Northampton statement: Aaron Hinkley has left club

Northampton Saints have confirmed that former England U20s star Aaron Hinkley has left the club by mutual consent.

The 23-year-old back row forward arrived at Franklin's Gardens less than a year ago and went on to make 19 appearances for the team in Black, Green, and Gold.

Hinkley began his rugby career in Gloucester's academy set-up in 2017 before moving to Exeter Chiefs three years later. Despite being highly rated, he found first-team opportunities limited at both clubs. However, Hinkley - who suffers with alopecia - produced some scintillating performances at age-group level for England, including scoring a memorable try at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens for the Under-20s against Scotland.

A very short statement released by Northampton Saints on Thursday confirmed that the 6ft, 100kg loose forward had left the club.

"Northampton Saints can confirm that Aaron Hinkley has left the Club by mutual consent. The back row forward arrived at cinch stadium at Franklin’s Gardens at the end of the 21/22 season, making 19 appearances in Black, Green and Gold."

Hinkley had featured in the same England U20s side as Ted Hill and Cam Redpath, but his post-age grade career is yet to ignite in a similar fashion.

Elsewhere, Saints have revealed that Alex Waller has put pen to paper on a deal to see the loosehead prop remain at the club.

The tenth most-capped player in Saints’ history and the Club’s record appearance holder in the professional era, Waller has made 349 appearances and scored 25 tries to date.

The Kettering-born prop graduated from Saints’ Academy to make his senior debut in 2009 and despite already writing his named into Northampton’s history books after scoring an extra-time try to seal Saints’ first-ever Premiership title in 2014, Waller is looking forward to adding to his 14 seasons in a Saints shirt.

Waller took on co-captaincy of Saints ahead of the 2018/19 season and went on to hold that role for three years. While uncapped at senior level, Waller has represented England in a tour match against the Crusaders, in New Zealand, in the summer of 2014 and against the Barbarians at Twickenham in May 2015.