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Scotland prop Gordon Reid signs for Northampton
Scotland international Gordon Reid has signed for Northampton Saints until the end of the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership season.
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The 33-year-old loosehead boasts a wealth of experience at the very highest level and arrives at Franklin’s Gardens from PRO14 outfit Glasgow Warriors and Super6 side Ayrshire Bulls – having been available for both clubs this season on a partnership deal.
Reid has won 41 international caps for Scotland since making his debut in 2014, playing in two World Cups and was part of the 2018 Calcutta Cup-winning side at Murrayfield.
After winning the Scottish Premier League with Ayr in 2009, Reid signed his first professional contract with Glasgow the following season and went on to make over 100 appearances in his first stint with the club, playing an integral part in their PRO12 triumph in 2014/15.
The 6ft 2in, 18-stone front row then spent two seasons at London Irish before returning to hometown club Ayr and featuring in all four of Scotland’s matches at the 2019 World Cup.
“I’m really excited to get this opportunity to return to the Gallagher Premiership and contribute towards what will hopefully be a successful season for Northampton,” said Reid.
“This is a club steeped in history and pedigree and the team have played some quality rugby already this year, showing they are genuine contenders for silverware. So I’m looking forward to getting into training straight away and putting my hand up for selection.”
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Northampton scrum coach Matt Ferguson added: “We’ve been really happy with how Manny Iyogun and Toby Trinder have been going with England U20s and Coventry respectively, but we felt like we needed some experienced support for Francois van Wyk and Ben Franks after Alex Waller’s injury.
“So to get someone of Gordon’s quality, straight in from training with Scotland’s Six Nations squad, is excellent news for us. I worked with him at London Irish – so he knows the Premiership – and I found him to be not only a very strong scrummager but also a great character with plenty of grit. He was certainly top of the shopping list for us.
“He’s very much about helping others and imparting knowledge, which is a key feature of our front-row group. We wanted someone who was going to fit straight into our group and into the culture of Saints, so I’m stoked he is here. We’re very grateful to both Glasgow and Ayr for releasing him.”
WATCH: The Rugby Pod reflects on all last weekend’s action in the Guinness Six Nations and the Gallagher Premiership
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
39 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.
39 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. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. 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.
39 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.
39 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.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments