LUCTONIANS flanker Archie Benson has earned himself a move to Premiership leaders Northampton Saints next season, after an exceptional campaign in the black and white jersey in North Herefordshire.

An ever-present in the Luctonians side that finished 2nd in National League 2 West, the back row made 26 league appearances this season scoring three tries.

Benson, 23, began senior rugby life in Gloucester’s Academy as he signed for the Cherry and Whites immediately after leaving Dean Close School in Cheltenham, where he captained the 1st XV and represented England at Under-18 level.

However, he had stopped playing rugby briefly before he joined up with Lucs in 2022 whilst on working placement in the area from Harper Adams University.

The six-foot six inches tall flanker soon fell in love with the game again whilst playing at Mortimer Park and started to excel within the Lucs firsts towards the latter end of the 2022/23 season.

He then became one of the standout performers in the division this time around, earning him a full-time contract at Franklin’s Gardens for next season.

Luctonians head coach Ryan Watkins said: “We couldn’t be happier for Archie as a club. What he has achieved is testament to all the hard work that he puts in as a player both on and off the pitch.”

Benson joins five other former Luctonian players currently playing in the Premiership and will also make it three Lucs lads at Saints next year, as he meets up with fellow player Tom Pearson and scrum coach Matt Ferguson.