Northampton Saints have signed Doncaster flanker Scott Gray for next season, subject to a medical.

The 30-year-old Scotland international, who has played rugby league in Australia, joined the Knights last summer after Border Reivers folded.

Gray scored two tries when the Knights played Saints in October.

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder said: “He showed his quality with a powerful performance in October. He has experience at the highest level.”

 It is fantastic to play in the special atmosphere the fans provide and on a superb pitch

Mallinder added: “He is a physical player whose commitment cannot be questioned. But he also supplements this with pace, game understanding and superb ball skills, particularly in the lineout. He will be a good asset to the Saints as we build towards next season.”

Gray said: “I’ve played at Franklin’s Gardens on a number of occasions. It is fantastic to play in the special atmosphere the fans provide and on a superb pitch. It brings the best out in a player.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at Doncaster, which is a club that is trying to get to the Premiership, on and off the field. They’ll hopefully get there in the next few years and I wish them all the best.”

Meanwhile, the Saints insist there has been no official approach by the Rugby Football Union to talk to Mallinder about becoming the new England coach.

Northampton Saints completed a league and cup double by beating rivals Exeter Chiefs 24-13 in the EDF Trophy final at Twickenham on Saturday.

Two tries and 14 points from the boot of Saints full-back and skipper Bruce Reihana ensured the National League One champions remain unbeaten this season.

The Saints have won 28 out of 28 league matches and five out of five EDF Energy National Trophy clashes.

Reihana said: “We are delighted with the win. This was a tough game.”

Northampton started the more impressively and only some ferocious defending from Exeter prevented a score in the first minute.

Their luck ran out in the 16th minute when centre Joe Ansbro finally broke the duck following a well-taken line-out, catch and drive five metres out from Exeter’s line.

A recycled ball back out into the midfield led to wing Paul Diggin setting up Ansbro, who found space to dive his way over the line. Reihana added the conversion.
Exeter bounced back and hooker Sam Blythe went close before flanker Chad Slade touched down. Substitute Tony Yapp added the conversion to draw the scores level and then booted his side into the lead with a 21st-minute penalty.

Northampton piled on the pressure before the break and grabbed a try following a clever exchange of passes involving Wiggin and Chris Ashton. Reihana missed the conversion, but added the penalty to hand Northampton a 15-10 lead at the break.

Exeter started well in the second period, and only the boot of Reihana kept the Saints ahead. The former All Blacks player stroked over three penalties to take a 24-10 lead.

The Saints were pushed hard all the way with Yapp adding a final penalty just before the final whistle.

Skipper Reihana added: “We set our goal to win at Twickenham and we have done that. We are now looking forward to going back into the Premiership after an off season.”

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Exeter: Kingdom, Luff, M. Fatialofa, J. Fatialofa, Drauniniu, Kelly, Stuart-Smith, Parkes, Blythe, Sturgess, Stephenson, Hanks, Slade, A. Miller, Baxter.
Replacements: Jenkins, Dunlea, Bentley, Johnson, Barrett, Yapp, A. Miller.

Northampton: Reihana, Ashton, Ansbro, Downey, Diggin, Spencer, Howard, Smith, Hartley, Stewart, Lord, Rae, Easter, Lewitt, Hopley.
Replacements: Shields, Tonga’uiha, Murray, Tupai, Fox, Robinson, Myler.

Referee: John Paul Doyle (RFU

Northampton fly-half Carlos Spencer believes the club’s stint in League One has been a benefit to them.

Saints secured promotion back to the Premiership with still four games left by beating Exeter on Saturday.

Spencer told BBC Radio Northampton: “It hasn’t been easy but we needed it and we’ll become a better side for it.”

A resurgent Northampton can make it a season to remember by beating Exeter in the EDF Energy Trophy final at Twickenham on 12 April.

Northampton beat title rivals Exeter 18-8 to secure promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt.

The Saints’ 26th successive win in National League One means second-placed Exeter cannot catch them, despite there still being four games left to play.

Hooker Dylan Hartley scored two tries and winger Paul Diggin one, while fly-half Bruce Reihana kicked a penalty in the match at Franklin’s Gardens.
Jim Mallinder’s unbeaten side have scored 1,135 points and conceded just 295 in an impressive season following their relegation last year.

Mathew Tait has signed a new one-year deal with Newcastle Falcons, keeping him at the club until 2009.

The 22-year-old England star, who can play at centre, wing or full-back, said: “I look forward to helping the Falcons fulfil their ambitions.

“Under John Fletcher there are exciting times ahead at Newcastle.

“It is a great environment to be in with a focus on learning and improving every single day in training. And that was a major factor in my decision.”

Tait made his debut for the Falcons at the age of 18 and has scored 23 tries in 73 starts.

He has also forced his way into the international arena - and particularly caught the eye in last year’s World Cup final defeat by South Africa - but has not started any of England’s Six Nations matches this season.

Director of rugby Fletcher said: “Mathew is among the most gifted young players in the world.

“The fact that he sees his future at Newcastle Falcons is further endorsement of what we are doing here and the level of ambition currently at the club.

“It is no secret that a number of other top teams were keen on signing Mathew, but he is a vital part of our jigsaw and is fully buying in to what we are doing here at the moment.”