'My game has gone up a level': Davison crowns huge week after 'big moment'

England tighthead prop Trevor Davison has signed a new multi-year deal at Northampton Saints.

The 33-year-old moved to Franklin’s Gardens from Newcastle midway through the 2023/24 season, and has gone on to make 64 appearances for the club.

Davison arrived at Northampton with two England caps to his name, earned in 2021, but has added a further two more in the last 12 months, ending his Test exile with an appearance against the United States in July.

With Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour injured, Davison started on the bench on Saturday against Wales in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations and will reprise the role against Scotland on Saturday in round two.

After signing the new deal, Davison said that his return to the Test set-up was a “big moment for me,” adding that his game has “gone up a level” since arriving at Saints.

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“Ever since I arrived in Northampton, I have felt really settled here and I am loving playing for Saints,” said Davison. “It’s a great group to be part of, and the backing we get every week from our supporters means a lot to us, so staying on was an easy decision for me.

“Being here has really helped me improve as a player. The coaches have pushed me, the standards in training are high, the group is really connected, and the lads around you make you better just by how they work.

“I feel like my game has gone up a level since coming to Northampton, and that’s played a big part in getting another opportunity with England. Getting back into that international environment has been a big moment for me, as I’ve been working towards it for a while, and it’s only made me hungry for more.

“But mainly, I just enjoy turning up every day with this group. We’ve got a tight squad at Saints, good people, and everyone works hard for each other.

“We know what we want to achieve together, competing for titles in the PREM and in Europe, and hopefully there’s more to come for us as a team.

Saints’ director of rugby Phil Dowson added: “Trev has added so much to our group since the day he arrived – not just in the front row, but right across the squad.

“The way he goes about his work, the standards he sets, and the presence he brings all lifts the atmosphere around the place, so we’re delighted he’s chosen to stay on.

“He’s a leader through his actions and his toughness. Trev is one of the enforcers in our squad, and someone the younger players naturally look towards. He supports them in his own quiet way, and he’s also the type of character who keeps people on track when they need it.

“It was a big decision for him to leave home and move to Northampton when he did. That move was driven by his ambition to win and to get back into international rugby, and it meant stepping away from a close family and support network. For him now to commit again says a lot about how settled he feels here and how much he values the environment at Saints.

“Props like Trev are incredibly hard to find. Everyone sees his set-piece work, but his work around the field – his carrying, his defensive movement – are just as important. He’s improved those parts of his game significantly, and given he started playing professionally later than most, he’s still got room to keep growing.

“What we know we’ll get from Trev every week is consistency, physicality, edge, and a huge amount of pride in the shirt – so he’s another really important signing for us.”