Sleightholme pens new deal with Northampton Saints

Ollie Sleightholme has signed a contract extension which sees the England winger remain at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the foreseeable future, Northampton Saints today announce.

Sleightholme first joined his boyhood club’s Academy set-up aged just 13, and after debuting in the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2018, has since gone on to make 81 senior appearances and score 47 tries across seven seasons so far in Black, Green and Gold.

The prolific winger – who so far this term has crossed the whitewash four times in five outings for Saints, and three times in the last two weekend caps for England – is thrilled to be staying in Northampton beyond the end of the current campaign.

“Northampton is always where I’ve wanted to play, ever since I was little,” he said. “It’s the dream of every kid playing rugby to represent their local club, and to play for their country, and I feel very privileged to be able to do that.

“The coaches and staff we have at Saints are top class; they give players the freedom to focus on developing and keep getting better. It’s a very healthy environment to play and train in.

“So many people here have helped me bring my game on. Sam Vesty and Jake Sharp coaching the backs for example, and Lee Radford on the defensive side of things. But off the field too, the medical and S&C staff have always been great – people like Kiera Ruddy and Ben Rhodes have always been in my corner and done a lot for me over the years to get me back playing when I needed it, and to keep me at my best.

“I enjoyed some very special moments last season, and I’ll cherish the memories forever of having my family around me, and my baby daughter on the pitch with me, while we achieved what we did as a squad – hopefully there’s more to come this season and beyond.

“Saints’ supporters are the best in the country, and you can’t beat a packed-out cinch Stadium. Regardless of the weather, or the time of year, it’s always rocking, and I can’t wait to run out in front of them for years to come.”

Sleightholme followed in the footsteps of his father, Saints legend Jon, in graduating from Northampton’s Academy system and taking just 15 seconds to score on his Gallagher Premiership debut against Wasps in November 2018.

The rapid winger went from strength to strength from there on, winning the Club’s Young Player of the Season award in 2020/21, and hitting a half century of senior Saints appearances against Newcastle Falcons during the 2022/23 season, celebrating with a brace of tries in that match.

The following year, Sleightholme featured 20 times (his most appearances in a single season so far) as Northampton lifted the Gallagher Premiership trophy for the first time in a decade, defeating Bath in the Final.

The 24-year-old scored a decisive try during that match, having already crossed 15 times in all competitions across the season with Saints also reaching the semi-finals of the Investec Champions Cup. His form saw him claim the Premiership’s Top Try-Scorer Award, as well as being named in the league’s Team of the Season.

Since then, Sleightholme has also begun to shine on the international stage – making his England debut during the summer as the Red Rose toured New Zealand, before coming off the bench to score twice against Australia earlier this month.

Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, said: “Ollie is one of those players who has come through our Academy, whose association with the Club is so strong.

“Keeping that core group together and making sure we continue to push forwards and improve with them is something we’re always working on. Ollie’s definitely one of those guys who has that out-and-out quality already, but he’s got the potential to keep getting better as well.

“His strike-rate is remarkable, and it’s hard sometimes as a coach here, because everyone in that backline is playing so well and it’s extremely competitive. But Ollie’s consistency is clear to see from his stats and that’s starting to get recognised at international level too which we’re delighted about.

“That recognition is testament to Ollie’s efforts here, and how hard he’s been working with the coaching group. To see him in an England shirt scoring tries is really satisfying, and I have no doubt that there will be plenty more of that to come.”