Northampton Saints have bolstered their squad with a former NFL player, adding 6ft 8in George Smith to their squad for next season.
Smith, 23, who weighs 21 kg [138kg] and represented Coventry in the championship last year, was in the same NFL international class that saw Louis Rees-Zammit signed by Kansas City Chiefs.
However, during a short experimental period in Santos towards the end of 2023-24, Smith demonstrated a level of power that led to the Premiership champions officially signing the towering striker.
“George’s superpower is that he’s 6ft 4in and can move really quickly,” said Phil Dowon, Northampton’s director of rugby.
“The guy is incredibly physical. When it arrived, we tested it and its power-per-kilogram scores were incredible – the best we’ve seen in years.
“He’s a smart guy and he was hooked from the start. We have someone who is physical, intelligent and knows how to play.
“George comes from a totally different background, there is no history in academia for him. He played well for Coventry in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Saracens and also scored against Gloucester.
Before joining Coventry in 2022, Smith represented Bristol Redcliffians in the fifth division and was selected for Somerset in the County Championship.
He was a colleague of Harry Mallinder, a former Saint, and also Rees-Zammit on his way to playing in the NFL, but jumped at the chance to return to the UK.
“I was in America, but it wasn’t for me,” Smith said. “I wanted to follow rugby more than American football. Shield [Paul Shields, head of recruitment and retention] He called me asking if I wanted to come in, train with the boys and see if I was a good fit. I felt at home from the first day.
“Everyone was very welcoming and Phil Dowson made it clear he wanted me to sign, so it was a good first few days. I don’t want to play anywhere else.
“I took a lot of things away from the NFL experience. I’m a much better athlete now than I was six, seven months ago. In terms of my athletic development, it was huge. It just pushed me to become bigger, stronger and faster.”
Northampton has become known for opportunistic recruitment and developing diamonds in the rough, which will be put to the test this year due to the need for early resupply.
Just this week it was announced that Sam Matavesi had left the club to join Lyon, with Courtney Lawes, Alex Moon and Lewis Ludlam also among those who left the East Midlands for France after winning the Premiership title.
Josh Kemeny, a back-five workhorse and two-cap Wallaby, and Tom West, the well-travelled loosehead prop, are among Northampton’s other signings, with Archie Benson arriving from Luctonians and Fyn Brown from Doncaster Knights. Luke Green, the tighthead, was acquired from the San Diego Legion.
