Archie Benson has committed his future to Northampton Saints, with the Club today announcing that the 25‑year‑old has signed a new contract to remain at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Benson’s route into the Gallagher PREM has been an unconventional one, making the leap from National League 2 West side Luctonians into a Black, Green and Gold shirt at the start of the 2024/25 season.
The back row began his career in Gloucester Rugby’s Academy but departed their set‑up to pursue a career in agriculture, studying at Harper Adams University. During his studies, Benson began playing for Luctonians, quickly establishing himself as a key figure and making 26 appearances during the 2023/24 campaign.
A trial period with Saints reignited Benson’s professional rugby ambitions and he has not looked back since. Having already made 14 appearances in Black, Green and Gold, scoring twice along the way, the back row is now set to continue his development in Northampton.
“Saints have the best coaches to push my game forward, but also the best environment to do it in,” said Benson.
“This year has been a big one for my development. I’ve become more involved in the lineout, learning how to call it and working closely with James Craig on that side of my game. Being able to learn from players like Tom Lockett, Chunya [Munga] and Colesy [Alex Coles] has been brilliant, and I’ve really enjoyed adding that extra dimension to my game.
“That’s something Saints does exceptionally well – player development. You only have to look at the back row group we have, with players like Josh Kemeny, Tom Pearson and Henry Pollock, to see how competitive it is. Being part of that group and learning from those guys is exactly what pushes you to improve, seeing what they do and how they’ve progressed through their careers.
“It’s been great to get a run of games in the Cup recently and that just makes you want more. Being in an environment where you can be frustrated at not starting or not being picked for big games is what drives improvement. It becomes about how you can help the squad, and personally what I can do to put myself in the best position going forward.
“The aim this season is to play more PREM games and put my hand up for Europe as well. Long term, I’ve always said I’d love to go on a Lions tour – I know that takes a huge amount of work, and to get selected by England first, but there’s no reason for me not to aim high and work as hard as I possibly can.”
Benson arrived at Saints having been ever‑present for Luctonians as the club recorded their highest‑ever league finishes in back‑to‑back seasons.
A former Dean Close School captain and England Under‑18 international, he made his Saints debut against Nottingham in a PREM Rugby Cup in November 2024, becoming Saint #2103.
His first try in Saints colours followed on his maiden start against the same opposition in February, before he went on to make his Gallagher PREM debut in May 2025.
This season, Benson has continued to impress, featuring heavily during Saints’ Cup campaign that culminated in a semi‑final appearance, while also playing his part in Northampton’s memorable PREM victory over Bath at the Recreation Ground in December.
Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, said: “Archie came in from Luctonians on a week‑long trial and we liked him straight away. From the first moment he showed a real feel for the game – he got stuck in, wanted to help out, was keen to learn and was desperate to test himself at the top level.
“Since then, we’ve just seen more and more of that. He’s an important part of our group and very much on the journey with us.
“He’s a very diligent young man, he’s tough, and he cares hugely about what we’re trying to do here. Archie had perhaps fallen out of love with rugby for a period, but really enjoyed his time at Luctonians, and it was Jim Henry who initially noticed him there and flagged him to our coaching group. It’s a great reminder that there are still hidden gems out there, and with the right mindset and capability, players can make the step up.
“On the field, he’s excellent in the air and you’ve seen how effective he’s been in the PREM Rugby Cup recently. He’s always at it on the pitch – aggressive, competitive, and desperate to be involved – and those are qualities we really value.”