England fly-half rejects ‘other options’ and commits to PREM club that ‘elevated’ him to a British & Irish Lions level
British and Irish Lions tourist Fin Smith (pictured) has recommitted his future to Northampton amid exit rumours
England fly-half Fin Smith has re-committed his future to PREM outfit Northampton Saints, despite admitting he had ‘other options to explore’.
The British and Irish Lions tourist was linked with an exit from Franklin’s Gardens at the end of the season, with reports suggesting East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers were leading the charge for his signature, but he will now remain at the Saints after penning a multi-year deal.
Since making the move from Worcester, Smith has become Northampton’s premier fly-half and played a key role in their PREM title triumph in 2023/24. To date, he has notched 63 appearances for the club.
He has also become a regular in the England Test side in recent years, winning 11 Test caps since his debut in the 2024 Six Nations.
‘There were other options for me to explore’
Commenting on his new deal, Smith said: “I’ve loved my time at Saints so far and feel like I’ve developed massively as a person on and off the pitch.”
“I turned up as a 19-year-old a bit naïve, probably just happy to find a team after everything that happened at Worcester. I have to thank Northampton as a Club and a place for helping me figure out who I want to be, how I want to play the game, and what it means to play here – it’s shaped me in a big way.
“I came here as a young boy who was just trying to find his feet, develop his style, and compete for the shirt. Saints have elevated me towards those international honours and the British & Irish Lions as well. I believe that being in this environment gives me the best chance to reach my potential.
“A big goal I have written down for the next couple of years is to go to a Rugby World Cup. I’ve absolutely loved my time playing at No.10 for England through the Six Nations and the Autumn before. That’s something I want to continue doing, and a reason for me wanting to stay playing in the PREM.
“There were other options for me to explore at the end of this contract cycle, but ultimately, staying in Northampton felt right. I am close to my family here, and I genuinely love coming to work every day – being surrounded by my best mates, playing the kind of rugby that suits me, and working within a coaching set-up that brings out the best in all of us.
“As a Club, we’re in a period where the core group have been together for a long time, and I believe we can go on to be really successful, win a handful of trophies, and become a dominant force in the league. Personally, I want to keep striving to be the best player and person I can be, and be a big part of a successful team at Saints and with England.”
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Also commenting, Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson added: “It’s a huge testament to this Club that we’ve secured Fin’s signature. Fin is a world-class player who’s been outstanding for us since he joined.
“He arrived at a time that was incredibly difficult for him personally, considering the demise of Worcester Warriors, and then had the added the pressure of stepping into Dan Biggar’s shoes. Fin has never once shied away from any of it; he’s not looked back and has more than stepped up into that leadership role at fly-half for us.
“Alongside being a brilliant player on the field, he’s a big part of the group off it. The voice he offers off the field and the connections he has with the cohort here are a vital part of what we’re doing at Saints. That’s clearly something he’s invested in as well.
“One of the things we love about Fin is that he always wants to get better. Even though he’s just gone on a British & Irish Lions tour, he wants more; he wanted to be playing in those Tests. He’s an ambitious player and he thinks that this Club is the best place for him to achieve everything he wants to – and of course that’s something we agree with.
“Most importantly though, Fin’s a good man who I’ve got a lot of respect for. We’re thrilled to keep a person like that within our environment.”
