Northampton-bound Joe Ford is considered one of the most exciting youngsters in the Guinness Premiership © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Joe Ford

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: Leeds Tykes | Northampton Saints

Northampton have pulled off a major coup by managing to acquire the services of promising young fly-half Joe Ford from Leeds Carnegie.

The 19-year-old half-back has caught the eye this season with a string of impressive displays and Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder believes that Ford, who will make the switch to Frankin's Gardens in the summer, is destined for great things.

"This season Joe has been one of the stand-out young players in the Guinness Premiership," he said. "Although he is still in his teens he has demonstrated a good rugby brain in the games that he has played. He has also performed under pressure against some top teams and that points to a bright future in the game.

"Joe will be joining Stephen Myler and Shane Geraghty in competing for a first team shirt next season. Having three players of this quality will only be good for the club as we look to remain competitive at the top end of the Guinness Premiership and in the Heineken Cup."

Meanwhile, Ford, who has a 75% goal-kicking success rate in the Guinness Premiership this season, is excited by the challenge of trying to force his way into the Saints starting line-up next season.

"I'm looking forward to joining one of the biggest clubs in the country and working with the coaches, Jim Mallinder, Dorian West and Paul Grayson," he said. "I've got a lot of things to work on and hopefully Paul can make me a better player and hopefully if he can do half of what he's done with Stephen Myler and Shane Geraghty it will be great.

"The Premiership has been a massive step up. It is also something I'm enjoying and I want to play more of it in the next few years. The possibility of playing in the Heineken Cup is also massive. But I'm not underestimating how hard it will be to get in the team. I'm going to get my head down and hopefully get my chance in the big games. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and am always looking for that perfect performance. I just want to put the things I've worked on in the week into practice.

"Leeds have been great with me. (Academy manager) Diccon Edwards helped me with my development and Andy Key and Neil Back gave me my chance and put a lot of faith in me. I'm definitely fully focused on helping Leeds stay in the Premiership over the next few weeks."