Northampton Saints today announce the signing of winger James Martin from Coventry Rugby ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The 25-year-old makes the switch from the Championship side having made 82 appearances, and scored 44 tries, for Coventry since arriving there in 2019.
Martin is no stranger to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, having featured against the men in Black, Green and Gold for Coventry in last season’s Premiership Rugby Cup and scoring a try in a 50-23 victory for Saints back in February.
The winger also played in the reverse fixture at Butts Park Arena, and Northampton’s Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, is looking forward to welcoming Martin into Saints’ squad this term.
“We’re really pleased to welcome James to the Club,” said Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson. “He’s been a standout player in the Championship over the past couple of seasons, leading the try-scoring charts for Coventry and showing consistently that he’s an excellent finisher.
“He’s quick, strong, and a smart operator on the wing who showed when we played Coventry last season that he can beat defenders and create opportunities out of nothing.”
Phil Dowson, Director of Rugby
“He’s hungry to prove himself at the next level, and when we spoke to him, it was clear that he’s ambitious and wants to challenge himself in a Premiership environment. That mindset is so important to us.
“We’ve had success in the past bringing players up from the Championship – guys who maybe haven’t come through the traditional pathway, but have worked hard to develop their game and made a real impact here in Northampton. James fits that mould perfectly.
“We think he’s a player with potential and we’re excited to see how he grows within our environment.”
Martin began playing rugby as a five-year-old at his local club, Sleaford RFC, later attracting the attention of Leicester Tigers and signing on with the Academy set-up at Saints’ East Midlands rivals in 2017.
During that time Martin also featured for Hinckley RFC, but a lengthy shoulder injury disrupted his teenage career and prompted the winger to move to New Zealand and join up with North Harbour Development Team in Auckland.
On his return to England, Martin’s try-scoring ability came to the fore during the 2022/23 season when he crossed the whitewash 13 times in 23 games for Coventry, and the winger then added a further 20 tries to his tally the following term.
The 25-year-old will now make the step up into the Gallagher Premiership for the first time in his career, and he is relishing the prospect of taking his game to the next level within the set-up of last season’s Investec Champions Cup finalists.
Martin said: “I’m incredibly excited to join one of the very best teams in Europe.
“On a personal level, it’s a fantastic opportunity for me at this point in my career to kick on, and with the calibre of players already at Saints there’s no better place to test my skills.”
James Martin
“I played against Fraser Dingwall at Academy level, so it will be nice to link up with him as a teammate. Saints’ back three is stacked with talent, and there are internationals and Lions throughout the squad, so I’m looking forward to getting into the environment and working with them.
“Playing at cinch Stadium earlier this year was an amazing experience. Obviously from a Coventry perspective it didn’t go as we’d planned, but it’s a great memory for me as the atmosphere was electric and playing in front of a big, passionate crowd made me feel at home on the pitch.
“I’m also excited for the move off the field too. I’ve got a young family, and we’re excited to get settled in at the Club to experience this next stage of our lives together.
“Most of all I’m really looking forward to seeing what I can do in a Saints shirt. Northampton have obviously created a lot of history over the last couple of seasons; it would be amazing to try to link my name into some of that and try to write some history of my own.”
ROWE JOINS SAINTS ON TRIAL
Northampton today confirm that Loughborough University winger Thomas Rowe will join the Club on trial during preseason.
Rowe, who graduated from Yorkshire Rugby Academy before joining the University, was the third ranked try-scorer in National League 2 West in 2024/25 – having crossed the whitewash for Loughborough 23 times across the season.
The 19-year-old student will link up with the squad when Saints reconvene at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Monday.
MAKEPEACE-CUBITT AND WITHEAT LEAVE SAINTS
Saints also today confirm that George Makepeace-Cubitt and Rafe Witheat have departed the Club.
Fly-half Makepeace-Cubitt, 21, made nine appearances in Black, Green and Gold across the Gallagher Premiership, Investec Champions Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup competitions – scoring 67 points for Northampton.
Meanwhile 18-year-old wing Witheat played five times for Saints, scoring a try in February’s 66-33 win away at Nottingham Rugby in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
