Doran-Jones agrees Saints switch

[TRF_Cymro]

Northampton Saints have announced the capture of prop Paul Doran-Jones from Aviva Premiership rivals Gloucester.

The 25-year-old England international, who is able to play either side of the scrum, will make the switch from Kingsholm to Franklin's Gardens at the end of the current campaign.

Doran-Jones was capped by England against Argentina in 2009 and is currently part of the Elite Playing Squad preparing for the Six Nations. A member of England's touring party last summer, Doran-Jones has also played non-cap games against the Barbarians, Australia 'A' and the New Zealand Maori.

"I played against the Saints in my first game for London Welsh and it's always been tough playing against them," said Doran-Jones in a statement. "They've got a history of having a strong pack and it will be great to be a part of the squad at Franklin's Gardens."

Educated at Wellington College, Doran-Jones joined Gloucester from London Welsh, with his previous clubs also including Lansdowne RFC, for whom he played while studying at University College, Dublin, and Leinster, where he spent four seasons between 2003 and 2007.

"I'm looking forward to getting in and training with the boys. I've been with a few of them with England and the banter's starting already. The likes of Dylan and Courtney and the other guys like Tonga'uiha and Mujati have done really well this season and I want to be a part of that.

"Gloucester has been a great club for me. It's tough to leave the place where I had my chance. The clubs are similar with great followings and histories and Kingsholm will always be a special place for me.

"But I'm looking forward to the challenge of moving to Franklin's Gardens and challenging for my place at the Saints. They are showing where they can be in the current Heineken Cup and I want to be competing at that level week in, week out in the future and improve myself as a player."

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder said that Doran-Jones will be a good addition to the Saints squad. "Paul is a quality prop who has the added benefit of playing on either side of the scrum," he said. "As we prepare for a tough Aviva Premiership and European campaign we need players who are flexible enough to play in a variety of positions, and to have props like Paul, Tom Mercey and Brian Mujati who can play at tight and loose-head will only be good for the Saints squad.

"Having quality players in these positions will mean that competition will remain fierce and will also continue to push our standards higher and higher, which we need if we want to stay competing at the top end of the Premiership and in the later stages of Europe."

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath has since aired his regret that Doran-Jones has opted to further his career elsewhere. "We're obviously disappointed to be losing Paul. He has been a popular member of the squad since his arrival and developed into a fine player," he said. "We made him a terrific contract offer but he has opted to pursue his career elsewhere. We respect that and wish him well."

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2010-11/rugby/story/133436.html​

 

[Teh Mite]

Another Lock, centre & a winger also plsthxbi.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Amazing rise for him in the game, released by Leinster when he was deemed not good enough, then picked up by London Welsh ... signed by Gloucester and now is capped by England is going to be playing for the Saints next season, not bad if you ask me.

 

[Teh Mite]

I don't want to get too chippy about his arrival as I recall thinking "hurrah" when Geraghty arrived, only to be thoroughly indifferent about his time with the club thus far.

With some luck mind we'll see the same rise in his game (via Westy & The Hood) that we saw in Tiny and Mooj. Add Mercy in the mix and there's a nice rotation of top quality props in the offing.

 

[tinchy17]

A shame for Gloucester, but I bet Bullitt is absolutely over the moon about this signing!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Share out the good players you greedy b**tards!

 

[franklin]

Share out the good players you greedy b**tards!

we got 2 no10s you can have!!! or maybe im the only saints fan that thinks we need a world class 10 desperately.

 

[Teh Mite]

Nowt wrong with Myler.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Cept he's not good enough.


Lol at Porn Dorm Jones. He may have gotten better, but he's still a long way away from international standard.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Looks pretty decent when I have seen him.

 

[franklin]

Looks pretty decent when I have seen him.

cymro you would look good behind that pack,i did say world class is myler world class no way as is evident whenever he plays against a world class 10.
as for those calling for him to picked for england,do me a favour he would be a disaster.when the saints are under pressure he seems a bit clueless to me which was summed up when we lost at home to quinns a game with a world class 10 we would have won easy

 

[franklin]

cymro you would look good behind that pack,i did say world class is myler world class no way as is evident whenever he plays against a world class 10.
as for those calling for him to picked for england,do me a favour he would be a disaster.when the saints are under pressure he seems a bit clueless to me which was summed up when we lost at home to quinns a game with a world class 10 we would have won easy

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Dunno what your on about but I was talking about Doran-Jones and not Myler!

 

[franklin]

ahh right my apologies thought it a bit strange you thinking myler was decent!

 

[Teh Mite]

You are well aware that not every player can be Dan Carter?

With the current standard of 10s around, we're not going to do any better unless we can poach Owen Farrell and fast track him.

 

[franklin]

bullit i am well aware not every 10 is like dan carter but does that mean we have to put up with the worst one at the gardens for years??
every time i walk to the gardens matchdays i wonder what side of the bed he's got out of.what this saints side would be like with a shane drahm the best no10 at the saints for years.

in my opinion of course..

 

[Teh Mite]

Drahm? The best?


:lol:

Larry
Townsend
Heapher
Spencer

Best, my arse. He was okay-ish. Nowt more.

 

[franklin]

grayson ill give you but heapher and townsend now you are talking out of your arse....i thought townsend was around same time as grayson did they both play 10?? and i think you put spencer up on reputation was he that great at saints.
now i see why you think myler is good enough if your mentioning heapher and townsend in the same breath.towmsend had one good season at saints and where was we div 1.we got relegated with spencer.

so grayson aside i would put drahms stats up against any of the others, stats gained in the prem not div 1

 

[durbutter]

I think ye should sign ROG after the World Cup.

Hilarity would ensue here.

 

[Teh Mite]

grayson ill give you but heapher and townsend now you are talking out of your arse....i thought townsend was around same time as grayson did they both play 10?? and i think you put spencer up on reputation was he that great at saints.
now i see why you think myler is good enough if your mentioning heapher and townsend in the same breath.towmsend had one good season at saints and where was we div 1.we got relegated with spencer.

so grayson aside i would put drahms stats up against any of the others, stats gained in the prem not div 1

I'm not the one who's calling Myler shite despite him being the 1st choice 10 when Saints have developed the best team in England.

I think ye should sign ROG after the World Cup.

Hilarity would ensue here.

Quiet, you!