Northampton Saints boss Mallinder signs new five-year deal

The 48-year-old guided the club to its first Premiership title on Saturday, earning a dramatic 24-20 success against Saracens at Twickenham.

It was the second piece of silverware in eight days, following the Amlin Challenge Cup triumph against Bath at Cardiff Arms Park.

And Mallinder, who joined Saints in the summer of 2007, has now crowned a stellar season by committing his long-term future to the club.

“This is a superb club and a brilliant job,” he said. “There are not many positions like this in world rugby and I’ve loved every minute of being here.

“We’ve had a few ups and downs, but generally we’ve been on the up since being in the first division that first year.

“We’re getting better and better, not just as a team and a squad, but as a club, and it’s something I want to be a part of.

“We’ve got a very supportive board of directors, some outstanding staff both in the playing department and in the offices who work tirelessly, and it’s all part of a really good group of people that is moving the club forward.

“You always have to look forward and it’s exciting to have change. It’s great that we’re developing the stadium and we know that we have to produce the rugby that brings people in to watch us.”

Saints have reached nine cup finals under Mallinder’s stewardship, with three of them coming this season.

And he is now determined to ensure his side remain at the top of the English tree for years to come, following their title success at the weekend.

“I’m more motivated now than when I first came here,” said Mallinder, whose new deal was not dependant on whether Saints beat Saracens at Twickenham. “The challenges are huge.

“There are plenty of ambitious clubs in the Aviva Premiership and we want to be better than them.

“And while we are a sustainable business we are also a rugby club that wants to win games and win trophies and have some happy fans that come back each Saturday.”