Saints hand Ehren Painter first senior contract

Northampton Saints have today announced that Ehren Painter has penned his first senior contract at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 20-year-old tighthead prop – who made his first-team debut in Black, Green and Gold back in April – has signed a deal that will keep him at the Club for at least two more seasons until 2021.

 “Ehren has developed into a really solid and dependable tighthead; he’s still young and has plenty to learn, but I’m certain he has all the tools he needs to become a player of exceptional quality," said 

Director of rugby Chris Boyd.

“We’re proud of our home-grown players here in Northampton, and Ehren fully deserves to add his name to the long list of Academy graduates to progress into the senior squad. I’m really looking forward to seeing how far he can go.

“Credit has to go to Simon Sinclair, Mark Hopley and all the academy staff for the impressive calibre of players that continue to be developed here at Franklin’s Gardens.”

Painter represented England at both Under-17 and Under-18 level, before earning the call into the Under-20s squad for the Six Nations and World Rugby Under-20 Championships in 2018.

After making several appearances for the Wanderers side that lifted back-to-back Premiership Rugby A League titles, Painter made a phenomenal impact when given the opportunity to impress in the league last season – notably shoving Leicester Tigers’ pack backwards in the closing stages at Welford Road to help Northampton secure a first league double over their fierce rivals in over a decade.