I also see it as a bit of a relief PT - thought he might have been leaving too...
But delighted he's staying - and for a few years too.
He can now have Tini's shirt & number (not mine, next season's obviously)

It's like a game to some of them lets see what mischief we can make, then there's them that I actually believe revel in the thought of things going wrong and hate the possibility of for once things are going right, the plus side of that is you never hear from them when that happens, then there's the eternal pessimists preyed on by the others that heard it in the chippy, or two blokes were talking when they took their dog out walking, it must be true though because there seems quite a few in the know at the moment

From what I have seen and heard this would be a valuable long term signing that we can build a forward moving pack around.

He will have certainly known who the coach was going to be to change from a season option to signing for 3 years.

You’d have thought so but frankly this is a signing I’d trust even the BOD to make. It’s a no brainer. He may not be as good as some think but he’s clearly a good young pro and they are not that available.

This is a big re signing but the BBC and Sky haven’t covered it?
If somebody like Welsby had three Wheatabix for his breakfast the Saints publicity machine would be letting everyone know.

That'll never happen.
Welsby couldn't eat three......

May be a big signing for us but for some clubs he would be a squad player .Think it was given out yesterday to soften the blow about the coach

Disagree squad player. He would be one of those solid players who’s a workhorse and professional that all teams need in their forward pack. He is about to hit his prime years and the way he’s improving too it’s well deserved.

It was given out because he’s earned it 1000%.

A blow to who it’s not a blow to me! Quite the opposite. Do you honestly think the BOD think so little if their appointment.

Whitbread's been quality
After settling into the team he was the stand out forward in our pack, not flash but hard working, hard to handle for the opposition and not expensive in terms of discipline or errors.

Tying him down to 3 years is superb for the coming seasons, he’s only going to get better over that time.
In some ways he reminds me of Kyle Amor, not a big singing but grew into one of the best most sought after front rowers during his spell at Trinity

Jai Whitbread may have been a squad player at the start of the season but definitely our stand-out player by the end! I feared we might lose him.

still a young guy as is Rob Butler who (it seems) is over his injury problems and I hope we can reap the benefit of a hungry talent who was front and centre in the England Knights squad not long ago...


as an aside...
in terms of the overseas spots I would like to see a half, a prop/middle and a loose/middle with maybe another couple of 24/26 year old squad forwards (assuming Shaul comes on board)

Don't think there's a blow to soften once fans had got over the initial shock of Willie getting sacked and that JD wasn't coming over from Oz, those that know him or have dealings with him in the game are quite happy with his selection if it's confirmed and that'll do for me, not going to change anything so the best thing is to get on with it and give him your full support as I'm sure you will, one thing I wouldn't agree with you is your opinion of Whitbread being a squad player elsewhere, the leagues full of players like him being an essential part of their team as he is with us and would be elsewhere.

I got quite worried that we might lose Whitbread when he made those regular appearances in The BetFred team of the week.