Northampton Saints have confirmed three additions to their squad ahead of the 2026\/27 season, with\u00a0James Bennett, Thomas Rowe and Ben Alexander all signing full-time contracts following successful trial periods at the Club.<\/p>\n
All three players made their first-team debuts in Saints\u2019 PREM Cup campaign last season and contributed to the squad\u2019s wider preparations as Northampton went on to lift a second Gallagher PREM title in three seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith players out on loan across National One, National Two, and the CHAMP, we watch a lot of rugby outside of the Gallagher PREM,\u201d said Saints\u2019 director of rugby, Phil Dowson.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOur coaching group \u2013 particularly Jim Henry, who has been working with Bedford Blues alongside Saints<\/a> this season \u2013 has a strong understanding of the talent that\u2019s out there.<\/p>\n \u201cJames, Tom and Ben have all spent time in our environment this season, coming in whenever their university commitments allowed. That\u2019s given them a really valuable opportunity to continue their studies alongside experiencing what it takes to be part of a professional set-up.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve trained with us, worked in the gym, sat in meetings and already started to understand how we operate as a club. While these are new contracts for next season, they\u2019ll arrive for pre-season with a solid grasp of what\u2019s expected and how we want to play.\u201d<\/p>\n John Smit\u2019s concern for Springboks\u2019 \u2018difficult year\u2019 amid lack of selection consistency over the \u2018past six years\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Chiefs sign Worcester Warriors lock<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Exeter Chiefs<\/a> have confirmed the signing of second-row Obinna Nkwocha, who will join the club from Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2026\/27 season.<\/p>\n Exeter Chiefs\u2019 director of rugby Rob Baxter spoke about the former Saracens academy graduate, saying: \u201cWe have been looking at our second-row options with Rusi Tuima moving on and the international workload that Dafydd and Andrea will be taking on this summer and into the autumn.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to make sure we are well stocked in the second-row department. We\u2019ve got some good young players coming through with great potential, like Joe Bailey and Oscar Beckerlegg, and Lewis Pearson too and Harry Wilson from Saracens, but I thought it was the right decision to look at Obinna.<\/p>\n \u201cIt did not quite work out with Saracens, so he had to rebuild his career with Championship clubs. I really like that. We\u2019ve had numerous players who have dropped out of academies, gone to play with Championship clubs and have had that time growing up, both mentally and physically, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m really seeing when I watch Obinna play.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity for him to come back into a Premiership environment and say, \u2018This is my time\u2019. I am expecting him to come in and challenge all our locks.\u201d<\/p>\n Harlequins sign one-time Wallaby international<\/p>\n Harlequins have confirmed the signing of 29-year-old versatile prop Harry Johnson-Holmes ahead of the 2026\/27 season, joining from the\u00a0Western Force.<\/p>\n Born and raised in New South Wales, Johnson-Holmes progressed through the NSW Country Eagles and Sydney University pathways before making his Super Rugby debut for the NSW Waratahs in 2018, going on to make 91 appearances for the franchise across seven seasons before spending one season in Perth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m incredibly excited to be joining Harlequins for the upcoming season. To become part of a club with such a proud history, passionate supporters and a strong identity is something I\u2019m really looking forward to,\u201d said Johnson-Holmes.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving worked with Jason (Gilmore) before, I have great confidence that Harlequins is the perfect environment for me to continue developing my game. I\u2019ve seen first-hand the impact he has on a playing group, and I can\u2019t wait to work with him again.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking at the calibre of coaches, players and support staff, the club have brought together, it\u2019s clear there\u2019s something special building at Harlequins. I\u2019m excited to contribute however I can, and I can\u2019t wait to run out at The Stoop in front of the Quins supporters.\u201d<\/p>\n Head Coach, Jason Gilmore said: \u201cHarry is an experienced operator who brings quality and versatility to our front row. His ability to play on both sides of the scrum gives us valuable flexibility and depth, and his Super Rugby pedigree will no doubt add to our group. We\u2019re looking forward to him getting started at The Stoop.\u201d<\/p>\n Crusaders duo to Japan<\/p>\n Last week, the Crusaders confirmed that Antonio Shalfoon and Aki Tuivailala will be heading to the Shizuoka Blue Revs in Japan.<\/p>\n Shalfoon exits New Zealand having become a mainstay in the Crusaders\u2019 starting team, most notably playing all 80 minutes in their Super Rugby final victory over the Chiefs in 2025. His impressive performances for the Crusaders and for NPC side Tasman also earned him a call-up to the Maori All Blacks.<\/p>\n Tuivailala has had limited time in a Crusaders jersey but has impressed for Waikato and the New Zealand U20s. Still only 21, the talented centre has plenty of time to hone his craft.<\/p>\n