Burger Odendaal to leave Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints can confirm that Burger Odendaal will depart the Club upon the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.

The 32-year-old arrived at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in the summer of 2023, with injuries delaying his debut until the home victory over Sale Sharks in December of that year.

Odendaal went on to play a key role in Saints’ midfield with his powerful ball-carrying and huge defensive shots. He timed his first Saints try to perfection as he crossed the line in the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership semi-final victory over Saracens.

The hard-hitting South African retained his place at outside centre for the Final a week later against Bath, where he picked up a winners’ medal but also suffered a major knee injury at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

His return to action would come just under nine months later in the Premiership Rugby Cup encounter with Ealing Trailfinders as a replacement. Just as he did in season one, Odendaal hit the ground running and soon hit top form that saw him start both Investec Champions Cup knock-out games against Clermont Auvergne and Castres Olympique.

Such was his influence on the group, Director of Rugby Phil Dowson trusted Odendaal with the captaincy for Saints’ Gallagher Premiership away win over Newcastle Falcons. Unfortunately, that Kingston Park victory would prove to be his 17th and final game in Black, Green and Gold, after suffering a broken arm in a subsequent training session.

“Burger has been a legend, and he has just been unlucky,” said Dowson. “From a performance point of view, Burger has been excellent. He has added some experience and maturity to our group, which we needed.

“He has worked his socks off to come back from injury and training regardless. It has been so good to get him back and it is so disappointing and frustrating and unfair that he has had this arm break towards the back end of the season, because he is a pivotal player in our group and has been great for the environment.

“Burger is a great example to the younger players in how to approach that ACL rehab. The physios and S&C couldn’t have been more positive, and it spoke volumes about him as a character. We are lucky to have had him in our environment and we are thankful for everything he brought to the Club.”

Odendaal’s departure sees Saints lose the oldest member of their 2024/25 squad, and his seniority is something he has felt keenly at a Club which has the youngest average age in the Gallagher Premiership. 

“The age profile still blows my mind,” he said. “I am easily one of the oldest guys and I’ve never felt older as part of a team than during the last couple of seasons because of all the youngsters coming through. It has been a really special group to be a part of. 

“I am so grateful for the opportunity and the privilege I have had to pay for the Club. 

“Looking over the last few years, it was a rollercoaster with all the injuries. I really had to dig deep mentally. If I let myself down mentally, I think I would’ve been in a much different spot.

“I am proud of the way I went about all my rehab, trying to do as much as possible and go as hard as possible to get myself back onto the pitch. I spent loads of time with the S&C staff and we got really close.

“Furbs teleported that ball into my hands, I still don’t know how he got that ball away. When I scored that try I was so out of breath just screaming, shouting and celebrating, it felt like I couldn’t get a second breath after that try. It was just unbelievable.

“Luckily I managed to play in the Final, which was my first game at Twickenham. Unfortunately I only lasted 45 minutes then I picked up the knee injury, the silver lining is we got the trophy at the end and I got a champions medal. That is something I’ll never forget.”

Reflecting on his final match in Black, Green and Gold at Kingston Park, he added: “They always say play the game as if it is your last game, so if you look back at that, my last game I was captain of Saints and we won at Newcastle away. So, I am stepping away from Saints with a 100% win record as captain – that is hopefully one for the record books.”