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Alex Mitchell was hailed as ‘one of the best scrum-halves in the world’ after the England Lions No 9 committed his future to Northampton.
Mitchell has followed in the footsteps of his Saints and international half-back partner Fin Smith by signing a multi-year contract to stay at Franklin’s Gardens.
Since becoming England first choice scrum-half at the 2023 World Cup, Mitchell has been a key figure for club and country.
He is a certain starter for national head coach Steve Borthwick, helped Northampton to league title glory in 2024 and became a Lion.
On the summer’s successful Lions tour of Australia, Mitchell was the only player to be named in the matchday squad for all nine matches.
‘Alex is one of the best scrum-halves in the world and to keep someone of his quality in our environment speaks volumes about the ambitions of this club,’ said Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson.
England and Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell has signed a new deal with the Saints
Mitchell is a key figure for club and country and also impressed on the summer's Lions tour
‘To be involved in almost every game of a Lions tour is testament to that.
‘We're thrilled to have him for the foreseeable future.’
Mitchell returned to action for the first time since Lions duty in Northampton’s win over Leicester last weekend, producing a trademark, outstanding display.
Mitchell, 28, said: ‘Northampton has been my home for the last 10 seasons and there’s truly nowhere else I’d rather be playing my rugby.
‘I get to train and play alongside lads I’ve grown up with, some of my best friends, and call it work. It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to say that.
‘This group is very special. We’re extremely ambitious and the drive and focus within the squad to keep getting better is what makes being part of this club so exciting.
‘We feel we’ve got to right some wrongs after last year. We want to get back to the top of the pile in the PREM and put some more silverware in our trophy cabinet.
‘There’s also no better place to play rugby than cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
'Playing in front of a full house against Leicester last weekend reminded me why signing on again with Saints was the right decision. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.’
Gloucester are sweating on the scan results of centre Seb Atkinson amid an injury crisis
Meanwhile, Gloucester are sweating on the results of a scan for their England centre Seb Atkinson as the Cherry & Whites deal with an unprecedented injury crisis.
The 23-year-old started both of England’s summer Test wins over Argentina and impressed national head coach Steve Borthwick.
But in Gloucester’s weekend defeat by Bath, he left the field late on after being hit while competing for the ball.
Atkinson is a strong contender to start England’s November campaign in the No 12 jersey, so Borthwick and his club boss George Skivington will be hoping for good news.
‘We’re getting Seb checked out at the moment. He got caught in a very uncompromising position. He’s a lot better than we thought he would be,’ Gloucester director of rugby Skivington said.
‘But we want to get him scanned because it was pretty horrible to watch.
'He got into a jackal position and then three Bath players folded him back in half. It’s not a position any of us would want to be in.
'It looked pretty horrendous but he’s made of tough stuff. He got up and walked off.
'He’s said he doesn’t feel too bad. We’re going to scan his hip and knee. He’s obviously very important to us.’
Gloucester had 15 players out for their Bath game and have lost all three of their league games so far this season after being derailed by such a huge absentee list.
