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Northampton Saints confirm playing squad for 2022/23 season

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Northampton Saints have confirmed the Club’s first-team squad list for the 2022/23 season.

Director of Rugby Phil Dowson will lead a group of 60 players in total for 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 the likes of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Scott-Young, James Ramm, Callum Braley and Ethan Waller.

Saints’ coaching group is reshaped for the upcoming campaign as Dowson moves into the Director of Rugby position and Sam Vesty also makes a step-up as 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.

An impressive 70% (42/60) of Northampton’s senior squad have come through the Saints Academy system, an increase of 3% from 2021/22. Mark Hopley (Head of Academy) continues 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
Oisín Heffernan
Paul Hill
Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi
Emmanuel Iyogun
Ehren Painter
George Patten*
Alfie Petch
Ed Prowse*
Nick Tarr*
Alex Waller
Ethan Waller

HOOKERS
Callum Burns*
James Fish
Aston Gradwick-Light*
Mikey Haywood
Sam Matavesi
Robbie Smith
Craig Wright*

LOCKS & LOOSE FORWARDS
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
Callum Braley
Jake Garside*
Tom James
Alex Mitchell

FLY-HALVES
Dan Biggar
James Grayson
Matthew Arden*

CENTRES
Fraser Dingwall
Ethan Grayson*
Rory Hutchinson
Archie Kean*
Tom Litchfield*
Joel Matavesi
Matt Proctor
Toby Thame*

WINGERS
Tom Collins
James Ramm
Courtnall Skosan
Frankie Sleightholme*
Ollie Sleightholme

FULLBACKS
Tommy Freeman
George Furbank
George Hendy*

* Senior Academy 2022/23

Content & Images from – Northampton Saints Rugby


Premiership

SHARKS TO SIGN FIJI SKIPPER NAYACALEVU

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Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon. 

The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year. 

He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season. 

Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England. 

“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team. 

“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester. 

“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.  

“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.” 

Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.  

He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille. 

He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham. 

Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby


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Falcons star to join Saracens

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Phil Brantingham to join Saracens

Tuesday 05 March 2024 Written by: Tom Grisedale

Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.

The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.

Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.

“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”

Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby


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Premiership

WIESE SET TO RETURN TO SA

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Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa. 

The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season. 

He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side. 

Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out. 

“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.  

“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.” 

Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.  

Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby


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