News: Ethan Waller Signs First Team Contract
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."
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
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
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....
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Sturge, Fats Snr and Jnr....is there something in the water in Ket-rin that makes props I wonder?!
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.
----------------------------------------
Please sponsor me for Saints with Heart [www.justgiving.com]
All the very best.
The Academy is starting to have a real effect, we just need to give these boys enough of a chance.
well done.Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:11:07:13:23:47 by Guildford Saint.
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
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...*
Can't wait to see him in first team in a Saints shirt.
Vitally important in days to come of increased player salary negotiations