Fin Smith signs new contract at Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints today announce that England and British & Irish Lions fly-half, Fin Smith, has penned a new multi-year contract to remain at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 23-year-old No.10 has made Northampton his home since arriving from Worcester Warriors in 2022, making 63 appearances and scoring 589 points in Black, Green and Gold to date.

Smith also made his England debut during his second season as a Saint, going on to earn 11 caps for his country so far, and was selected for his first British & Irish Lions tour last summer as he travelled to Australia with Andy Farrell’s side.

After committing his future to Northampton, Smith insists there is nowhere else he would rather play his rugby than cinch Stadium.

“I’ve loved my time at Saints so far and feel like I’ve developed massively as a person on and off the pitch,” he said.

“I turned up as a 19-year-old a bit naïve, probably just happy to find a team after everything that happened at Worcester. I have to thank Northampton as a Club and a place for helping me figure out who I want to be, how I want to play the game, and what it means to play here – it’s shaped me in a big way.

“I came here as a young boy who was just trying to find his feet, develop his style, and compete for the shirt.

“A big goal I have written down for the next couple of years is to go to a Rugby World Cup. I’ve absolutely loved my time playing at No.10 for England through the Six Nations and the Autumn before. That’s something I want to continue doing, and a reason for me wanting to stay playing in the PREM.

“There were other options for me to explore at the end of this contract cycle, but ultimately, staying in Northampton felt right. I am close to my family here, and I genuinely love coming to work every day – being surrounded by my best mates, playing the kind of rugby that suits me, and working within a coaching set-up that brings out the best in all of us.

“As a Club, we’re in a period where the core group have been together for a long time, and I believe we can go on to be really successful, win a handful of trophies, and become a dominant force in the league. Personally, I want to keep striving to be the best player and person I can be, and be a big part of a successful team at Saints and with England.”

In just three seasons in Black, Green and Gold, Smith has enjoyed a rapid rise after succeeding Dan Biggar in Saints’ No.10 jersey.

He was named the Club’s Young Player of the Season after his debut campaign in 2023, before claiming the prize again the following year as well as the Players’ Player of the Season award. That sensational 2023/24 season saw Smith steer Northampton to Gallagher PREM glory and an Investec Champions Cup semi-final, and he was also named the RPA Players’ Player of the Year and in the Gallagher PREM Team of the Season.

Last season, Smith’s controlled performances in Black, Green and Gold helped Phil Dowson’s side reach their first Investec Champions Cup final since 2011.

His ascent started at Shipston-on-Stour RFC, before he joined Warwick School and was picked up by Warriors – where he signed on full-time in 2020 and went on to become their youngest-ever player to start in a PREM match in March 2021, aged just 18 years and 313 days.

Since joining Saints, Smith has accumulated 589 points in three seasons, scoring five tries, landing 177 conversions and 66 penalties, and kicking four drop-goals – including one in the in the PREM Final success over Bath Rugby at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

“It’s a huge testament to this Club that we’ve secured Fin’s signature,” said Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson. “Fin is a world-class player who’s been outstanding for us since he joined.

“He arrived at a time that was incredibly difficult for him personally, considering the demise of Worcester Warriors, and then had the added the pressure of stepping into Dan Biggar’s shoes. Fin has never once shied away from any of it; he’s not looked back and has more than stepped up into that leadership role at fly-half for us.

“One of the things we love about Fin is that he always wants to get better. Even though he’s just gone on a British & Irish Lions tour, he wants more; he wanted to be playing in those Tests. He’s an ambitious player and he thinks that this Club is the best place for him to achieve everything he wants to – and of course that’s something we agree with.

“Most importantly though, Fin’s a good man who I’ve got a lot of respect for. We’re thrilled to keep a person like that within our environment.”

Smith’s rise has not been limited to the domestic stage; a senior England debut arrived in 2024 when he came off the bench against Italy in the Six Nations, before he earned his first start in the England No.10 jersey in the same competition a year later.

Most recently the fly-half’s success in both a Saints and England shirt saw him selected by the British & Irish Lions for last summer’s tour to Australia, alongside Saints teammates Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell and Henry Pollock.

With Smith now locked in for the foreseeable future, Saints continue to build a squad to challenge for silverware both domestically and in Europe – and the fly-half is set to be at the heart of it all.

Sam Vesty, Head Coach at Saints, added: “Fin’s a great person, a big character in the squad, and an absolute gentleman off the field.

“Fin’s a real leader of this squad; he wants us to be better as a team, and he puts a lot of emphasis on helping the people around him. That makes my life as a coach an easy one.

“He also is unbelievably easy to coach, and has been an absolute pleasure to work with since he joined us. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with him.”