1
Northampton Saints sign a Knight and a Falcon
Northampton Saints have confirmed the signings of two forwards ahead of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season.
ADVERTISEMENT
The news comes after it was revealed by the club that four of their biggest names were being released. Ahsee Tuala, Api Ratuniyarawa, Piers Francis and Taqele Naiyaravoro are all heading for the exit at the end of the season.
Sam Graham (24) joins from Doncaster Knights, whom he captained to an impressive second-place finish in the RFU Championship this season. Graham, a loose forward who joined Doncaster from Bristol Bears two seasons ago, has made 28 appearances for the Knights and was made club captain ahead of the 2021/22 season after winning the Players’and Coaches’ Player of the Year honors during his first year at Castle Park.
Hooker Robbie Smith (23) arrives at Franklin’s Gardens from Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons. Smith, who was born in the south-west of Scotland, progressed through the ranks at Newton Stewart and Ayr before joining Glasgow Warriors’ Academy and representing Scotland at the Under-16, Under-18, and Under-20 levels.
In his second of two years with the Under-20s, he captained his country before traveling south of the border to play in the Championship with Saints’ partner club, Bedford Blues.
Both youngsters will join up with Northampton Saints this summer in preparation for Northampton’s preseason campaign, and incoming director of rugby Phil Dowson is excited to have the pair at his disposal.
“Saints have a great track record of uncovering some promising players who have come in and done brilliantly for the Club, and we think Sam and Robbie could be two more,” said Dowson.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Sam is one of the most powerful ball-carriers and tacklers in the Championship, and captained Doncaster brilliantly this season. He’s very athletic but what impressed me most was his ambition and his journey; he has worked so hard to forge a career for himself in rugby.
“He was working as a chef in Michelin-star restaurants not so long ago, but he’s very driven and every move he has made has been about giving himself the best opportunity to play regularly. His attitude to training is that it is like preparing for a gourmet dinner – all the graft during the week will pay off come the weekend – and that is music to your ears as a coach.
“Meanwhile I spoke to Mike Rayer at Bedford Blues about Robbie, and again he was very complimentary about his attitude.
“He’s a really good set-piece forward – Matt Ferguson highlighted him for his scrummaging and throwing ability – and around the park he has the potential to be really effective as well in both defence and attack.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
4 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
4 Go to comments