Northampton Saints today announce that Josh Taylor will join the Club at the start of the 2026/27 season, with the back-row forward set to arrive at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens from Ealing Trailfinders this summer.
A product of Ealing’s Academy, Taylor initially broke through in the second row, and featured in that position for Scotland Under-20s during the 2021/22 season. He made nine appearances at that level, scoring two tries during that year’s Under-20s Six Nations campaign.
Since then, the 23-year-old has transitioned from the front five into the back row, and established himself as a regular for Ealing. Taylor has featured across the back row in his 39 appearances to date, scoring 11 tries in all competitions as well as frequently captaining the London side this term.
Now, Taylor is ready to take the next step in his career and will test himself in the Gallagher PREM when he makes cinch Stadium his home.
“Where Saints are currently sitting in the PREM speaks for itself – it’s one of the best clubs in the country, and exactly where I want to be,” said Taylor.
“From the very first conversations with Northampton, it was clear how invested the coaches are in developing players here.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Ealing for the role they’ve played in my development so far. The CHAMP is a fantastic place to learn your trade – the speed of the game, the physicality and the level of competition have all helped me grow, and that platform has allowed me to earn this opportunity.
“You only have to look at players at Saints who’ve made a similar step in recent seasons, like Tom James and Sam Graham, to see what’s possible. Watching them play in semi-finals and finals, and lifting trophies with Saints, really motivates me – that’s something I want to be part of.
“When I came in and met the coaches and staff, I knew straight away this was the right place for me. Everyone was welcoming, and I feel Saints is the perfect environment to push my game on. If I work hard, I believe this Club can help me reach my potential and achieve something special, so I can’t wait to get started.”
Originally part of London Irish’s Academy, Taylor made the move to Ealing in 2019 alongside beginning his academic studies at Brunel University – where he studied Sport and Exercise Science while continuing his development with Trailfinders’ Academy.
The back-rower made his senior debut for the CHAMP club in the PREM Rugby Cup in 2023, marking his second appearance in an Ealing shirt with a brace of tries against Cambridge in the same competition. A further seven appearances in English rugby’s second tier followed later that season.
Taylor went on to make 11 appearances across the CHAMP and PREM Rugby Cup during the 2023/24 campaign, before enjoying a breakthrough season in 2024/25. He has played more rugby than ever before this term, featuring 19 times in the CHAMP so far and crossing the whitewash on seven occasions.
“Josh comes to Saints with an excellent reputation from a character point of view, particularly in terms of his work ethic,” said Dowson.
“He’s taken on the captaincy at Ealing at a very young age, leading a group of highly talented and experienced players, which speaks volumes about him as a person. We’re looking forward to seeing how those leadership qualities translate here, how he fits into our environment, and how hungry he is to push himself on to the next level.
“Whether that’s at the breakdown, where he consistently clears bodies, carrying into contact with real intent, or making repeated defensive contributions, he brings a lot of energy and edge.
“Josh has plenty of upsides to his game – he’s strong at set-piece, has a good skillset, and there’s a lot of potential for us to grow his game further here at Saints.
“We’ve got a really well-balanced back-row group next season, with experienced players staying on and some exciting young talent coming through the Academy. Josh will slot into that group well, and we’re excited about what he can learn from those around him and what he can add to us.
“We’ve had a strong track record at Saints of players stepping up from the CHAMP and kicking on, and we’re confident Josh can do the same in Black, Green and Gold.”