Northampton Saints confirm 16 leavers, major stars depart this summer
Rugby NewsFriday, 24 May 2024 at 10:10
Northampton Saints have officially announced the departure of 16 players from the Club following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, among whom are THREE England internationals.
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Northampton Saints confirm 16 departures:
Alex Moon to Bayonne
Gabriel Hamer-Webb to Cardiff
Courtney Lawes to Brive
Reflecting on his departure, the 35-year-old acknowledged Northampton's efforts to retain him, yet cited Brive's offer as "transformative" for both himself and his family.
"I want to make it clear that I really would have liked to end my career as a one-club man, and Saints did absolutely everything they possibly could to make that happen - our conversations were all very positive," said Lawes.
Courtney Lawes of England continues his recovery from injury during the England Rugby Training camp at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre, Pennyhill Park on 30 Jan. 2023 Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
"But, first and foremost, I have to make sure that my family and I are in the best position possible for my retirement, which will be in the next couple of years.
"This is likely to be the last contract I'll ever sign, and the offer I have received to play overseas will be transformational for my family, so there was no way I could turn it down and I took the decision to move away from Northampton."
Alex Waller (Retired)
Ethan Waller (Retired)
Lewis Ludlam to Toulon
Paul Hill to Edinburgh
Tom Cruse (Retired)
Matthew Arden (Released)
Callum Braley (Released)
Aston Gradwick-Light (Released)
George Irvine (Released)
Joel Matavesi (Released)
George Patten (Released)
Kayde Sylvester (Released)
Nick Tarr (Released)
Five England players set to swap nations after falling out of favour
World Rugby's latest eligibility rules have opened up the door for several prominent England players to potentially switch allegiances to different countries.
Under these new regulations, players can become eligible to represent another nation if they refrain from Test rugby for three years and have a birth connection to the desired country or through a parent or grandparent.
#1. Ollie Hassell-Collins (Wales)
The Leicester Tigers winger, who was given his debut by Borthwick in 2023, has expressed his willingness to potentially represent Wales in 2026.
Despite earning two caps for England during last year's Six Nations, the 25-year-old hasn't been included in Steve Borthwick's squad since then. Notably, he was absent from England A's recent triumph over Portugal.
Ahead of this year's Six Nations, Gatland had mentioned Hassell-Collins several times, especially during the discussion surrounding another dual-qualified winger, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
“I have seen Gatland’s interview,” Hassell-Collins told the Telegraph.
“I’ve got two caps for England, and obviously I’m English. But if I don’t see anything in the next few years then it’s definitely something that I would consider.
“I would qualify [for Wales] the year of the World Cup – that is, if he still wants me. Wales is still part of who I am.
"My grandma was Welsh and I still have family over there. It’s still a part of me – and I’d never turn it down – but for now it’s England for me.”
#2. Louis Lynagh (Italy)
Lynagh, the Treviso-born son of Australia great Michael who also played for the Italian club in the 1990s, quit Harlequins to join Italian club Benetton a couple of weeks ago with the aim of representing the Azzurri.
The 23-year-old was called up by England under Eddie Jones but failed to win a cap and has been overlooked completely by Steve Borthwick since he took over in December 2022.
Lynagh is part of a 33-man group named by Italy technical commissioner Gonzalo Quesada for the clash in Lille on February 18.
On confirming his move to United Rugby Championship high-flyers Benetton, Lynagh said: “It’s been a difficult decision to leave my boyhood club but I feel the time is right for a new challenge in Italy.
Louis Lynagh (Harlequins, uncapped) during England Rugby training session at The Lensbury Hotel, Teddington, London on 28 Sept 2021. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
“I have lived in England since I was four-years-old, but Italy and Treviso have always been in my heart.
“My father played a fundamental role not only in my rugby career, but also in my life. He always wanted the best for me and always agreed with every decision I made.
“He told me that playing in Treviso will be the best for me and my style of rugby.”
#3. Nathan Hughes (Fiji)
When asked if he'd be open to swapping nations, he told Rugby Pass: “Yes, 100 per cent,”
He added: “I’m just focusing purely on Black Rams and just playing as well as I can and letting the selectors do their job.
“The coaches and their staff are all in Europe at the moment and I’m not sure when they will be coming to Japan. We’ll wait until the day comes.
"If he picks me, we will make the decision then, but we have got two more games to go (at Black Rams) and we are trying to finish as high as we can up the table and go from there.”
#4. Zach Mercer (New Zealand)
Making waves in the Top 14 and Europe with Montpellier, Mercer pulling on the famous All Black jersey would be as shocking a switch of nationality that the game has ever seen.
Described as ‘fat and lazy’ by England boss Eddie Jones before his international debut in 2018, this would be the ultimate way to prove the Aussie wrong.
The only drawback to the switch is to become eligible for New Zealand he’d have to join one of their Super Rugby sides.
Despite being snubbed by Borthwick for both Rugby World Cup and Six Nations rosters, Mercer, son of Gary who earned 21 caps for New Zealand in rugby league, could still engineer an improbable transition.
Zach Mercer of England goes over for a try during the Quilter Cup Match between England and Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on May 27. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#5. Alex Lozowski (Italy)
Lozowski, who has an Italian grandmother, could take advantage of the new World Rugby rules surrounding eligibility.
The Saracens star, who won the last of his six England caps in 2018, could swap with immediate effect following the rule change and was approached by former Italy boss Kieran Crowley on multiple occasions.
“I have been in contact. I haven’t personally been in contact with Paolo but he has been contacted,” Crowley said at the Six Nations launch last year.
“The other two [Lozowski and Lynagh] I have spoken to personally. They have made decisions at the moment that I respect. I support them. I’ll keep in contact with them. But certainly if they were available, we’d certainly be looking at them. They are all quality players.
Pablo Matera of Argentina on the break slipping the tackle from Sam Underhill of England Rugby and then tackled by Alex Lozowski of England Rugby during the International Old Mutual Wealth Series match between England v Argentina on 11th November 2017 at Twickenham Stadium, London, England (Photo:Phil Mingo/PPAUK),
“We will keep the lines of communication open. Not only with those three but there are a number of others as well.”
The other two players mentioned have since accepted Italy call-ups.
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