Saints lead hunt for Worcester’s wonderkid Fin

ON THE BLINDSIDE

BY NEIL FISSLER

Northampton Saints are the early front runners to sign Worcester‘s highly-rated fly half Fin Smith if he doesn’t agree to a new deal to remain at Sixways.

Smith, who is an England U20 international, also qualifies for Scotland through his grandfather, former Scotland and Lions prop Tom Elliott who toured South Africa in 1955.

He is already on the radar of Gregor Townsend, who has spoken to Smith three times since the Six Nations, but left him out of the tour of South America because he felt he wasn’t ready for international rugby.

Smith, who turned 20 in May, was educated at Warwick School. He started his rugby career at Shipstonon-Stour and had a spell out on loan in the Championship with Ampthill before becoming a Warriors regular.

He made his Warriors debut when he was 18 and caught the eye when playing a starring role in their Premiership Cup Final win over London Irish in May, bringing the club their first ever major trophy.

Smith has been part of the England U20 squad for the recent Six Nations Summer Series and made 25 appearances for the Warriors last season, bagging 120 points.

Warriors DoR Steve Diamond rates Smith highly and declared that he is better than Bath wonder-kid Orlando Bailey, but faces losing him at the end of the forthcoming season with the vultures circling.

Saints are likely to be the first of the clubs attempting to lure him away from Worcester, with several others also looking for a fly-half.