Identity Of Northampton’s Mysterious Louis Picamoles Replacement Potentially Revealed

Northampton Saints this week confirmed that they have found Louis Picamoles’ replacement.

Jim Mallinder revealed that they have found a placement for the Frenchman, but he won’t be arriving until the New Year.

The player Saints have signed currently has club commitments elsewhere and will complete those before he switches to Franklin’s Gardens. Sam Dickinson has been drafted in on a short-term deal, having originally been released at the end of last season, and will cover until the new player arrives in January.

“Louis Picamoles had left the club so we needed a replacement,” Mallinder said.

“We have got a long-term replacement for Louis Picamoles, but he won’t be here until the new year.

Speculation is now mounting that the man in question is New Zealander Brad Shields. The Hurricanes star has been linked with a move to the Premiership in recent weeks, with the back-row reportedly set to declare for England as he hold a British passport.

The contract is believed to be worth in excess of £350,000 per-season for the man who captained the Hurricanes against the British & Irish Lions this summer.