Northampton bring in Francis

Northampton Saints have signed Piers Francis ahead of next season from Super Rugby side the Blues.
Francis who is originally from Gravesend in Kent has been performing well for Tana Umaga’s Auckland based team. He played at inside centre for the 2016 season but has covered at fly-half recently and talk in New Zealand is that this could become more permanent.
In New Zealand his play-making abilities have been recognised, last year he was named Rookie of the year for the Blues, and later that year guided Counties Manakau from the fly-half position to a first win over Auckland in 39 years, en-route to the Mitre 10 Cup semi-finals.
Francis has played in all four rounds of Super Rugby played to date and he will now be looking to bring back what he’s learnt in New Zealand like Martin Johnson, Tom Wood and Matt Symons did before him.
The 26-year-old said: “I will always be thankful for my opportunities in New Zealand, and to Tana Umaga for giving me my chance with Counties Manukau and with The Blues,” he said. “It’s been a brilliant time for me in Auckland, but I’m now excited by the prospect of joining the Saints and getting to grips with the Aviva Premiership.
“Northampton is a massive club that’s known the world over, and I’m joining a team with a huge amount of talent. It’s going to be brilliant to be training and playing alongside the calibre of players in the squad.
“I can’t wait to get started at Franklin’s Gardens, but before that there’s a lot of rugby still to be played in Super Rugby, and hopefully a game against the British and Irish Lions, too!”
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder added: “Piers is a player who has been very impressive over the past couple of years,” he said. “He is a very good playmaker who is comfortable with ball in hand but who can also control a match with his kicking game, too. He has all the talent and temperament that it takes to be a success in the Aviva Premiership and we’re looking forward to him joining us later in the year.
“We’re already excited about 2017/18 and the signings we have made, with Piers joining Rob Horne and Cobus Reinach in the backs and Mitch Eadie and Jamal Ford Robinson in the forwards. Plenty of our current players also starred in the Six Nations and we believe that we will be in the position to compete at the top end of the Aviva Premiership next season.”