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Northampton agree extensions with 3 coaching staff, including Sam Vesty

By Online Editors

25 Aug 2020

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Northampton Saints have confirmed that attack coach Sam Vesty, forwards coach Phil Dowson and assistant coach Matt Ferguson have all signed extensions to their contracts. The trio have been a key part of director of rugby Chris Boyd’s coaching team since the New Zealander took the helm at Franklin’s Gardens in 2018.

“As I see it, signing the coaching group onto new contracts is just as important as re-signing your most senior players,” said Boyd. “Since recently appointing Ian Vass to lead our defence, we have agreed on contract extensions with our three other coaches and that is excellent news for the future of the club.”

Dowson, 38, enjoyed a long and successful playing career with Saints, playing 186 times, scoring 28 tries and lifting three major trophies before joining the first-team coaching set-up at the beginning of the 2017/18 season.

Northampton assistant coach Sam Vesty guests on The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

Ferguson arrived at Franklin’s Gardens at the same time as Boyd in 2018 as an assistant coach with a focus on Saints’ scrum. The 41-year-old helped to sculpt a dominant set-piece and driving maul for England Women prior to his appointment.

Meanwhile, highly-rated attack coach Vesty, 38, also joined Saints’ coaching set-up in the summer of 2018, switching from Worcester. A utility back, he showed his adaptability and skill in a long playing career with both Leicester and Bath before hanging up his boots to focus on coaching.

Dowson ?
Ferguson ?
Vesty ?

We’re delighted to today confirm new deals for a trio of our senior coaches.

— Northampton Saints ? (@SaintsRugby) August 25, 2020

He first joined Warriors at Sixways before a stint as England’s skills coach for the 2017 tour of Argentina and he then linked up with Saints a year later.

Saints boss Boyd added: “Sam, Phil and Matt have all added an awful lot to our group already in their individual areas of expertise… they are very talented guys and we’re thrilled to keep them with us for the long term.”

Courtney Lawes speaks openly about England rugby, Eddie Jones, BLM and much more – @Courtney_Lawes

Brilliant interview with one of England's leading stars – Full video can be found on our YT now ? pic.twitter.com/4tgzw2WIk4

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 23, 2020

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Comments on RugbyPass

johnz 17 minutes ago

All Blacks talk late-game adjustments after clutch England win

I guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.

Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.

11 Go to comments

ColinK 17 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Whatever let's see if this load of waffle is still valid in 2 years time. ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play. We get to play the Springboks more, including the franchises, which will make us better! Overall I am optimistic. I will add having watched the England game multiple times we made most of the play. England are an awesome physical team, but you can expect the All Blacks to get better and better at executing the chances. It could easily have been 5 tries to one instead of 3 to 1.

1 Go to comments

johnz 25 minutes ago

All Blacks talk late-game adjustments after clutch England win

Ratima did look rattled, compared to Roigard who looked like a boss when he came on. But that's been Roigard in test rugby so far. Ratima is only really starting because of Roigard's injury, otherwise surely Roigard was the incumbent. So it's not just one outing of the pine, that just points to Roigard being ready to have a start. As good as Ratima has been, Roigard just offers more.

11 Go to comments

GL 1 hour ago

How surprise opportunities led Harry Plummer to debut for All Blacks

Cody Taylor is a more significant loss than BB, not even close!

1 Go to comments

JD 1 hour ago

'I never heard from Gatland... It kills me to this day'

Won't see a player like him nor, hopefully, an arsehole like him either. Odious kant.

22 Go to comments

CO 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I agree largely and I rate McKenzie as a wonderful utility at his best but now at twenty nine I wouldn't take him to the next world cup. I've never seen him as a a ten or a starter either at top tier test level. The bench needs a serious rethink with ideally a hybrid halfback/wing or a hybrid halfback/ten or a hybrid ten/centre to release that need for two relatively small guys on the bench.

32 Go to comments

RW 1 hour ago

“He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation

Starting a go fund me for Bundee to Leinster 😜

3 Go to comments

CO 1 hour ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

Unbelievable, the penalty count was so lopsided in last week's first half I'm certain the conspiracy theorists have already had a field day.

25 Go to comments

JWH 1 hour ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

Good idea, but to move a lock to 6 now with no previous experience save Scott Barrett (who is still our best lock) ahead of the 2nd best equal team in the world may cause more harm than good in terms of confidence, in both caoches and players.

Re lineout options, the ABs have the most innovative lineout in the world, with FOUR lineout options (Barrett, Vaai, Sititi, Savea), compared to Irelands maybe 2 (Beirne and Ryan). ABs will absolutely cause issues at the lineout, and definitely at scrum time. Those Irish props eat to much salad compared to our boys 💪

25 Go to comments

JWH 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I never said boring was bad, but it doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with the ABs style. The ABs 10 looks like this: a little magic, good offloads, tactical precision kicking, draw and pass, and a cool head to level it off.

A game manager isn't exactly necessary, as the ABs should all know what they are doing, and the 9 should be directing the forwards. However, considering the youth of our best 9s currently, a more vocal, directive, and logical player like Harry Plummer would make more sense than someone like DMac, who is in his own right a good 10, but tends to sit in wider channels where he can threaten the line more directly, so has less influence on the postioning of the narrower forwards.

32 Go to comments

Kia koe 2 hours ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

Yep yep I agree

25 Go to comments

Icefarrow 2 hours ago

The ‘unsung hero’ who helped All Blacks’ bench make a telling difference

B-but all the armchair critics tell me he's useless and does little for the team but get penalised... This simply cannot be!

2 Go to comments

Thomas K 2 hours ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

So you think you’d definitely have scored way more tries if it wasn’t for all the off the ball shots? 🤣🤣