Dowson outlines what new signing Taylor will bring to Saints

The 23-year-old will make the move to Northampton from Ealing Trailfinders this summer, having enjoyed a hugely successful spell in CHAMP Rugby.

Originally part of London Irish’s Academy, Taylor made the move to Ealing in 2019 alongside beginning his academic studies at Brunel University, where he studied Sport and Exercise Science while continuing his development with Trailfinders’ Academy.

The back row forward made his senior debut for Ealing in the PREM Rugby Cup in 2023, marking his second appearance in an Ealing shirt with a brace of tries against Cambridge in the same competition.

A further seven appearances in English rugby’s second tier followed later that season.

Taylor went on to make 11 appearances across the CHAMP and PREM Rugby Cup during the 2023/24 campaign, before enjoying a breakthrough season in 2024/25.

He has played more rugby than ever before this term, featuring 19 times in the CHAMP so far and crossing the whitewash on seven occasions.

And Dowson is now looking forward to welcoming him to Saints ahead of next season.

“Josh comes to Saints with an excellent reputation from a character point of view, particularly in terms of his work ethic,” Dowson said.

“He’s taken on the captaincy at Ealing at a very young age, leading a group of highly talented and experienced players, which speaks volumes about him as a person.

"We’re looking forward to seeing how those leadership qualities translate here, how he fits into our environment, and how hungry he is to push himself on to the next level.

“He’s diligent and professional, and we’ve been really impressed watching him this season with how physical he is and how determined he is to make an impact on games.

“Whether that’s at the breakdown, where he consistently clears bodies, carrying into contact with real intent, or making repeated defensive contributions, he brings a lot of energy and edge.

“Josh has plenty of upsides to his game – he’s strong at set piece, has a good skillset, and there’s a lot of potential for us to grow his game further here at Saints.

“We’ve got a really well-balanced back-row group next season, with experienced players staying on and some exciting young talent coming through the Academy.

"Josh will slot into that group well, and we’re excited about what he can learn from those around him and what he can add to us.

“We’ve had a strong track record at Saints of players stepping up from the CHAMP and kicking on, and we’re confident Josh can do the same in black, green and gold.”