Northampton's faith in youth behind Jonny Weimann's decision

Northampton have confirmed that promising young scrum-half Jonny Weimann has signed a new deal with the club.

A product of the Saracens academy, Weimann joined Saints aged 16 and made his competitive debut in the PREM Rugby Cup in November 2024.

The England U20 international has made 15 senior appearances for Saints, with Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland ahead of him in the pecking order.

“The opportunities that young players are given at Saints made my decision to stay an easy one,” said 19-year-old Weimann.

“The coaches here give you real freedom and put their faith in you to go out and play your game. That trust gives you a lot of confidence on matchday to express yourself and show what you can do.

“I didn’t expect to play quite as much as I did last season, coming straight in from the Academy. Stepping into a senior environment can be daunting, but everyone here – the older lads and the coaches – make it so easy for younger players to just be themselves.

“There’s also a proven track record of Academy success at this club. Getting to work alongside players like Mitch [Alex Mitchell] and Archie [McParland], who’ve been on the same journey, is brilliant. They’re two of the best scrum-halves in the country and having the chance to learn from them every day benefits me massively.

“The vibe around the group is really good. Everyone comes into training with a smile on their face and we’re fighting for trophies, which is something I want to be a part of.

“Looking ahead, I just want to play as much rugby as I can – whether that’s on loan in a Bedford jersey or here at Saints. I know I’ve still got plenty of room to grow, so I want to keep learning from the people around me and make the most of every opportunity that comes my way.”

This season, Weimann’s opportunities have been limited by a hamstring injury but Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, believes he’s got a big role to play.

“Jonny’s been excellent for us. He’s got an incredible work ethic and attitude, he’s naturally tenacious and competitive, and he’s worked extremely hard on all aspects of his game – from his passing and kicking to his decision making as a scrum-half,” said Dowson.

“He gets the ball up and away very quickly, which is something we really value, and it’s also a quality that our other nines bring. Having that group competing every day, all playing the Saints way but offering slightly different strengths, is hugely valuable for us as a coaching group.

“Jonny is one of our own and he’s desperate to play for Saints. He takes real pride in representing this Club and he’s a very good man to have in the environment.

“His involvement with England Under 20s shows the potential he has, and over the coming years Jonny will be able to learn from and compete with two of the very best nines in the country. That competition is healthy and it raises standards across the group.

“He communicates well, understands the game, and he’s come on leaps and bounds in his time with us so far. We’ve developed a really strong stable at scrum-half, and we’re delighted that Jonny has committed his future to Saints.”