The Scotland prop Euan Murray has signed a new three-year deal with Northampton. Murray, who will be on Six Nations duty against Ireland at Murrayfield this weekend, has pledged his future to the Saints until at least 2012.

The 28-year-old, who has won 26 caps for his country, is widely expected to be selected for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa this summer.

"I am delighted to have signed another contract at Northampton," Murray said. "It is a tremendous club and I have thoroughly enjoyed my 18 months at Franklin's Gardens so far. Jim Mallinder [the club's rugby director] is putting together a squad and a culture that I am sure will be successful in the future and I want to be a part of that.

"Furthermore, the Guinness Premiership is a very tough competition and I have learned a considerable amount during my time in England."

Mallinder added: "International-class tighthead props are few and far between and Euan is a player who falls firmly in that category. He has shown throughout this season that he is a key member of our squad and someone we can build a successful team around.

"He has put in plenty of effort to improve all aspects of his game since he arrived here in 2007. At 28, he is still relatively young for a prop and I am looking forward to watching his further development at first hand."