Taqele Naiyaravoro signs new deal with Saints

Northampton Saints can today announce that winger Taqele Naiyaravoro has extended his contract at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 27-year-old made 28 appearances during an explosive debut season at Saints, with the 2018/19 campaign seeing him score 11 tries, making more metres and clean breaks than any other player in the Premiership. He also became the only player to beat a century of defenders in one league season since data has been recorded.

After putting pen to paper on a deal that will see him continue to represent the Club for at least two more seasons, Naiyaravoro said: “I’m over the moon to be signing on again with Saints. I’m very happy here in Northampton and the progress the squad has made over the last 12 months is really exciting...

“It’s amazing to think I have at least another two years ahead of me here at Franklin’s Gardens. I just hope I can repay all the faith the Club’s loyal supporters have shown in me with more good performances, plenty of tries, and hopefully some more trophies..."

Naiyaravoro arrived in Northampton last summer just weeks after he had broken the Waratahs’ single-season try-scoring record in Super Rugby.

Starting out in rugby league with Sydney side Wests Tigers, a switch in codes to rugby union beckoned and saw him link up with the Waratahs (2014-15 and 2016-18), Glasgow Warriors (2015-16), and Panasonic Wild Knights (2016-17).

His performances in club rugby and within the Barbarians squad in 2015 earned him a place on the international stage, as he was selected by Australia and scored with his first touch for the Wallabies in a one-off Test against the USA.

Good form saw Naiyaravoro named in the Australia squad to face England in 2016 – coming on in the final Test to score against a Red Rose side containing future Saints teammates Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Teimana Harrison and Paul Hill.