens, initially bursting into the spotlight during the 2018/19 campaign to become a first-team regular for the first time in his fledgling career.

Catching the eye with his dogged ball-carrying and furious work-rate, Ludlam then earned his first international call-up ahead of last autumn’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, and has since won eight caps for England.

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Ludlam skippered Northampton on several occasions during the 2019/20 season, showcasing his ability to lead from the front, and will now assume the role on a full-time basis.

Waller meanwhile is closing in on an astonishing 300 appearances for Saints, with the experienced 30-year-old loosehead within striking distance of that milestone in his 12th season at the Club.

This will be Waller’s third campaign as co-captain, first leading the squad alongside Dylan Hartley and then Teimana Harrison last season – who has taken a step back from captaincy duties, but remains a key member of the leadership group at Franklin’s Gardens.

And Boyd believes that in Waller and Ludlam, he has a duo that can help keep Saints’ playing group together and continuing to progress.

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“I think the model of leadership and influence we have in place now more accurately reflects the group,” he said. “It’s time for the younger guys coming through to stand up and take some ownership around the place, so we felt having the connection between Alex and Lewis was a really good way to drive that.

“Lewis is someone that speaks really confidently in front of the group; he’s really positive but also happy to call people out when required, and he really embraces everything that playing for Saints is all about.

“Teimana was very happy to continue to captain the team but felt that the group needed a more active style of leadership, and Lewis was really keen to take on the role – I think he is a great man for the job.”

Saints wrap up their preparations for the 2020/21 campaign this week, with a shorter-than-usual preseason schedule concluding with Friday afternoon’s warm-up match against Worcester Warriors at Franklin’s Gardens.

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The men in Black, Green and Gold then travel to Sale Sharks the following Friday for their Gallagher Premiership opener at the AJ Bell Stadium.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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