By ComeOnYouSaints.com
November 6 2012

Northampton Saints today announced that Ethan Waller has become yet another member of the club's Senior Academy to sign a first team contract.

The 20-year-old prop has yet to make his full Saints debut, but he has impressed the club's coaches over the past 18 months with his development in the Academy and Wanderers teams, and on loan at Coventry and Moseley.

"Ethan is a player with plenty of talent and a desire to succeed at the highest level," said director of rugby Jim Mallinder. "He has applied himself well since he joined the Senior Academy and we are very happy that he has signed a first team contract this early in the season.

"We believe that he has a bright future ahead of him at Franklin's Gardens as part of the Saints squad."

Kettering-born Waller says that he had no hesitation in signing a full contract with the Saints.

"I'm really pleased and very grateful for the opportunity," he said. "I've been trying to work hard this year and am glad that it's paid off. But now it's time to push on and try for first team honours.

"I've been trying to develop my game over the past few years, playing for Coventry, Moseley and Old Northamptonians, and feel that this contract with the Saints will help me become a better player in the future.

"I've always had my brother in my sights, and I'm working hard to get better than him! But I'm always looking to improve and learn from every prop and incorporate that into my own game.

"Seeing players like Ben Nutley, Mike Haywood and Jamie Elliott graduate from the Senior Academy into the first team shows me that it is possible for me to follow in their footsteps. I've always wanted to play here, and now I've got the chance to play for my hometown club."

News: Ethan Waller Signs First Team Contract

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 06/11/2012 11:43

ComeOnYouSaints.com
06/11/2012 11:43

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Phil.
06/11/2012 11:44

video: [url][/url]

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St Owen
06/11/2012 11:45

Brilliant news!

Well done to him.

Perhaps in 2 years time we can have an all academy front row within the regular 1st XV.

You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.

Richards/Jagger

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Saint Tim
06/11/2012 11:47

I am not sure I can recall so many ex Academy lads with first team contracts.

Now we need a few of them to step up from the bench to the start and a few more to make the bench. The next few weeks could be interesting.


Congratulations Ethan. Keep sniping at your brothers heels and soon he may actually be chasing yours....



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saintian
06/11/2012 12:06

Sturge, Fats Snr and Jnr....is there something in the water in Ket-rin that makes props I wonder?!

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Connorman
06/11/2012 12:15

Excellent news and not unexpected. Hopefully the careful management of his talent will continue.

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Broonie
06/11/2012 12:18

both alex and ethan have natural strength and naturally correct body positioning

they MUST strongly resist any attempt to make them accept a comfy existence as squad players.that means they must develop their carrying and offloading. that's where the added value is for props.

i think they can both be big enough (Alex should be able to play at 18.5 stone, ethan at
about 19.5 stone, both fully trimmed down for full speed) to go on to england caps.in ethan's case i'd love to see him develop his ability to play at tighthead as well as loosehead.

happy to see this site has been consistently ahead of the curve with ethan.

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StBleach
06/11/2012 12:25

Excellent news for our long term future.. Now Jim, give em all a game..

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Flinstone Saint
06/11/2012 12:31

Absolutely thrilled for the laddie and for Saints having secured another potentially great talent.

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shendy
06/11/2012 12:57

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Brushie
06/11/2012 13:05

Excellent news & well done Ethan. No doubt a lot of hard work to get to this point, but even harder lays ahead.
All the very best.

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Duckonstilts
06/11/2012 13:55

Great news. I am fairly sure He and his brother will be the future of Saints front row. Imagine having a front row that can grow together over 10+ years and help bring on the next generation.

The Academy is starting to have a real effect, we just need to give these boys enough of a chance.

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Guildford Saint
06/11/2012 14:24

well done.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:11:07:13:23:47 by Guildford Saint.

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Bob Stainsby
06/11/2012 14:35

Well done Ethan and how great will it be to have two more brothers in the first team squad and local lads too Bravo! Keep em coming.
BUT PLEASE play them starting with some of these lads in the LV= as the comp was designed for,

Top of the League 2014-2015 Season

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
06/11/2012 21:36

Tremendous validation of the Saints Academy, and all those who've been involved in it since its renaissance. Most of all, well done to the young lads who are forcing their way through to contractual recognition.

It makes Monday nights and Wanderers games all the more interesting, having see what they've produced in recent seasons.

Keep 'em coming...


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

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Christy
07/11/2012 15:46

many congratulations to Ethan. He's already a force to be reckoned with - I saw him play at Rosslyn Park and all the home supporters wondered why their scrum was going backwards which didn't usually happen. When I saw who was in the front row, and bossing it big time, I wasn't surprised. You lot would have really enjoyed watching it, pity there's no TV recording at that level.

Can't wait to see him in first team in a Saints shirt.

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Taffy Chris
07/11/2012 17:03

Good news! and proves that we are doing something right to bring talent through
Vitally important in days to come of increased player salary negotiations

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riverlodge
09/11/2012 18:50

really pleased to see this. its vitally important to have academy talent coming through of course, but just as importantly local lads. good luck for a great career ethan.

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