Northampton Saints are keen on move for Quins’ Alex Dombrandt

NORTHAMPTON Saints are leading the chase for Harlequins back row Alex Dombrandt as they step up their recruitment for next season.

Dombrandt joined Quins, the club he supported as a boy, at the start of last season after he was picked up while playing for Cardiff Metropolitan University, halfway through a sport and PE degree.

Nicknamed ‘The Dominator’ he took the Premiership by storm with his powerful running and offload game, scoring 11 tries in 24 appearances.

The 22-year-old won Welsh U20’s caps in the Six Nations Championship while studying in Cardiff thanks to a rule that allows students to play for the country they are living in.

He has been tipped to win England honours this season and featured as one of four uncapped players named in Eddie Jones‘ preliminary World Cup training squad.

Saints boss Chris Boyd is looking to build on the progress  he made last season and get the club back on track after a few years of stagnation.

And he is already looking at which players he might be able to sign at the end of the season and, unsurprisingly, Dombrandt features on his list.

Blindside reported a couple of weeks ago that Saints are also interested in signing

Saracens lock Joel Kpoku who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Kpoku, England’s star performer at last summer’s U20 World Cup, was shortlisted for the Premiership Rugby Cup breakthrough player award earlier in the year.

NEIL FISSLER