Northampton Saints have made a significant addition to their squad by signing South African lock Juan John 'JJ' van der Mescht from French club Stade Francais. The 26-year-old, who has 75 appearances for the Top 14 side over four seasons in Paris, is set to bring his formidable presence to the Saints' lineup.

Van der Mescht, a former South Africa Under-20 international, began his career with the Durban-based Sharks, where he honed his skills under the guidance of Northampton's scrum coach, Jaco Pienaar. His versatility and physical prowess have been widely recognized, with Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson highlighting his potential.

"JJ's potential is through the roof," Dowson stated. "Not only does he possess impressive physical attributes, but he also has a keen understanding of the game. Jaco even joked that JJ is a fly-half trapped in a second-row's body. He's capable of making game-changing plays, as we saw when he charged down a kick and sprinted in for a 50-metre try against us in January."

Van der Mescht expressed his eagerness to continue improving and taking his game to the next level. "I have ambitions to play for the Springboks one day, but I know that starts with improving and performing well for Saints. This is a challenge I'm really excited about," he said.

In addition to this signing, Northampton Saints have announced the departure of Samoa international Iakopo Mapu, who is moving to Stade Francais. Mapu, a 27-year-old back-row forward, joined Saints in November 2024 as injury cover and made seven appearances.

This strategic move by Northampton Saints underscores their commitment to strengthening their squad and competing at the highest levels of Rugby Union.