Barrow relishing crack in Top 14 after frustrating time at Tigers
FORMER Leicester lock Dom Barrow has vowed to spearhead a Northampton revival once he completes his short-term contract at French aces La Rochelle.
Barrow currently has a Top 14 title in his sights after last month cutting short his stint at Tigers, where his selection chances had been hampered by a neck injury.
The ex-England U20s enforcer has started twice for La Rochelle so far and hopes his French sojourn will benefit Saints and boost his own long-term Test ambitions. Barrow, 25, told The
Rugby Paper: “It all transpired quite quickly but I hadn’t been playing much so Leicester and I mutually agreed it was better for me to leave.
“Joining La Rochelle was a surprise but I was thrown straight in against Bordeaux three weeks ago, which we won, and then played against Montpellier last week.
“It’s been great to blow away a few cobwebs and, hopefully, spending some time in a different league will broaden my horizons a bit before I join Saints.
“I was cup-tied for the game against Scarlets but we’ve got three games to come, starting at home to Castres today, and we’re gunning to get a home quarter-final. To win the Top 14 would be pretty special and I’m embracing the challenge of a new culture.”
While joining bitter rivals Northampton has not endeared Barrow to Leicester fans, he said: “I really enjoyed my time at Tigers and the fans were brilliant to me, but I was excited about what (new Saints boss) Chris Boyd told me about his philosophies.
“By their standards they’ve had a poor season but Chris has a proven record with the Hurricanes and when you look at the signings they’ve made in Dan Bigger, Ben Franks,
below, and Taqele Naiyaravoro, I’m sure I’ll be part of a team heading in the right direction.
“They’re bold signings that show ambition and my aim is to bring some leadership qualities to a side that challenges for domestic and European silverware.”
Barrow has to date failed to translate his early Red Rose age group promise into senior caps, but he added: “I’ve not given up on my international dreams and I really want to better myself as a player, person and leader and just perform as well as I can.
“England are well stocked at lock but I’d like to think there’s a lot more to come from me. I’m only 25 and have a lot of good rugby ahead, I just need to learn what I can in France, settle at Saints quickly and prove the level I’m capable of playing.”