Northampton Saints - News : The final piece of the jigsaw - Pat Barnard arrives at Franklin's Gardens

1 November 2005, 1:12 pm

The final piece of the jigsaw - Pat Barnard arrives at Franklin's Gardens

Pat Barnard tries on the black, green and gold jersey for the first time

Budge Pountney's recruitment jigsaw was completed today as tighthead prop Pat Barnard tried on the Saints jersey for the first time. The 24-year-old said opting to come to Franklin's Gardens was "not an easy decision", but one made a lot easier by the advice from fellow South Africans Corne Krige, Selborne Boome and Johan van Wyk, and former Saints favourite Argentinean hooker Federico Mendez. Barnard said: "They had nothing but good things to say about the club."

Director of rugby Budge Pountney welcomed Barnard to Franklin's Gardens and said he was looking forward to seeing the 24-year-old, who is due to get married in February, in action: "Pat fits in line with all the signings we have made this year. He has got a proven track record but has plenty of years ahead of him in terms of rugby. We have signed him for three years and we cannot wait to get him started.

"This is the final piece of the recruitment jigsaw for this season. It has given us a lift in terms of getting another young guy in the squad.

"Pat adds another option. The front row is a really tough place to play and normally the boys get a few injuries so you need players that will step up. You need depth within the squad.

"He has had a couple of weeks off but he has been playing for Western Province all the way through the Currie Cup."

Barnard's run in the Currie Cup marks an ironic turn of events that followed his decision to sign to Saints after he felt he was not getting enough game-time. Western Province went out of the cup in semi-final and Barnard played alongside Federico Mendez for the majority of it.

He said: "I have been looking forward to coming over here to try the Premiership and see what it is all about. I was not getting the amount of playing time I wanted in South Africa but as soon as I signed, I started playing a heck of a lot of rugby! Hopefully, I will play a lot of rugby here too."

Barnard arrived in England on Saturday and travelled with the team to Bristol on Sunday. Today, was his proper first day of work ahead of Saturday's game against Saracens, a game he would like to be involved in as he would come up against an old mate in Corbus Visagie.

"I am fit to play. I must be fit because I played a lot of games over there."

Today was not the first time Barnard has been to Franklin's Gardens though. He took a tour of the stadium back in August and played against Saints for The Cats in a friendly match in 2003. He also sought the first-hand advice of some current and former Saints players.

"I spoke to Selborne, Johan and Corne - all guys I have played with - and they said the Premiership was tough but also said they thought I would enjoy it. They had just good things to say about the club too.

"I had a long conversation with Freddie, who is a good mate of mine, and he said he had a great time over here."

Barnard came to the attention of many coaches when he won the IRB U21s Player of the Year award after South Africa won the inaugural U21s World Championships. However, Barnard, who has an English mother care of a romance that blossomed while she was studying in Cape Town when she was 18, has no qualms about swapping international allegiance.

"My mother grew up in Reading. My father is as Afrikaans as can be, and my mother is an English as can be, so I am not sure how they managed to get together! But they did and they are still happily married. Your home is where people look after you and where your loved ones are. If I am looked after here, then who knows - playing for England would definitely be a possibility."