Northampton Saints swoop for ‘back-rower that can play wing’ from Super Rugby side in dire straits

Northampton Saints have confirmed the signing of a Wallabies back-rower from the Melbourne Rebels.

Josh Kemeny will join the current Premiership table-toppers ahead of the 2024/25 season after what will be his fourth season with the Rebels, who entered voluntary administration last month.

The news of the Wallaby’s departure comes just a day after Rugby Australia confirmed that 10 staff members of the Super Rugby Pacific side, including the chief executive, lost their jobs.

Saints sign Josh Kemeny

With the future of the Rebels beyond this season in doubt, players have reportedly attracted interest from clubs in the UK, Europe and Japan, with Kemeny being the first to be officially confirmed.

“The success that Northampton Saints have had in developing their players was definitely what made this move to England so appealing for me at this stage of my career,” Kemeny said.

“Also, the club is really trending in the right direction, putting in some fantastic performances in the Premiership and in Europe. Ultimately I want to be part of a team which is successful, and play my part in helping that success, and I believe Northampton is the place to do it.”

The 6’4″, 110kg flanker has made 27 Super Rugby appearances for the Rebels since making his debut for the Melbourne-based club against the Brumbies in 2020.

After a knee injury derailed a Test debut in 2021, he earned his first Test cap for the Wallabies, coming off the bench against Argentina in Sydney.

The mobile forward caught the eye of Eddie Jones, who included him in his Rugby World Cup squad, citing his potential in the backline as one of the major factors for his selection.

“We want Kemeny to play seven, six and on the wing. He’s quick enough to play on the wing; that’s why he’s listed down as a utility player… He’s a tall, rangy guy, good in the air,” Jones told reporters in June last year.

He added: “We need a back-rower that can play wing, and I’m serious about this.”

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“Desire to get stuck in”

Commenting on his new signing, Northampton Saints’ director of rugby, Phil Dowson, believes that Kemeny’s explosive game and desire to improve will make him a perfect fit for the demands of English rugby.

“From watching Josh play, the thing that impressed us the most was his athleticism. He’s powerful, big and fast, he’s a solid lineout option, and crucially we can see a huge potential for growth in his game,” Dowson said.

“Those are all traits that are obviously very helpful in rugby, but he’s also got the desire to get stuck in – his work rate is clear to see.

“Then, when we began our conversations with him, his ambition clearly stood out as well. He has a huge desire to get better as a player, which is what we always look for here at Saints, and he was passionate about the idea of challenging himself over here in the Premiership, in what can be a pretty brutal league.”

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