Northampton Saints have today announced that Lewis Ludlam will depart the Club at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.
The 28-year-old back row, who has been heavily linked with a move to Toulon, departs the club after eight seasons in Saints’ senior squad, in which he has notched up 121 appearances and 80 points for the men in Black, Green and Gold.
Ludlam is a product of Northampton’s Academy set-up, making his debut in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2016 against Newcastle Falcons, but the Club captain will head for pastures new in June at the end of his current contract with Saints.
“Ever since I started playing rugby as an eight-year-old, I dreamt of being a Saint,” Ludlam said. “While the journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing, our supporters have made every moment special for me – both the good and the bad.
“I feel extremely fortunate to have played with some great players and even better blokes, to have been coached day in, day out by some of the best coaches in the game, and looked after physically by people who truly care in the Strength and Conditioning and Medical departments.
“This has been an extremely tough decision for me. I believe I’ve given everything physically and emotionally to this Club – and will continue to do so – and I hope our fans have seen how much it has meant to me to represent Northampton in the way I play the game.”Lewis Ludlam
“At the end of the season, I say goodbye as a player to start a new adventure, but I will always be a Saints man. Until then, I’ll do everything I can to make sure that my final goodbye at the end of the season is singing ‘Shoe Army’ with silverware in hand.”
Three players Steve Borthwick should call-up after this weekend
Exploring potential additions to the squad ahead of their clash with Wales next weekend, we pinpoint three players whom the England boss should consider calling up.
#1. Kyle Sinckler
Coach Borthwick has disclosed that he and his coaching team have communicated specific areas of improvement to the Bristol Bears’ tighthead prop for a potential squad return. However, speculation arises about whether there are additional factors contributing to his exclusion.
Adding to the intrigue, Sinckler is strongly linked to a move to the Top 14 for the 2024/25 season, posing as a possible explanation for his current omission. There are reports suggesting a recent journey to France, with indications of a medical examination at Toulon.
While the performances of Will Stuart and Dan Cole in Rome may not have been exceptional, the question lingers: on his best days, Sinckler remains the premier English tighthead. If England is serious about making a substantial impact in the 2024 Six Nations, Sinckler’s prowess could be pivotal.
