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NORTHAMPTON Saints are keen on former All Blacks Jeremy Thrush and Ben Franks who played under new director of rugby Chris Boyd at the Hurricanes.
The pair are both out of contract with Premiership rivals Gloucester and London Irish at the end of the season and look set to leave the clubs. Thrush, 32, who was an U19 World Cup winner in 2004 before going on to win 11 All Black Test caps was widely expected to be heading to France. The second row spent nine years with Wellington and the Hurricanes before joining Gloucester after the 2015 World Cup. But reuniting with Boyd his coach at both Wellington and Hurricanes when he takes over at Franklin’s Gardens in August cannot be ruled out.
Saints could bolster their front row options with Melbourne-born Franks, 33, who can play on either side of the scrum.
Franks played Super Rugby for the Crusaders and Hurricanes before joining Exiles after winning his second successive World Cup winner’s medal with the All Blacks IN 2015.
He won 47 caps before moving to the Premiership. He was linked with a switch to Championship leaders Bristol but that failed to materialise.
Boyd has also been linked with Fijian winger Patrick Osborne, 30, who played Super Rugby for the Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders before moving to Japanese outfit Kubota Spears.