News: Mark Sorenson signs again for the Saints
By ComeOnYouSaints.com
February 7 2012
Northampton Saints today announced that Mark Sorenson has signed an extension to his contract with the club.
Sorenson signs again with Saints
The 32-year-old lock forward is in his second season at Franklin’s Gardens, having moved south from Newcastle in the summer of 2010. In that short space of time he has already passed the 50-appearance mark – winning his club cap in the process – and experienced playing in a Heineken Cup final and Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-final.
Born in Wellington, Sorenson moved to England in 2006 from Bay of Plenty, where he had been voted the team’s best forward in the Air New Zealand Cup. At Kingston Park he was a firm fans’ favourite, winning both the Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year awards in 2008.
This season he has featured in all bar two of the Saints’ matches in all competitions, helping the team to the LV= Cup semi-finals and scoring his first try in the black, green and gold in December’s trip to Castres.
Sorenson had no hesitation in signing again for the Saints.
“I’m excited to have signed again,” he said. “Moving to Northampton has been a great move for me, and my family have settled in the area. We’ve been made to feel very welcome by everyone at the club and the Saints supporters. It’s a rugby mad area, which is something I really like and reminds me of where I grew up in New Zealand. The Saints fans are really knowledgeable about their rugby and give us loads of support home and away.
“It’s been exciting to have been a part of the club over the past 18 months, especially playing in a massive match like the Heineken Cup final. It’s the type of occasion every player wants to be a part of.
“Hopefully we can get something out of the rest of the season. We’re in the LV= Cup semi-finals and are well placed in the Aviva Premiership with plenty to build on. And then over the next couple of years we can take the next step up and I’m looking forward to being part of the Saints squad in the future.”
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said he was delighted that Sorenson had signed again.
“Mark has been a good person to have around the club, for both his playing ability and experience,” he said. “This is why we signed him in the first place and why we wanted him to stay at Franklin’s Gardens. We have plenty of talented youngsters, but you also need some older heads who have experienced the highs and lows in the sport and can set an example for the younger lads.”
The Saints also announced that hooker Ross McMillan – who has been on trial at Franklin’s 
Gardens since October – has signed a short-term contract until the end of the season. Ross represented England at U19 level. Gloucester beat off competition from other Premiership clubs to sign him from Nottingham RFC. in the summer of 2007 In a friendly prior to the 2008-09 season, McMillan suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament against Aviron Bayonnais, a season ending injury. McMillan signed for Coventry RFC in the summer of 2009.
Brett Sharman has been ruled out for several months after having had an operation following a knee injury sustained in the LV= Cup trip to Bath at the end of January.
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He has put in some "big shifts" in during his time here.
Hope it goes well for Brett, it will seem like forever to get back to fitness, Did someone say he was out of contract at the end of this season?
Chris,
Brett (and Mooj) re-signed in December 2010. If that was for 2 years on top of the then current season they should have another season to go. Last week he posted on twittertwatter:
@jamesdowney23 There's gonna be no one on that side of the lockers... Gonna miss u Irish pickeys
...which, to me at least, suggests he expects to be here.
All the best to Brett.
I am officially very worried we are going to lose Chris Day, nothing short of disastrous if we do.
I'm sure there will be quite a few more people re-signing over the next number of weeks. These things do take a lot of time, especially when you have the buisness of playing every week to distract from that. I'm sure the first priority was to talk to the England boys before they were away for so many weeks. The others should all follow shortly.
Theres still a few more days left this week. Perhaps more good news to follow?
Thanks for that Yes Jim & Co PLEASSSSSSSE resign Daisy immediately if not sooner
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
When I thought we'd miss Kruger, Daisy stepped up, then I thought we'd miss Daisy when he was injured, but Zorro has really stepped up. This season, Mark has been fantastic and shown much more than I thought he was going to be.
daisy reminds me of Boxer the horse in Animal Farm , whose answer to any setbacks was that he would just work harder.
without england caps, it's easy to see how a structured system of salaries by classification might end up not fitting a senior player who is uncapped but actually of greater value to the squad than some current internationals.
if the player feels his england boat has sailed, it must become likely that a move to france will be the option if the club can't meet his reasonable demands.
we would lose part of our core if daisy goes.
Hope not, really want him to stay a Saint!
On the Daisy front I share worries. You would think he would've been tied up before Christmas, if he wasn't then someone has made a big mistake. As others allude to, he is a valuable non International in our team. We have already lost two of those. Incidentally, if you follow his twitter page you might worry more that he is going to change profession and be a chef. He cooks some very fancy looking food!
Quote:Broonie
without england caps, it's easy to see how a structured system of salaries by classification might end up not fitting a senior player who is uncapped but actually of greater value to the squad than some current internationals.
if the player feels his england boat has sailed, it must become likely that a move to france will be the option if the club can't meet his reasonable demands.
I reckon Dowse would have looked at the wonga and lifestyle available in France if he hadn't managed to get into the England team this time round.
spot on and still very worried. Christopher Columbus management was never easy when I did it given the 'cap' agents and the effect of 'international' as a label wonder anybody has time to actually coach sheesh!Top of the League 2014-2015 Season