KRIS CHESNEY became the latest member of Saracens' bristling pack to commit his future to the Men in Black after agreeing a new two-year contract that will keep him at Vicarage Road until 2007.

The popular forward, who turned 31 on Wednesday, was linked with a move to rivals Harlequins last summer, but he has established himself as an integral part of Steve Diamond's squad this season with a series of barnstorming displays that have been rewarded with a contract extension.

"Kris is the life and soul of the club," said the head coach. "He makes a huge contribution to Saracens both on and off the field and we are delighted to have him with us for the next two seasons."

Chesney joins the likes of Taine Randell, Richard Hill, Cobus Visagie and Simon Raiwalui in penning new deals and his latest contract was a fitting way to mark his testimonial season.

"I'm absolutely over the moon," he said.

"It was a very easy decision to make. I'm very happy here, I'm almost like part of the furniture, and I couldn't imagine myself playing for anyone else, particularly in England. Saracens has been my home for ten years and I'm really pleased to continue to be a part of the club."

The forward has made 225 appearances for the Men In Black since joining from the London Broncos in 1995, the vast majority of which have been spent in the back-row after converting from the wing.

However, Chesney was pressed into action as an emergency lock last season after an injury to Alex Codling and now feels at home in the second row, where his increasingly efficient work in the line-out and destructive ball-carrying means he provides genuine competition for Iain Fullarton and Raiwalui.

"I love it there," he said. "These days it's similar to playing in the back-row and the game-plan we are using at the moment means I am involved quite a lot around the park.

"It's been hard at times (not being in the starting XV) but the competition for places is good and what the club needed. Fully and Simon are both fantastic players with great assets and hopefully my assets compliment them quite well."

Chesney has seen more false dawns than most during his time with the club, but feels the latest one may finally prove more fruitful than the previous ill-fated ones.

"The club is moving in the right direction, competition for places is very strong - no-one is guaranteed a place in the starting line-up - we have a great set-up and an excellent squad. We are still looking for that consistency, which has been the problem for many years, but we've got a good coaching staff now and, most importantly, it looks like we are going to keep the squad together for the next couple of years at least. I can't remember the last time that happened and for once we won't have to learn the names of all the new faces in the summer.

"There is a real good spirit at the club," he added, "a really old school spirit. Dimes has come down from Sale and brought some of that northern grit with him and has put a bit of spunk into the side.

"All of it is down to Dimes really. He has come down with some really good ideas and we've really gone back to basics. The players have really taken it on board and when we stray from the game plan that's when we are getting beat."

Successive defeats against Brive and London Irish in January dashed Sarries' hopes of glory this season and Chesney, perhaps more than most, is desperate to bring some silverware to the success-starved club after missing out on the club's moment of glory in 1998, when they thumped Wasps in exhilirating fashion at Twickenam.

"Like Hilly (Richard Hill) I missed the Tetley's Bitter Cup Final with injury. We have been on the verge a couple of times but keep falling at the last hurdle. It would mean a lot to both of us to win something with this club as it means so much to us."