Northampton Saints today confirm that Josh Kemeny has signed a new contract to remain at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
The 27-year-old flanker signed from Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels in the summer of 2024, and immediately hit the ground running in Black, Green and Gold – scoring six tries in 21 appearances during his debut season in Northampton.
Kemeny picked up an Investec Champions Cup runners-up medal last term, starting the Final in Cardiff against Union Bordeaux Bègles. His standout performances also saw him collect both of the coveted Players’ Player of the Season and Coaches’ Player of the Season prizes at the Club’s 2024/25 awards evening.
While an injury sidelined the Australian at the start of the current campaign, Kemeny has made up for lost time since returning, scoring in both of his most recent outings against Vodacom Bulls and Sale Sharks – the latter featuring a spectacular, side-stepping finish from outside the 22 which underlined his explosiveness and power.
“I feel like I am just getting started here at Saints,” Kemeny said. “I feel like I have improved as a player since being here and I have been a part of some incredibly exciting fixtures.
“My welcome into the Club, and into the town, was amazing. From the boys in the squad and the coaching staff to the wider community and everyone connected to Saints, I don’t think I could have been made to feel more at home. That’s been a massive factor in my decision to stay.
“It’s definitely hard being away from my family in Australia, but they’ve also been the ones telling me this is the right place for me and that I shouldn’t go anywhere, because Northampton is a special place too.
“On an individual level, I’m really focused on improving and bettering my ability to perform well here for Saints, and also to strive for international honours.
“We have a clear goal to win silverware in Europe and in the PREM. The boys are ambitious; ambitious to win, and ambitious to raise a trophy again.”
Kemeny initially rose through the ranks at Cranbrook School in Sydney, earning selection for New South Wales Schools before representing Australia at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in France in 2018.
While studying for a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Management, Kemeny helped Sydney University secure a second consecutive Shute Shield title, prompting an approach from Melbourne Rebels – where he made 39 Super Rugby appearances prior to his move to Northampton.
The 6’4’’, 110kg forward earned his first senior cap for Australia from the bench against Argentina during the Wallabies’ 2023 Rugby Championship campaign, before his most recent international appearance came against Portugal during the pool stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Saints’ Director of Rugby Phil Dowson – who has already seen the likes of Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Alex Coles and Fraser Dingwall recently extend their contracts – is delighted to add Kemeny to that impressive list.
He said: “Josh is a fantastic athlete, conscientious and incredibly professional, who really wants to push himself to get to the very top level.
“In terms of the set-piece, he’s a brilliant lineout operator and very explosive in getting up into the air. Then all over the park he’s extremely physical, making big collisions with exceptional tackle technique and athleticism, while with ball-in-hand he has a point of difference too as everyone saw with that try against Sale Sharks.
“The draw for him to go home was huge, with his family over there, but he wants to push on here in Northampton to compete for silverware for Saints and also challenge for international recognition with Australia as well.
“We’re building something special by keeping this group of outstanding players together, so we’re thrilled that Josh is the latest to commit to Saints for the long-term.”