AUSTRALIA back row Josh Kemeny will join Northampton from Melbourne Rebels ahead of next season.
The 25-year-old flanker has made 27 Super Rugby appearances for the Rebels, who face an uncertain future having made 10 staff redundant this week, including chief executive Baden Stephenson, with the remaining staff and coaches put on four-month contracts.
Kemeny, below, who is 6ft 4in and over 17 stone, made his Wallabies debut against Argentina last July and won another cap at the World Cup against Portugal.
“The success that Northampton have had in developing their players was definitely what made this move to England so appealing for me at this stage of my career,” he said.
“The club is trending in the right direction, putting in some fantastic performances in the Premiership and ing Europe. I want to be part of a team which is successful, and play my part in helping that success.
“The quality and different styles of rugby in the Premiership and in Europe, and the pressure for performance that is put on you in those different competitions, is something that I really wanted to challenge myself in and I'm excited to experience that next season.”
Kemeny was selected by Australia as a ‘utility player' at the World Cup – covering flanker and wing.
Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson said: “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.
“He's also got the desire to get stuck in – his work rate is clear to see.”
Rebels coach Kevin Footesaid: “I think the uncertainty over our future played a massive part in Josh's decision.
“Losing him is a worry for the game here. If you look at the data on teams that are successful in a World Cup, he would have been in the 27-30 category come the next tournament and could have had 30 caps by then.
“He would know Australian rugby in and out but now he is going to Northampton, which I find devastating. It makes no rugby sense for him to go there the year after he debuts for the Wallabies. It is bizarre to me.”
