Northampton's fly-half search extends to France after Benson knock-back

Northampton Saints have emerged as shock front-runners to land Clermont Auvergne fly-half Anthony Belleau, who has been looking at a move to the Premiership when his contract runs out this summer.

The former French international, who started his career with six seasons at Toulon, is struggling to find a club in France, so he has switched his attention to finding a club on the other side of the English Channel.

Belleau, 29, who has also played at inside centre and full-back, moved to Clermont three years ago and has scored 110 points in 21 games this season. He has been sharing fly-half duties with soon-to-be retired veteran Argentinean star Benjamin Urdapilleta.

Clermont are bringing former French under-20 international Tom Raffy in on loan from Pro D2 high flyers Brive, while one-cap All Black Harry Plummer is arriving at the club from Super Rugby side the Blues.

Bayonne are in the market for a 10, but even though Belleau is JIFF-qualified, reports in France say they are not interested in the player who has been in international exile for the last six years.

Premiership champions Saints, who are set to surrender their crown, have so far only confirmed the arrival of Italian international loosehead Danilo Fischetti from Zebra and Zimbabwean tighthead Cleopas Kundiona from Nevers.

Saints have been looking for another fly-half to back up England international Fin Smith and Charlie Savala, who has been mainly used in the centres this season.

Scottish international inside centre Rory Hutchinson has also filled in and captain George Furbank can play there, but Saints want someone to help take the workload off Smith and provide specialist cover when he is away on international duty.

Saints did have talks with Jamie Benson, but he has decided to stay with Harlequins, where he caught the eye with his goal-kicking in the spectacular win over Saracens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Saints boss Phil Dowson was sent back to the drawing board and has come up with Belleau, who won the last of his 12 test caps off the bench in a defeat in Ireland in March 2019.