Northampton Saints extended flanker Tom Wood contract until 2014
Northampton Saints have extended their injured flanker, Thomas Wood’s, contract until 2014. Commonly renowned as Tom Wood, Tom signed a two-year contract with the Northampton Saints at the start of the 2010 season.
Northampton Saints Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder, earlier today has confirmed the extension of the Woods contract that will keep Wood at the Franklin Gardens until the end 2013/14 season.
Mallinder has expressed his profound satisfaction over Wood’s performance in the season, as he handed over flanker a long-term stay with the Saints.
He has played an important role for Saints European and domestic campaigns this year. Saints are this year’s Heineken Cup finalists and will take on the Leinster at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday May 21, 2011.
Saints will also take on the Leicester Tigers on Saturday May 14, 2011 at Welford Road in the semifinals of the Aviva Premiership 2010/11season.
Wood has made 22 appearances for the Northampton Saints in this season before he sustained an injury to his leg in mid April 2011. One of bones of his legs was cracked and due to his slow recovery, the injury has ruled him out of the Heineken Cup finals.
The 24-year old made his professional rugby union debut in 2007, as he joined Worcester. He remained with Worcester until the end of the 2009/10 season. In January 2010, Saints announced his signing.
Wood played 64 games for Worcester and scored 25 points. In June 2010, courtesy of his impressive performance for Worcester, Wood was included in the England Saxons squad. His England Saxons debut came against the “Ireland A” rugby team the same year. He
made two appearances for the Saxons.
In the following year, Wood got an opportunity to represent England’s national rugby union team in the RBS 2011 Six Nations. He made the most of the opportunity and delivered some exceptional performances.
The Coventry-born flanker made his international debut against Wales at Cardiff in February 2011. He later played his part in England’s victories over Italy and France.
His current season is without a doubt a dream season for Wood and he has praised the coaching and development facilities at Franklin Gardens to help him achieve milestones.
Wood is optimistic that he can beat the six to eight weeks recovery time. He said, “I've been throwing everything at it in terms of nutrition and hopefully I'm above average in terms of healing”.
Tom Wood has a role to play for England’s national team during the upcoming Rugby World Cup later in New Zealand from September 9 to October 23, 2011.
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