Full-back Pater signs new Northampton deal

Northampton Saints full-back James Pater has signed a new contract with the Prem leaders. The 19-year-old England Under-20s back made his top-flight debut in the final game of last season while still at school. The Saints academy graduate has featured seven times this term, scoring two tries.

Pater also played in all five of England's matches in this year's Under-20 Six Nations. "Being a local lad and coming through the academy here has been an amazing experience, so I'm really happy to be staying on at Saints," Pater said. "The coaches have invested in me from an early stage and shown a lot of faith in me as a young player, which has been massive.

" Director of rugby Phil Dowson said the club were "delighted" to keep Pater, adding "he's incredibly fast and dynamic". "James always looks like he has time on the ball," Dowson said. "He reads space exceptionally well, he's strong under the high ball, his passing is top quality, he's not afraid to carry the ball into contact or take defenders on, and he finds gaps you don't think are there.

" The length of Pater's new deal has not been revealed.