Saints tie down fourth England international of the season

Newly-capped England international Emmanuel Iyogun has signed a new contract with Northampton Saints, extending his stay at DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens beyond the end of the current season.

The 25-year-old loosehead has already made 104 appearances for Saints after coming through the club’s academy and has been part of two Gallagher PREM title-winning campaigns.

Iyogun becomes the fourth England international to commit his future to Northampton this season, following new deals for Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock and Tom Pearson.

The former back-row only converted to loosehead after signing his first professional contract in 2019, but has since established himself as a regular in the Saints front row and reached 100 appearances in June.

His progress was rewarded with a first England cap in July, coming from the bench in the 31-24 Nations Championship victory over Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

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18 Oct 26

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“Staying at Saints was a very easy decision for me, a real no-brainer,” Iyogun said. “I love the club. I’ve grown up here, come through the academy, and now get to play alongside a lot of the same people who have been part of that journey with me.

“It doesn’t feel that long ago that I was playing for the Under-18s, and now I’m sitting here with more than 100 senior appearances. I’ve loved every part of the journey.

“There have been challenges along the way, injuries and difficult periods, but those moments have shaped me as a player and person, and they make the good times even more rewarding.

“What excites me most is the drive across the club to keep improving. Everyone here is constantly pushing for more, not just in terms of winning trophies but becoming better every day. That ambition and mentality were a huge factor in my decision to stay.

“Having had my first taste of international rugby, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ambitious about what’s next, but my focus remains on improving year after year and being the best player I can be for Saints.”

Director of rugby Phil Dowson added: “Manny’s story is a brilliant one for the club and a fantastic example of what our pathway can produce.

“From coming through the academy to becoming a centurion and England international, he’s earned every opportunity through his hard work, resilience and willingness to keep developing.

“He’s gone from being a young player learning from experienced props such as Alex Waller to becoming a key figure within our front-row group. While he’s already accumulated a huge amount of experience, he still has plenty of growth ahead of him, which is an exciting prospect for both Manny and the club.”