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Pair put pen to paper for Northampton Saints
James Fish and George Furbank have committed their futures to Northampton Saints, by putting pen to paper on new deals which will see both players remain at Franklin’s Gardens until 2021.
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Products of Saints’ thriving academy system, Fish and Furbank have enjoyed an excellent 2018/19 season so far.
Hooker Fish scored five tries in pre-season before crossing the whitewash against Dragons in the recent European Challenge Cup fixture.
The Derby-born 22-year-old first broke into the Saints side during the 2016/17 season, scoring his first points in Black, Green and Gold with a brace against Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
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And after helping the Wanderers to back-to-back Premiership Rugby A League titles in 2017 and 2018, Fish is relishing the prospect of adding to his 16 senior appearances for Northampton to date.
“I’m really looking forward to the next two years, and I’m determined to work hard and play as regularly as I can,” the young hooker said.
“This is my third season since making my senior debut, and it’s a great squad to be part of. We’re all striving to get better every day and I’m positive this is the best possible environment for me to grow as a player.
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“There’s strong competition in my position, which can only be a good thing for all of us, and I’m very much looking forward to further developing my game with Saints.”
Furbank, 22, was also a part of Northampton Wanderers’ double triumph in the A League – but has really grasped the bull by the horns when presented with first-team opportunities at Franklin’s Gardens.
After scoring on his full debut against Exeter Chiefs in the 2017 Anglo-Welsh Cup, the Bedford-educated fullback has started six Saints matches this season and scored in a resounding Premiership Rugby Cup victory over Bristol Bears.
Furbank said: “I’m obviously delighted with the opportunities I am getting to represent Saints at the moment, and now to sign my first senior contract with the Club.
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“It’s fantastic to know I’m here for at least another two years. I’m still young and learning a lot from the great players and coaches around me, but without doubt Northampton is the best place for me to grow as a player.”
Fish and Furbank have 15 first-team appearances between them to date this season, and both have impressed Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd with their performances.
“James and George are talented, hard-working players who suit the style of rugby we want to play,” said Boyd.
“Keeping young talent at the Club is a very important part of our long-term strategy, so we are delighted to see another two promising footballers commit their future to Saints.
“It’s really important to see Academy players successfully make the transition from age-group rugby to the wider squad – James and George are great examples for our younger players to follow.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
1 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
27 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
27 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
27 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
27 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
27 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
27 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
91 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
27 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
27 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
27 Go to commentsHi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
91 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
2 Go to comments