News: Calum Clark Signs for Northampton Saints
By COYSDC
February 23 2010
Northampton Saints will announce today that Calum Clark, one of England's highest-rated young forwards, is joining the club in the summer. Despite being just 20 years old, Clark is already established at Guinness Premiership level, and became the youngest forward to play in the league when he made his debut for Leeds Carnegie in September 2007 against Saracens at the tender age of 19.
SAINTS SIGN CALUM CLARK
Although his favoured position is as an open side flanker, Clark is comfortable in all three back row positions and his signing continues the Saints’ policy of flexibility in a crucial part of the team.
Clark made 23 appearances during his maiden season at Leeds, 17 of those as a member of the starting line-up. A graduate of the Leeds Academy system, Clark’s abilities and potential were recognised by two consecutive Young Player of the Year awards and a call-up for the England Under-20 squad in 2008.
After helping the squad reach the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship (JWC) final, he was back in the side for 2009, this time as captain for both the Six Nations and the JWC campaign in Japan, when England once again made the final.
So far this season he has missed just two of Leeds’ matches in the Guinness Premiership, LV= Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, but he knows that he will have to work hard for a place in the Saints line-up.
“It’s going to be a real fight for me to get into the squad,” Clark said. “I’m under no illusions about that, and I’ll have to get my head down and graft and then make the most of my opportunities if I get them. There are some quality players at Northampton and hopefully being around them will improve my own game.
“The Saints is a club with ambition and a philosophy of having young, English players in their team. They do the basics very well and match this with flair and talent. It will be great to play with the young talent and the experienced guys as well. There is a great set-up there and the opportunity to develop myself and progress is what excites me.
“I also know how passionate the fans are from playing there and I’m looking forward to joining the club.”
Clark also acknowledged that it had not been an easy decision to leave Leeds, where he has been a player since he was 14.
“It was a really hard decision to make and my leaving isn’t a negative reflection on Leeds as a club,” he said. “I’ve grown up there and it will always be close to my heart. But I’ve made a decision to push on and make the best of myself, and Northampton was an impossible club to say ‘No’ to.
“However I am fully committed to Leeds until the end of the season and am desperate to go out on a high.”
“Calum has made an excellent start to his career and we are excited that he will be part of our squad next season,” said director of rugby Jim Mallinder. “He is rightly regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the country. He has good ball handling skills, physicality and a mature approach to the game that was recognised when he was made England Under-20s captain last year.
“We understand that there was a lot of interest from other clubs and am delighted that Calum has confidence in where we are taking the club.”
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Wasn't Calum's imminent signing first mentioned in Rugby Times? If so, when do we get the confirmation re Magnus Lund...?
Quote:Calum Clark
Northampton was an impossible club to say ‘No’ to.
Pity he missed the quote about there being a buzz about the place
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:24:08:44:39 by Saintsby.
Now about the 2nd Row please....
Not on message?
Welcome aboard Calum - Jim has a sure touch as ever.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:24:09:36:49 by cherryhillsaint.
Photo Gallery
I hope he finds us to be everything he thinks we are, and that he fulfills his ambitions with us.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Position: Back row
Date of Birth: 10/06/1989
Place of Birth: Lancaster
Previous Clubs: Darlington RUFC
Weight: 97kg
Height: 1.93m
Honours: England U18, U20
Debut: v Saracens 30/09/07
Calum Clark
Leeds Career
Young Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons Calum Clark is a player with outstanding physical potential and mental toughness, that has already seen him establish himself as a regular in the first team squad having become the youngest forward to ever play in the Guinness Premiership, when he made his Leeds debut against Saracens aged just 19.
He joined Leeds when he was 14 and can play anywhere in the back row, giving the team plenty of options. He made 23 appearances in his debut season, with 17 of these coming in the starting line up and by the end of the season he earned international recognition with the England U20 side. Last season he once again made a big impact on the side in his 19 appearances in which he scored 4 tries over the campaign.
Rugby Career
Calum played for England U16's and U18's and previously for Darlington Rugby Club. He was one of four Leeds players named in Brian Ashton's Junior National Academy for the 2005-06 season. He was part of the Barnard Castle side who reached the Daily Mail Cup Final and is seen as one of the brightest young stars of the game.
By the end of his debut season Calum earned international recognition with the England U20 side. He helped the England youngsters through to the IRB U20 World Championship final, defeating South Africa in the semi final before losing to New Zealand in the final.
In 2009 he was named captain of the England U20 side for the U20 Six Nations, but after leading his side for the first three games he had to sit out the last two with a broken hand. He returned to captain the side at the 2009 IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship in Japan.
Personal Details
Calum supports Newcastle United and his favourite film is True Romance. In his spare time he likes to DJ and surf. If he could change any rule to improve the game it would be to make penalties worth two points.
Welcome Callum.
That's one hell of a back row were building!
"Give me night or give me lock forwards"
the odd loosehead prop wouldn't hurt either, come to think of it
Get away !
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
from where i'm sitting , it looks like freddie offski, jimmy rumoured to be offski, daisy injured and no news of a renewal as yet, and nacho out of contract and maybe offski.
the only vague positive rumours i'd heard were maybe jim hamilton and maybe kearnen myall from leeds . hamilton would be a fair right lock for the scrum , but i've not heard of him calling the lineouts, myall is a sort of courtney without the raw power and attitude.
some positive news on daisy or jimmy would go down well at the moment.
the back row signings are impressive, but if besty , scotty and hoppers were to leave, we're altering the balance between experience and promise, maybe.on the other hand both wood and clark seem fairly hard-bitten types for their age.
Saint til I die
Quote:SaintsDuncan
I don't...
Radio Npton suggests Jimmy Cannon is off to Wasps. Not "new" news in that it has been rumoured for a few weeks, but not yet confirmed as fact.
Keep getting up early for new news though!
Quote:Phil.Quote:Keep getting up early for new news though!SaintsDuncan
I don't...
Keep the subtle hunts coming Phil.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
:-)