FORMER Scotland under-20 captain Callum Hunter-Hill has signed for Premiership champions Northampton Saints.
He joins the club from Saracens, where he made 81 appearances – including in their 2022/23 Premiership final win over Sale Sharks – in five seasons after moving from Edinburgh.
Hunter-Hill, who has been involved with Scotland training squads but remains uncapped, made his professional debut for Glasgow in 2016 before moving along the M8 the following year.
After impressing during an initial loan season at Saracens in the 2019/20 campaign, during which he made 25 appearances in all competitions, Hunter-Hill helped Sarries win the Championship.
He remained a matchday squad regular across the next two seasons in the top flight, making a further 34 appearances and picking up a Premiership winners’ medal, before adding nine more outings for Saracens during the 2023/24 campaign.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 15: Callum Hunter-Hill during a Scotland training session at the Oriam, on November 15, 2022, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group).
Hunter-Hill, who grew up in Gullane, said: “When the opportunity to join Saints came, I looked at the team and it just seems like a fantastic place to be.
“They are a club on the up, and have obviously just won the Premiership.
“I love the brand of rugby Saints play – very open and very quick.
“Even the defensive systems suit me as a player, it just makes me excited.”
The 27-year-old will link up with former Scotland age-grade colleagues Rory Hutchinson and Robbie Smith at Franklin’s Gardens.
“There are a lot of really talented players in my position so there is going to be good competition,” Hunter-Hill added.
“Hopefully I can get in there and get some game time, play some rugby, but in that same vein, it is a really talented group and Saints didn’t win the competition for no reason.
“There’s a good group of players throughout the squad and I am really looking forward to being a part of it.”
Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby, said: “Callum has been a key part of the success at Saracens over a long period and will have learnt a lot from those experiences.
“We look forward to having that experience within our squad, and giving Callum an opportunity to compete and improve in an area of strength for the club.
“We were impressed when we spoke to Callum about his desire to kick on and get better, and we know we have an environment to allow him to do that.”
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