Northampton confirm 60-strong Dowson squad for 2022/23 season
New Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson will lead a group of 60 players in his first season at the helm – up from 58 in 2021/22 – with 19 new faces arriving at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, including Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Scott-Young, James Ramm, Callum Braley and Ethan Waller.
The coaching group is reshaped for the upcoming campaign as Dowson moves into the director of rugby position at Northampton and Sam Vesty makes a step up as the head coach. Former Saints lock James Craig also transitions from the club’s academy programme into the senior coaching group, joining first-team coaches Ian Vass and Matt Ferguson.
Former director of rugby Chris Boyd takes up a new advisory role with the club, providing strategic counsel to the coaching group by both working remotely from New Zealand and visiting Northampton during the season.
In total, 70 per cent (42/60) of the Northampton senior squad have come through the Saints academy system, an increase of three per cent from 2021/22. Mark Hopley (head of academy) will continue to lead the senior academy group of 21 players and is supported by Jake Sharp, Will Parkin, and Jim Henry, as well as Alex O’Dowd (academy programme manager).
PROPS (11)
Oisín Heffernan, Paul Hill, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Emmanuel Iyogun, Ehren Painter, George Patten*, Alfie Petch, Ed Prowse*, Nick Tarr*, Alex Waller, Ethan Waller;
HOOKERS (7)
Callum Burns*, James Fish, Aston Gradwick-Light*, Mikey Haywood, Sam Matavesi, Robbie Smith, Craig Wright*;
LOCKS AND LOOSE FORWARDS (19)
Emeka Atuanya*, Juarno Augustus, Alex Coles, Joseph Gaffan*, Sam Graham, Aaron Hinkley, Geordie Irvine*, Courtney Lawes, Tom Lockett*, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Moon, Brandon Nansen, David Ribbans, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Scott-Young, Kayde Sylvester*, Josh Weru*, Karl Wilkins, Duane RatuVilai Willemsen*;
SCRUM-HALVES (4)
Callum Braley, Jake Garside*, Tom James, Alex Mitchell;
FLY-HALVES (3)
Dan Biggar, James Grayson, Matthew Arden*;
CENTRES (8)
Fraser Dingwall, Ethan Grayson*, Rory Hutchinson, Archie Kean*, Tom Litchfield*, Joel Matavesi, Matt Proctor; Toby Thame*;
WINGERS (5)
Tom Collins, James Ramm, Courtnall Skosan, Frankie Sleightholme*, Ollie Sleightholme;
FULL-BACKS (3)
Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, George Hendy*.
(*Senior academy 2022/23)
Comments on RugbyPass
Ah, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
22 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
22 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
22 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
22 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
22 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to comments