Reihana still the leading Saint
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:13
Northampton Saints have revealed that Bruce Reihana has been named as captain for the 2008/09 Guinness Premiership and European season.
Reihana arrived at Franklin's Gardens in November 2002 and immediately became a fixture in the first team and a firm fans' favourite. He won the Players' Player of the Year and the Premiership Overseas Player of the Year awards in 2004.
He has made 154 appearances for the Saints and earlier this year he signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2010. Last season he led by example, playing more games than any other member of the squad and finishing top of the points scoring table.
This will be Reihana's fourth season leading the team and director of rugby Jim Mallinder had no hesitation in naming him as club captain.
"Bruce is an exceptional leader, on and off the field," he said. "He doesn't shirk his responsibilities and sets a good example for every member of the squad, no matter whether they are a senior professional or in the Academy."
"Captaining the Saints is always an honour," said Reihana. "It is a special club and I am following in the footsteps of some great players. Northampton is very much my home and it always sends a shiver down my spine when I run out at Franklin's Gardens.
"It is going to be a challenging season for us as we try to re-establish our place as a Premiership club. But I, like all the players, am determined to meet that challenge head on and give my all in every game."
* Meanwhile former Saints player Darren Fox has joined National League Two side Cambridge on a one-year contract.
Fox, who played 149 games for the Saints and captained the Northampton outfit, is being personally sponsored by billionaire backer Alki David.
Cambridge chairman Jerry Otter said: "I am delighted that Darren has agreed to join us. Darren is an exceptional player with proven Premiership experience and he further strengthens our close link with Northampton."
Fox follows fellow former Saint Karl Rudzki and former Saints Senior Academy players Tom Powell, Tom Laws, Ben Patston and Adam Barnard, who have already made excellent starts at Cambridge as the club strives for promotion to National League One.
