Northampton Saints have announced that director of rugby Jim Mallinder has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract.

The news comes just two days after the Saints secured their first Aviva Premiership title by beating Saracens 24-20 at Twickenham Stadium.

Mallinder has decided to extend his stay at Franklin's Gardens following his arrival back in 2007.

"This is a superb club and a brilliant job," Mallinder told the club's official website. "There are not many positions like this in world rugby and I've loved every minute of being here.

"We've had a few ups and downs, but generally we've been on the up since being in the first division that first year. We're getting better and better, not just as a team and a squad, but as a club, and it's something I want to be a part of.

"I'm more motivated now than when I first came here. The challenges are huge. There are plenty of ambitious clubs in the Aviva Premiership and we want to be better than them. And while we are a sustainable business we are also a rugby club that wants to win games and win trophies and have some happy fans that come back each Saturday."

Northampton have won five of the nine cup finals that they have reached during Mallinder's time as director.