Northampton Saints confirm contract extension for centre Tom Litchfield
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Tom Litchfield has signed a new multi-year contract with Northampton Saints, ensuring the centre will remain at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens for the foreseeable future.
The 22-year-old, who made his debut for the Saints in 2021, has already accumulated 47 appearances and six tries since progressing through the Club's Academy. Litchfield, a Bedford native, was instrumental in Northampton's Gallagher Premiership title campaign during the 2023/24 season, making 18 appearances in all competitions, including 12 in the league.
Having started seven of his eight appearances this season, Litchfield is delighted to extend his stay at Northampton for the foreseeable future.
"I'm really happy to be remaining a Saint," Litchfield said. "The group we have at the Club – players and staff – is really special. For me, there isn't anywhere else I'd rather to be playing my rugby.
"Last season was extraordinary. What we achieved as a group was unbelievable, but for me personally it was an incredible year.
"The coaches put a lot of trust in me last season, I played a lot more than I expected to, and I hope that I can keep performing in a way that repays that trust.
"The competition and camaraderie we have in the centres at Saints has been a huge factor in my development. Training every day alongside the likes of Fraser Dingwall and Rory Hutchinson, who have both played internationally, pushes you forwards.
"Getting to play for my boyhood club in front of the best supporters in the league is something I will never take for granted. As a squad, we're determined to keep giving them performances to cheer about and I'm looking forward to seeing what else we can achieve as a group."
A key player in Northampton's Under-18s during the 2019/20 season, Litchfield progressed through the Samuel Whitbread Academy system and played his junior rugby with Bedford Blues. He also featured for Saints in the 2019 Premiership Rugby 7s tournament at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens and spent time on loan with Bedford Blues across the 2020/21, 2021/22, and 2022/23 seasons as part of the Club's partnership with the Championship club.
On the international stage, Litchfield represented England Under-20s in the 2021 and 2022 Six Nations and the 2022 Summer Series. Saints' Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, has been impressed with the young centre's growth this season.
"Some of the best rugby Litch has played for Saints has been in the last month, and that constant improvement is what has really impressed us about him," Dowson said.
"Litch has been a real student of the game recently, spending a lot of time with Lee Radford, Sam Vesty, and Jake Sharp to improve his rugby, and that hard work has been evident in his performances.
"A lot of what Litch does, he does in quite an unassuming way without a lot of fanfare, but the way he puts his head down and quietly goes about his business of getting better and playing well is an integral part of what Saints is about.
"His differential is his physicality, his ability to get us over the gainline in tough situations, and he does that with a really strong attitude. We're really pleased with how he keeps improving and showing us what he's capable of."
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