Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has admitted he and his players are "gagging" to get back to business ahead of the new campaign.

Saints will be looking to build on their achievements last season when they won the LV= Cup and reached the Premiership play-offs.

"You can only spend a certain amount of time sitting and relaxing on a beach," Mallinder told BBC Radio Northampton.

"By the time September comes we'll all be gagging to get on with the league."

He added: "All the while you're thinking about rugby and getting back in.

"Although some of the international players have perhaps had a shorter break then they or we would have liked."

Mallinder also underlined his determination to improve on last season's showing in both the Premiership and the Heineken Cup, which saw Northampton exit at the quarter-final stage.

"We were disappointed with the way we finished [the season] but you have to learn your lessons," he said.

"It's still raw and fresh in the memory and it'll be a strong motivation for us to do well this year.

"The lads have been training hard and we're certainly looking forward to the new season."

Saints begin their pre-season build-up with a friendly away to Bedford Blues at Goldington Road on 13 August (1945 BST).

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