George Furbank praised for 'epic' way he dealt with setback

George Furbank is targeting a triumphant Northampton farewell but knows a scripted ending has to be earned.

Furbank will make his final appearance at Franklin’s Gardens as a Saints player in Friday’s Gallagher Prem play-off against fierce East Midlands rivals Leicester before joining Harlequins next season.

The 29-year-old academy graduate has served as Northampton captain since 2024 and is determined to decorate his eight years at the club with a second league winners medal.

“The dream ending would be to go and lift the trophy again because that’s what I play rugby to do,” England full-back Furbank said.

“To do that in my last game for Saints would also be pretty epic, so it’s definitely a driving factor.

“We got to do that a couple of years ago when the likes of Courtney Lawes, Alex Waller, Alex Moon and Lewis Ludlam were leaving the club.

“That was an incredibly special day and I’d love a fairy-tale ending, but I’m pretty aware that fairy tales don’t happen just easily. You’ve got to go out and earn those moments.”

Furbank will depart with a heartfelt reference from director of rugby Phil Dowson, who on Monday praised a “ridiculous player” and “resilient character” with a strong team ethic.

Dowson also admires the way contract negotiations were handled when it became clear Saints, who despite their success are the Prem’s third lowest spenders on wages, could not match the offers being made by Harlequins and other clubs.

“Furbs is a great lad and a really good man and I’ve enjoyed coaching him,” Dowson said.

“The way he has dealt with the setback of the contract situation and carried on playing really well and driving the group shows his maturity and character.

“He still had a really open relationship with me and the other coaches when he could have been upset and that was epic. It spoke loads about him.”

For his part, Furbank understood Northampton’s successful policy of promoting academy players while also being won over by the interest shown in his by Harlequins.

“I wanted the club to be as honest as possible with me and I was going to be as honest as possible with them,” he said.

“That starts you off in good stead and I’m also pretty aware of how rugby works in that you’re never going to be able to keep a group together forever.

“If Saints weren’t necessarily going to push the boat out to keep me, then they were aware that I was going to leave. This has been my boyhood club for 10 years so I didn’t want to fall out with anyone.

“I know the mantra Northampton have in wanting to bring young boys through and I think that’s what stands this club in great stead because they’ve got an incredible academy system.

“It’s nothing personal, that’s sport at the end of the day. And my relationship with the coaches and staff wasn’t going to change because of that.”