PREMIERSHIP champions Northampton Saints have signed Callum Hunter-Hill after the second row left rivals Saracens earlier this week at the end of his contract.
The 27-year-old spent five years with Saracens and was part of 2023 Premiership wining side, making 81 appearances.
Hunter-Hill, right, who is 6ft 7in and 120kg is the second lock to sign for Saints this week, with George Smith’s move to the club made official on Thursday.
“There are a lot of really talented players in my position so there is going to be good competition,” Hunter-Hill said.
“Hopefully I can get in there and get some game time, play some rugby, but in that same vain, it is a really talented group and Saints didn’t win the competition for no reason.” Smith, 22, who is 6ft 8in and 138kg, was among the NFL’s international player pathway intake earlier this year alongside ex-Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit but walked away from the chance of forging an career in American football.
Smith was in the United States from late January before being tempted back to rugby with Saints in April, having played in the second division with Coventry up until his decision to America.
“I was out in America but it just wasn’t really for me,” Smith said. “I wanted to pursue rugby more than American Football and Saints felt like home from day one.”
“The guy is unbelievably physical,” said director of rugby Phil Dowson. “When he first arrived, we tested him and his power-per-kilogram scores were incredible – the best we’ve seen in years.”
Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi, 32, has decided to leave Northampton after five years with the club to join French Top 14 club Lyon, while Toulon confirmed the signing of flanker Lewis Ludlam after his earlier Saints exit.
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