Northampton Saints centre Rory Hutchinson has put pen to paper on a contract extension at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, the Club can today confirm.
The 28-year-old Saints Academy product has played exactly 150 games for the men in Black, Green and Gold to date – bringing up the milestone last time out against Newcastle Falcons – while notching up 205 points for Northampton in total, including 32 tries.
Hutchinson has also been involved in multiple international squads during his career at Saints, making his Test debut against France in a 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up match to become the 1,104th player to represent Scotland.
He has won seven international caps in total, scoring three tries, and is currently part of Scotland’s squad for the 2024 Six Nations – and when it came to extending his time south of the border in Northampton, Hutchinson insisted there was nowhere he’d rather be.
“Northampton is my home club,” he said. “I’ve been here ten seasons now, growing up and playing alongside a lot of the boys in the current squad, and it feels good to have worked my way up here – I would never have thought I would make it to 150 games for Saints.
“I feel like something is really coming together at the Club at the moment, as we’ve got a good bunch of lads together and we’re starting to achieve our potential as a team.”
Rory Hutchinson
“When I spoke to Phil [Dowson] about re-signing, I wanted to know what the coaches’ plans were moving forward, and I have a lot of confidence in what we’re doing here. I’ve also got great relationships with the support staff – the physios, strength and conditioning team, the analysts and so on – which is so important to feel settled and succeed. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all those people.
“But, the most-important thing for me for this next period at the Club is winning some silverware. I would love to say that I won trophies with Northampton Saints.
“When I look back on my career in 20 years’ time, I don’t want there to be any ‘could have’ or ‘should have’ moments. So, it’s really important with the team that we have now, we look to win trophies and speak with our actions on the pitch.”
Is there a silkier player out there?
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) January 28, 2024
Congrats to @RoryJHutchinson on 150 in 🖤💚💛 pic.twitter.com/03JMIziL4n
Born in Cambridge, Hutchinson represented Cambridgeshire, Eastern Counties and the Scottish Exiles while attending Felsted School in North Essex and playing for Shelford RFC.
After joining Saints’ Senior Academy set-up in the summer of 2014, Hutchinson made his first-team debut in January 2015 against Leicester Tigers in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. He then grabbed the headlines on his first start for Northampton, marking his Premiership debut with a superb try in a one-point win over Exeter Chiefs which would go on to win the Club’s Try of the Season award for 2016/17.
Hutchinson helped Northampton’s Wanderers side to win back-to-back Premiership Rugby Shield titles in 2017 and 2018, before really breaking into the first-team during the 2018/19 season under Chris Boyd, when Saints lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup – that campaign saw him named Saints’ Breakthrough Player of the Year and nominated for the Premiership’s Discovery of the Season award.
Hutchinson brought up a century of Northampton appearances against Leicester Tigers during the 2021/22 season, and so far this season has played 13 times in all competitions – scoring a last-gasp, match-winning try against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, is thrilled to keep Hutchinson in Northampton and believes his performances in Black, Green and Gold have warranted a return to the international fold.
Dowson said: “We’re delighted that Hutch is staying at the Club. He’s come through the Academy system and has been here a long time, so it means a lot to see him stay on.
“He’s got a huge differential with his game in how he is able to move the ball, to see space and put people into it. But the defence and physical side of his game has improved greatly this season – working closely with Lee Radford and Ben Rhodes in both those areas.”
Phil Dowson, Director of Rugby
“Hutch has applied himself hugely and Lee coming into our environment has helped him, with a new set of eyes looking at what he’s doing and pushing him to be better. He has also developed physically, being a bit heavier and a bit stronger, which you can see in his collision work this season.
“His experience is vital for us now. I’m sure he probably misses being seen as one of the ‘young lads’ around the group, but he’s been here a long time, seen a lot, and is now one of the older guys in the squad. So, to have his experience, along with Hutch being a Saints man through and through, is really key for us.”
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