In signing an extension to his current contract Tom Smith has committed himself to his eighth season at Franklin’s Gardens. The 36-year-old former British Lion and Scotland loose-head joined from Brive in 2001 and this past season made his 150th appearance for the club.

Smith pulled on the black, green and gold 25 times during the Saints league and cup-winning season and scored four tries. He is delighted to be staying at the club as they return to the Guinness Premiership.

“Staying at Northampton was an easy decision,” he said. “It is a club where I have been for a long time and a club for which I have a lot of affection. My family is also settled in the area which is very important for me. I was very touched by the positive response from the supporters last year and this was another major factor in my decision to stay at the club.

“Last season was very enjoyable. We had success and earned a place back where we belong. I am positive and hopeful about the coming season but also know that it will be a tough but exciting challenge. Nevertheless I am sure we are moving in the right direction and am looking forward to working hard with the rest of the players to meet that challenge.”

Smith will be joined in the Saints’ roster of props by Ben Broster, who arrives from Llanelli Scarlets. Aged 26, the Brighton-born tight-head won two caps for Wales on the 2005 tour of North America and has an international try to his name as well. He is 6ft tall and weighs in at 17st 11lbs.

Prior to his stint at Stradey Park Broster was at Saracens, for whom he made 67 appearances between 2003 and 2007. He has plenty of experience in the Guinness Premiership, Magners League, Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup and becomes the sixth prop in the 2008/09 Saints squad to have earned international honours.

Broster is excited by his move to Franklin’s Gardens but he is also aware that it will be a long, hard road for the club to re-establish itself in the toughest club league in the world.

“I’m looking to play some rugby and be part of a winning team,” he said. “You can feel the buzz around the place. The boys have obviously had a terrific season in division one. Certainly confidence is high and it should lead well into the new season. The Premiership is always going to be a battle. You’ve seen that this year, where it’s been as close as it’s ever been. It’s going to be very tough to be competitive. The task is to get back into the swing of Premiership rugby and all that entails.”

The other tight-heads in the squad are Barry Stewart and Euan Murray. There will be stiff competition for the starting spot but Broster is relishing the opportunity to prove himself.

“Competition is healthy and it’s a challenge that I relish,” he said. “It can only bring the best out of you. I want to be at a place where you’re genuinely competing for a position. It will be a good battle and one I’m looking forward to.”

“The front row is an area of the squad where you cannot have too much depth,” said Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder. “Ben and Tom both give us that. Tom’s quality was apparent throughout last season. He had a fantastic campaign in the tight and the loose. He also has plenty of experience which is another important commodity in the Premiership.

“Ben is an under-rated player who has proved his worth at the highest level. He is good in the tight, mobile around the park and also has international experience at all age groups. You need top quality players in every position and in Ben we have another good tight-head prop.”