Saints Grayson Goes Marching Out

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Northampton Saints assistant coach Paul Grayson has left the club by mutual consent after 19 years.

The former England fly-half, a member of the 2003 World Cup-winning squad, is Saints' all-time highest points scorer and a former director of rugby.

"I have put heart and soul into the club over many years, as have my wife and children," he said.

"After 19 years at Franklin's Gardens I need to prioritise my wife and children and make some sacrifices for them."

He added: "As such I am happy to step away from my role with the club in good health and on the right path, and look forward to exploring the many opportunities that are out there in the world of rugby."

The 41-year-old began his playing career at Saints in 1993 and went on to score 2,784 points in 259 games and won a Heineken Cup winners' medal with the club in 2000.

He also scored 400 points in 32 appearances for England, a total exceeded by only Jonny Wilkinson.

Grayson became joint-Saints boss in November 2004 and helped the club away from relegation on the last day of the season, and after taking sole charge went on to lead the team to the Heineken Cup semi-finals three years later.

However, he was demoted to backs coach at the end of the 2006-07 campaign following relegation to the second tier.

Since then, he has worked as Jim Mallinder's assistant and has been part of an instant return to the Premiership, LV= Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup victories and an appearance in the Heineken Cup final in 2011, when they lost to Leinster.

Mallinder said: "The records he set as a player will take something special to break, and as a coach he has helped bring on some very talented individuals.

"We will use this as an opportunity to freshen things up and move things forward."

Saints chairman Leon Barwell added: "It's fair to say that we would not have won the Heineken Cup without him, and we were proud to see him represent the club on the biggest stages of all.

"We are parting amicably and I'm sure that everyone associated with the Saints wishes Paul and his family every success in whatever he chooses to do in the future."

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Exiles Wreck Northampton Plans

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Premiership leaders Northampton's winning start to the season was wrecked by struggling London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

First-half tries by Jonathan Joseph and David Paice helped give Irish an 18-0 interval lead as they bounced back from last weekend's thumping at Worcester.

Topsy Ojo and Jamie Gibson added two more after the break to lead 33-3.

Ken Pisi and Phil Dowson crossed in a late rally by Saints, but it was not enough to prevent Irish's second win.

Steve Shingler's boot provided 16 points for the home side, Ian Humphreys having chipped in with a drop goal just before the break.

Stephen Myler kicked both his conversion attempts and a penalty for Northampton, who stay top as a result of Harlequins' defeat at Exeter.

There was nothing on the cards to indicate an Irish victory, let alone a performance like this, from a side languishing 11th in the Premiership, the Exiles having conceded an average of 36 points in the five games prior to this one.

But the only unbeaten record in the Premiership was wrecked as the Irish back division shone, none brighter than England centre Joseph, who made his Test debut on the summer tour of South Africa.

Joseph inspired the biggest upset of the Premiership season to date, touching down for the opening try, as well as playing a key role in Paice and Ojo's tries.

The first 24 minutes were pointless until Irish snaffled an overthrown Northampton line-out and moved the ball wide for Joseph to stab a grubber kick through for Marlande Yarde to kick on.

Vasily Artemyev, Northampton's stand-in full-back, failed to cover the bouncing ball and the youngster followed up for his second try of the season.

Full-back Shingler then extended the Exiles' lead with a penalty before Joseph hit the line at blistering pace inside the Northampton 22. And, two phases later, Paice twisted over the line to score, Shingler this time converting.

Humphreys' 40-metre drop-goal handed London Irish an 18-0 lead at half-time, before Northampton finally responded after the restart with a penalty from Myler.

But Irish then hit Northampton with a brilliant third try, Joseph beating Myler for pace and then drawing two defenders before slipping a delightful pass to Ojo, who was tackled by Pisi but had the momentum to roll over the line and score.

Shingler edged the Exiles further ahead before Shingler swung a long pass to Treviranus, who held off two defenders and sent Gibson racing away for the fourth try.

Northampton, to their credit, kept plugging away with scrum-half Lee Dickson particularly lively, working a try for Pisi in the right corner before Dowson burrowed over a second Northampton try.

But Shingler added two more late penalties as Irish rounded off their best performance of the season to climb a place to 10th.

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Brett Sharman No Longer a Saint

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Brett Sharman, who posted an offensive tweet about Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah on Twitter, has been released by Northampton Saints.

The club says the decision to terminate the South African hooker's deal was due to a long-standing knee injury. 

It was announced the day after Saints said Sharman was subject to internal disciplinary procedures over the tweet.

Sharman's message read: "Good luck Mohammed running for Paki... I mean Great Britain..."

Sharman, 25, apologised after his comment on Twitter.

He posted the tweet on 11 August when Farah won a second Olympic gold in the 5,000m.

Sharman has made 68 appearances for Northampton Saints but his last outing was back in January.

Since then a knee injury has ruled him out of action, and the club say with no immediate prospect of returning to full fitness, a decision has been made to terminate his contract.

"It is always a shame when someone's contract comes to an end in these circumstances," said Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder referring to the injury.

"Brett has contributed a lot to the squad in his time at Franklin's Gardens and we wish him all the best for the future," added Mallinder.

Sharman joined the Premiership club in November 2008.

He said: "I've enjoyed my time at the Saints.

"It is a great club with good people and I am sure that there will be major success coming to Franklin's Gardens sooner rather than later. The players, management and supporters all deserve that and I wish them every success."

Farah was born in the Somalia capital, Mogadishu, but came to live in the UK when he was eight years old.

His win in the 5,000m, a week after his gold in the 10,000m, was described by BBC commentator Brendan Foster as "the best moment I've ever witnessed in athletics in Britain".

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Mallinder Agrees New Saints Deal

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has agreed a new long-term deal with the Saints.

In his five years at Franklin's Gardens, Mallinder has turned Northampton into one of the top sides in Europe - winning four trophies along the way.

The Saints have reached three successive Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-finals, while they were beaten Heineken Cup finalists in 2011.

And Mallinder, the longest-serving director of rugby currently in the Premiership, had no hesitation in agreeing a new deal.

"I'm very happy at Northampton Saints," he told the club's official site. "We also have a talented group of coaches and support staff which is among the best in the league. We all want the club to improve year on year and are committed to working together to achieve that.

"We have come a long way in a short period of time, but I know that there is more to come in the future. We have won silverware and played in some massive occasions, and this is where I know we can compete year in, year out, and regularly bring major trophies to the club.

Proud

"The fact that my family is settled and happy in the area also played a major part in my decision to sign again. We all feel very at home in the Northampton area and feel a part of the community here.

"I'm proud to be director of rugby of the Saints, which has a great history and fantastic supporters, and I'm looking forward to bringing more success to the club in the future."

Chairman Leon Barwell has hailed the impact Mallinder has had on the Saints.

"You cannot overstate how important he has been to the rejuvenation of the team, which then has a massive part to play in everything else we do at the club," he said.

"He is a first-class coach, one of the best in England, and a terrific guy to have at the club.

"Like everyone at Franklin's Gardens I am delighted that Jim has extended his commitment to the club until at least 2015, and I'm sure that Saints supporters everywhere are looking forward to the team continue to flourish under his leadership."

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Flood Keeps Tigers on Course

England fly-half Toby Flood kept Leicester on course for an eighth successive Aviva Premiership final as the Tigers beat Northampton 21-35 on Saturday.

Flood grabbed a 25-point haul in front of a sell-out crowd at Franklin's Gardens as Leicester claimed a Premiership record with their fifth successive bonus-point win.

Flood scored two of the Tigers' four tries and booted three conversions plus three penalties, while wingers Alesana Tuilagi and Horacio Agulla also crossed for the visitors.

Northampton's tries came from England pair Lee Dickson and Chris Ashton, with Ryan Lamb kicking three penalties and Stephen Myler a conversion.

Northampton led 6-0 after 13 minutes thanks to two penalties from fly-half Lamb but the game swung the Tigers' way straight from the restart after his second kick.

Leicester centre Anthony Allen charged down the number 10's attempted clearance and Flood pounced to score under the posts before adding the conversion.

Fierce pressure

Two minutes later Leicester led 14-6 after a brilliant piece of skill by Agulla, who chipped a defender, caught the ball and off-loaded inside to fellow winger Alesana Tuilagi, who went under the posts.

Soon after Leicester flanker Julian Salvi just did enough to put off Ashton with the line at his mercy, while at the other lock George Skivington had a try chalked off for a forward pass by Allen.

Fierce Leicester pressure led to a penalty for Flood but that was cancelled out by Lamb's third penalty after Agulla had come to Leicester's rescue with a great try-saving tackle on winger Paul Diggin.

Leicester shot out of the blocks after half-time and fierce pressure led to their third try after just four minutes, Youngs putting Flood through a hole near the posts.

Flood's conversion made it 24-9, and while he was short with a long-range penalty minutes later he made no mistake with one from 40 metres.

It was turning into the Flood show and he almost scored a third try but was beaten to his chip over the line by Foden.

In the 54th minute, Agulla scored Leicester's bonus-point try, beating Diggin in the right corner after more fierce pressure in the Saints line. Flood missed the conversion.

Northampton hit back six minutes later when Dickson scampered over after great work by his forwards and replacement fly-half Myler added the conversion.

Northampton should have scored again in the 63rd minute but Ashton fell over making a pass when he should have gone for the line.

Flood's third penalty in the 70th minute made it 35-16 before Tigers replacement prop Martin Castrogiovanni was sin-binned for a professional foul, and with two minutes left Ashton's hard work was rewarded with a try from Myler's chip.

But Manu Tuilagi pulled off a brilliant try-saving tackle on opposite number George Pisi, who also got a bad bounce from a chip ahead after Hamilton failed to deal with the danger.

Leicester also had a lucky escape when Hamilton was again slow to deal with a bouncing ball in his own 22.

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Mallinder Not in England Running

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder says he has not applied for the job of England manager.

Mallinder was touted as a potential replacement for Martin Johnson before Stuart Lancaster took temporary charge ahead of the Six Nations.

"No, I haven't applied," Mallinder told BBC Look East.

"It's probably the best job in the world coaching wise. What a great opportunity. But it's got to be the right thing at the right time."

He added: "At the moment, I'm concerned with getting Northampton to win something. You can't be distracted, it's got to be full on and that's what I am, that's what the rest of the coaches are and that's what the players are.

"I spoke to [Rugby Football Union director of operations] Rob Andrew a month or so ago, as I have done previously. I expressed that one day I think it's a tremendous job to do.

"I'd like to do [England] at some time."

The deadline for applications for the role of England manager was Wednesday, with Lancaster, who has won his opening two Six Nations matches, the only confirmed candidate.

Former New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has also ruled himself out of the running.

Mallinder, 45, is a former England Under-21s and Saxons coach and has been at the helm at Saints since 2007. He is contracted to the club until 2013.

In his five years at Franklin's Gardens he has won the LV= Cup and took Northampton to the Heineken Cup final last season, but has failed to go further than the Premiership play-off semi-finals.

Saints, currently third in the league, are through to the semi-finals of this season's LV= Cup but struggled in Europe, failing to progress through their group after winning just two of their six games.

Mallinder has overseen the development of established England internationals Chris Ashton, Courtney Lawes, Dylan Hartley, Ben Foden and Tom Wood at the Gardens.

His work with English talent was acknowledged when eight Saints players were named in Lancaster's initial Six Nations squad.

Ashton Not a Saint Next Season

Northampton's Chris Ashton has told the club he will not be playing for them next season. The England wing, 24, is out of contract in the summer and expected to join Saracens.

On Friday, Saracens technical director Brenden Venter told South Africa's EWN Sport: "He is a talented individual which any team would love to have.

"I think there is a process in having a discussion and will probably be an announcement in the next few weeks."

Ashton has been able to talk to other clubs since New Year's Day, while Saints have said they will not break the bank to keep him at the club.

He has made 105 appearances for Northampton, scoring 95 tries, since his cross-code switch from Wigan in 2007.

It is understood that rather than money being a deciding factor, the player is keen on a change of scenery after four years at Franklin's Gardens.

He will now join up with his friend Joel Tomkins, the Wigan and Great Britain rugby league player.

But he will leave Northampton with a big gap to fill having proved he is a devastating finisher.

Although he has drawn negative publicity recently, having been banned for four weeks for pulling the hair of Leicester's Alesana Tuilagi and being reprimanded while at the Rugby World Cup, he was also the tournament's joint-top try scorer and has 15 in 18 Tests.

Saints Inflict Quins Defeat

Northampton inflicted a first away defeat of the season on Premiership leaders Harlequins.

Ryan Lamb landed an early penalty and drop-goal to put the hosts in front before Ben Foden went over while Nick Easter was sin-binned.

Rory Clegg slotted a penalty in response to two more Lamb kicks.

After the break Roger Wilson's converted try and some ferocious defending by Saints ensured they strengthened their position in third.

Under the gaze of England's interim head coach Stuart Lancaster, and with the Six Nations squad announcement days away, the match-up of England talent across both sides promised much.

The opening 10-minute spell was all Quins but their attacking intent was nullified by intense Saints defending and the hosts drew first blood when Lamb landed a 25m penalty after Luke Wallace hit a ruck from the side.

Saints then completely dominated nearly all of the first half as first Tom Wood and Foden came close to crossing and then the Saints pack were inches short after a steam-rollering maul from a five-metre line-out.

Quins infringed and Saints repeated the play, resulting in Nick Easter receiving a yellow card for dropping the maul.

Northampton upped the tempo even more and Lamb added a well-taken drop-goal.

Saints were bossing the breakdown and were rewarded when the ball found Foden on the right wing and he fended off his England full-back rival Mike Brown to slide into the corner.

Quins could not get out of their half, were losing out in the scrums and it was an infringement at the set-piece that saw Lamb give Saints a 14-0 lead from 35m.

Chris Robshaw, who was superb throughout, charged down Lamb's kick and ran in-field to allow Clegg to pull back three points for Quins with five minutes of the half left.

The visitors tried to assert themselves but Saints slowed their ball brilliantly and won successive penalties - the last of which Lamb slotted on the stroke of half-time.

Clegg missed an early shot at goal after the break before Saints conceded three quick-fire penalties at the breakdown but Dylan Hartley escaped a certain sin-binning.

The hosts were given a second let-off when Clegg sent another three-pointer wide.

And Quins were made to pay when Northampton pulled them first right and then back left before Lamb sent Wilson over from 10 yards and then added the conversion to make it 24-3.

Mark Sorensen, on his 100th Premiership appearance, was then sin-binned for coming in from the side.

But despite their numerical advantage Quins were forced into silly mistakes by Saints, with Lee Dickson a constant thorn in their side.

Danny Care produced a sycthing break in the closing 10 minutes as Harlequins pushed for a try but Saints' superb defensive work held them out.POST-MATCH VIEWS

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder:

"We've been building towards that and we've had some good halves of rugby but I think today we were all round a good team in terms of our tempo and our attacking play.

"Defensively we shut them up and stopped them playing, which of course they are good at, so we're very pleased.

"Ryan [Lamb] was excellent. His decision making was outstanding; he's maturing rapidly and Lee [Dickson] has been very good for us and is actually getting better. I have described him as being the heartbeat of Northampton."

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea:

"They were just more physical than we were and they won the contact and collision area.

"If you come here and don't get momentum then you're going to be in for a tough night. They were outstanding and we weren't.

"For the first time this season there was an 80 minutes where we haven't actually performed, but that happens."LINE-UPS

Northampton: Foden; Aston, Pisi, Downey, Cato; Lamb, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Doran Jones; Manoa, Sorenson; Dowson, Wood, Wilson.

Replacements: Haywood, Waller, Mujati, Day, Nutley, Roberts, Myler, May.

Harlequins: Brown; Williams, Hopper, Turner-Hall, Monye; Clegg, Care; Marler, Brooker, Johnston; Kohn, Robson; Robshaw, Wallace, Easter.

Replacements: Gray, Lambert, Fairbrother, Vallejos, Guest, Bolt, Urdapilleta, Smith.

Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU)

Att: 13,459