Northampton sign Ealing captain Taylor for 2026-27

Prem leaders Northampton Saints have signed back-row forward Josh Taylor from Champ rugby leaders Ealing Trailfinders for the 2026-27 season.

The 23-year-old former Scotland Under-20 international has played 39 games and scored 11 tries in all competitions for Ealing to date.

"Where Saints are currently sitting in the Prem speaks for itself – it's one of the best clubs in the country, and exactly where I want to be," Taylor told the Saints website., external

"From the very first conversations with Northampton, it was clear how invested the coaches are in developing players here.

"The Champ is a fantastic place to learn your trade – the speed of the game, the physicality and the level of competition have all helped me grow, and that platform has allowed me to earn this opportunity."

Captain Taylor has featured 19 times and scored seven tries this season for Ealing, who are two games away from going through the whole Champ campaign unbeaten after winning all 24 matches so far.

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

"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."