Smith still in Saints thoughts
NORTHAMPTON are scouring the globe for Jim Mallinder’s successor as director of rugby and have refused to rule out approaches to Wayne Smith and Mike Ford.
Mallinder was sacked on Tuesday after overseeing a run of nine defeats in 10 games and after a decade in charge at Franklin’s Gardens.
New Zealander Smith is out of the game, having left the All Blacks after the Rugby Championship but was boss at Northampton between 2001 and 2004.
Ford, the former Bath coach, is working in the United States and is set to take over Dallas Griffins in the new year but is thought to be keen on a return to the Premiership.
But the club will pick the brains of former players such as Nick Beal, who is on the board, and canvas opinion from the current squad.
Saints’ chief executive Mark Darbon said: “Wayne is held in massive affection among supporters and the people involved at an operational level. We are at the start of the process so I don’t want to rule anyone out.
“We are incredibly lucky here. That ‘Saints family’ is widespread and we would be mad not to talk to, in one form or another, our trusted advisors. In the same way that we would be mad not to solicit input from some of our senior players here.
“We are blessed with a lot of experience and capability in our squad.”
Dorban has also been in contact with Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar, who will join the club next season and watched Saturday’s 43-32 defeat by the Ospreys.