THE SCOTSMAN REVEALS

Published Date: 12 March 2009
By Gareth Black
SCOTLAND prop Euan Murray has signed a new three-year deal with Guinness Premiership club Northampton.
The former Glasgow player, who will win his 27th cap against Ireland this weekend, has pledged his future to the Saints until at least 2012. The 28-year-old is widely expected to gain Lions selection for this summer's South Africa tour.

Murray said: "I am delighted to have signed another contract at Northampton. It is a tremendous club and I have thoroughly enjoyed my 18 months at Franklin's Gardens so far.

"Jim Mallinder (rugby director] is putting together a squad and a culture that I am sure will be successful in the future and I want to be a part of that.

"Furthermore, the Guinness Premiership is a very tough competition and I have learned a considerable amount during my time in England."

Mallinder added: "International-class tighthead props are few and far between and Euan is a player who falls firmly into that category.

"He has shown throughout this season that he is a key member of our squad and someone we can build a successful team around. He has put in plenty of effort to improve all aspects of his game since he arrived here in 2007 and continues to work closely with Dorian West.

"At 28, he is still relatively young for a prop and I am looking forward to watching his further development at first hand."

A late arrival to the Saints squad for the 2007/08 season due to World Cup commitments, Murray has so far made 32 appearances for the Saints and scored two tries.

This season he has made the No3 shirt his own, turning out 18 times despite his international commitments. As Scotland's first-choice tight-head, he has scored two international tries, against France and Ireland in 2007.

This article was posted on 12-Mar-2009, 08:08 by Hugh Barrow.