Tuesday Round-Up

Dowson heads for exit: Northampton Saints have today confirmed that back row forward Phil Dowson will leave the club at the end of the current season, having chosen to take up a contract with Aviva Premiership hopefuls, the Worcester Warriors. 33 year old Dowson, who arrived at the Saints six years back, after an initial eight year stint at the Newcastle Falcons, has put pen to paper with Dean Ryan’s side following weeks of speculation surrounding his future. Appearing in over 175 games for the Franklin’s Gardens outfit during his time, Dowson firmly established himself as one of head coach Jim Mallinder’s right hand men, captaining the side on regular occasion. Last season, Dowson was handed the captaincy duties in both parts of the domestic and European campaigns, as the Saints enjoyed the club’s most triumphant season in their history, being crowned the Aviva Premiership champions and also enjoying success in the European Amlin Challenge Cup. Having previously captained England against the Barbarians and with a string of international appearances to his name, Dowson will surely bring a wealth of experience to Dean Ryan’s Worcester, as they look to build a squad which can eventually compete at the higher end of the table.

Sharks sign duo: Sharks fans in South Africa will wake to positive news this morning, as the club confirmed the combined signing of both Jean Deysel and Michael Claassens for the forthcoming Super Rugby season. Rampaging back rower Deysel will return to the Durban-based outfit having spent just under a year away from the Shark Tank in Japan, plying his trade with the Toyota Verblitz in the Top League. Having reportedly been unhappy with the coaching style of Jake White last season, Deysel will surely have been pleased to see the former Springbok coach leave the club, with Gary Gold and Brendan Venter now in charge. Elsewhere, scrum half Claassens will return to his home nation having spent eight seasons across in Europe. Having previously enjoyed a successful 6 years at Bath, Claassens has spent the past 18 months at European and French champions Toulon. While Deysel will return for the opening game of the Sharks’ Super Rugby campaign, Claassens will remain under contract in the South of France and therefore will return upon the climax of the European season in May.

Ryan Sheady