Kemeny hoping to thrive in Saints environment

Josh Kemeny has hit the ground running in his first few weeks at Northampton Saints, with the Club’s summer signing admitting he is enjoying his time at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens so far. 

The 25-year-old back rower made the switch to Saints from Melbourne Rebels this summer, having made 27 Super Rugby appearances (starting in 24) for the Rebels since making his debut there back in 2020.

But now Kemeny – who has been capped twice by Australia already in his career – is getting settled into life as a Saint and is already learning from Northampton’s coaching team. 

“It’s been good,” Kemeny said. “The first few weeks of preseason have been busy, a lot of new faces but it's been great.

“I’m really excited to keep tapping into that and hopefully the idea is just to become a better player and put that on the park.”

It was Kemeny’s athleticism and power that drew Phil Dowson and his coaching team to the flanker, hoping he could one day bridge the space left in Saints’ back row by some departures at the end of last term – such as Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam.

Undoubtedly, those are large shoes to fill, and Kemeny knows that with plenty of players to compete against for minutes in 2024/25 – the likes of new signings Archie Benson and Fyn Brown for example, as well as seasoned Saints Juarno Augustus, Sam Graham, Tom Pearson and Angus Scott-Young – he will have to be at his best to be earn game time in Black, Green and Gold. 

“It’s going to be a challenge but it's a privilege because the guys who were there have set a really solid platform,” Kemeny said. “[Lawes and Ludlam] are legends of the Club, so to try to fill their boots is obviously going to be hard, but I’ll do my best.

“I’d like to let my rugby do the talking in the near future, but I back myself as a strong back rower with an attacking mindset. I’m a physical player as well, which is only going to get tested in the Prem. It will be clear hopefully in the next few months.

Moving across the world is no small undertaking, but Kemeny says that choosing Saints was made easier by catching up with his Rebels teammates who once donned Black, Green and Gold. 

Kemeny said: “I knew some guys who had played at this Club in the past: Andrew Kellaway and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, and they only had really good things to say about the Club, the supporters, the lads that were there and the coaches.

“When you have that reported about the place, it makes the decision pretty easy. There’s also few Aussies guys here, which has made the move pretty cool.

“I did some of my age-grade stuff with James Ramm and been good mates with him for years so it's been nice to catch up. He’s the perfect example of someone who’s come over here, been part of a really good team and got the best out of himself. It’s something I want to try to do as well.”

Kemeny joins Saints as they embark on a title-defence season, after beating Bath Rugby 25-21 in the Gallagher Premiership Final back in June to claim their first league title in a decade. 

And the back rower is relishing being a part of a successful group at the Club at the moment. 

“Once I’d signed on and seen the way they were performing and the results they were getting, it was really, really exciting,” he said. “I'm really stoked to be here.

“The attacking mindset they have is the type of team I’d like to be part of and would suit so I’m looking forward to getting going.”