Saints keeping an eye on flier Veainu
NORTHAMPTON are tracking Leicester Tigers’ Tonga international flier Telusa Veainu, who is out of contract at the end of the season. New Zealandborn Veainu, 26, joined the Tigers in 2015 from Australian Super Rugby franchise the Rebels but is yet to agree a new deal with the club. Saints are looking to strengthen their squad, especially with Welsh international George North and former England man Ben Foden out of contract at the end of the season. North was last week ruled out of Wales’ Autumn international campaign after suffering a sprain to his posterior cruciate ligament against Saracens last weekend. It will deny him the chance of adding to his 69 Wales caps, which allow him to be picked by Wales under their new guidelines even though he is playing in England.
However Blindside understands that North, 25, is attracting interest from the WRU, who would like to take him back to South Wales when his contract runs out.
It also understood that Foden’s CV is doing the rounds of clubs in France’s Top 14, with the 32-year-old considering the options open to him.
Veainu is mainly used by Leicester at full-back but the former New Zealand U20 international has appeared for his country on the wing.
He is the Tigers supporters’ Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year after scoring 13 tries in his first season at Welford Road.
It would be audacious of the Saints to pinch one of their big rivals’ crown jewels if he doesn’t agree a new deal.