In another dose of disappointment for the Melbourne Rebels, two-Test Wallaby Josh Kemeny will leave the embattled Super Rugby franchise at season’s end.
The Roar can reveal the 25-year-old, who first caught the eye of Dave Rennie before being a surprise inclusion in Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad, has signed a two-year deal with Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
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His departure comes less than a year after he made his debut for the Wallabies off the bench against Argentina in Sydney.
Kemeny, who made his Super Rugby debut for the Rebels in 2020, was one of Jones’ bolters for the World Cup, earning selection over former captain Michael Hooper and Pete Samu.
Josh Kemeny poses during a Wallabies Rugby Championship Headshots Session at Sanctuary Cove on June 26, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
His only World Cup action was against Portugal in their final Pool C fixture, as he came off the bench during their win in Saint Etienne.
The Rebels wanted to keep Kemeny, who also had interest from the Waratahs, but a desire to enter a program humming – the Saints sit atop the English Premiership – played a part in his decision to head to England.
While the deal was done before the Rebels entered voluntary administration, the uncertainty surrounding the Super Rugby franchise’s future didn’t help.
His decision to leave is another warning shot for Rugby Australia to get their house in order quickly, with players and coaches looking at options both home and away.
There remains a chance the Rebels, who are $20 million in the red, survive and continue beyond 2024.
But even if they do, unless some clarity is provided quickly, they will have to start their rebuild again with multiple players uncontracted beyond season’s end.
The fact Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has yet to officially start – and is playing catch-up – won’t help the situation either, with players on the fringe of national selection hoping for national top-ups but unsure where they sit in the selection picture.
Kemeny is one such player, with not even the lure of playing against the British and Irish Lions doing enough to sway him to stay in Australian rugby.
Capable of playing right across the back-row, the forward impressed in his comeback season from a devastating knee-injury last year.
Entering his fifth season of Super Rugby, he’s at an age where he should be entering his prime. Unfortunately for Australian rugby, he won’t be Down Under to show it.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
He'll be playing in a highly competitive league with and against a number of sides that would most certainly beat the Rebels, and in Europe against sides like Leinster, the Stormers, the Bulls, Toulouse, Bordeaux, La Rochelle etc etc etc. Of course he could stay and play three or four games a year having 50 points put on his team by Kiwi teams barely getting out of 2nd gear.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
They can still call on Dingwall, Lawrence, Tuilagi and Ojomoh who are in and around the current squad. Northmore and Kelly are others. Hartley and Wimbush are kids a couple of years away. Personally, I'd convert Steward to 12 like Jordie Barrett. There's 9 possibles there, and there's more. I think we'll survive.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
'Could this be the demise of English rugby with so many overseas players heading to the UK.' No.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
So akin to the Force. Are Northampton Saints an independent stand alone company or one of many companies in a group. :rugby: Saints announce annual financial results for 2022/23 Friday 24 November, 2023, Northampton Saints plc has today announced its financial results for the year ended 30 June 2023. Club achieved record turnover of £21.96m (growth of £1.1m) in 2022/23. Underlying trading loss showed a £0.2m improvement from 2021/22. Increased ticket revenues in spite of considerable disruption to fixture calendar. Club maintains a strong balance sheet with £20.7m net assets (£2.5m in cash). Reduction in Club’s cash position from 2021/22 driven primarily by the construction of new High Performance Centre. Its not the 17k assets the Rebels have.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
They still have caps of OS players so still not going to be a major issue. The big problem is making sure they have enough people in each position. Part of the issue for the national side has is too many non-english at 12 in Prem.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
The obsession about who goes to NRL or overseas, and who stays is unhealthy and irrational. A useful KPI if RA had a long term development strategy, but it does not. It only creates noise and the occasional knee jerk dumb decision.
cs
Roar Guru
Describing me as a guru is abundantly generous.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Depends what time period. They have been a bit soft but only in Europe (even tigers gets beat up in Europe). They are losing a few players at the end of the season.
Jez North
Roar Rookie
The Waratahs relied on a South African import and the Reds were 1-2 injuries away from missing their window. No extended dominance or hope of creating a legacy to inspire future generational talent because all of their depth was propping up experimental franchises. NRL and AFL have been the big winners.
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
Yeah let the floodgates open. It’s too late , Rugby is broke let other countries pay our players wages . Super is no longer the best Oz players in it. It is now a development squads that will be thrashed by our nz counterparts. Put up th white flag , Super is finished and the great players are going overseas.
Cec
Roar Rookie
X
Cec
Roar Rookie
Kemeny is only a prospect. #6 is a position we have depth in with experienced players and upstarts. The experience will be good for him. Outsourcing the cost for development can be a positive outcome (see Boks). See you in 2yrs Josh!
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Good point Cec. 15 : love to you :happy: :happy:
Cec
Roar Rookie
Bobby looking at their roster there’s 11 WB or AUS A players there so not just 3-4 lifelines needed. The rest will compete for spots with the remaining SRAU players in the next tier down. We can’t afford to just cast adrift anyone. Some guys in the remaining four SRAU teams will have more competition for their current spots for next year which is a sad but positive result from losing the Reba next year (if that happens).
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Maybe.. he’s still a Wallaby though. He didn’t pick himself. You’re a ‘Roar Guru’ with two articles published? Is describing you a ‘Guru’ generous? I’m joking but I hope you see my point.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Carter Gordon has signed with LIV Golf! More money less drama. He’s a good golfer.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
They are all at the MCG! Unfortunately rugby is not a sport the vast majority of Melbournians like. I mean…how long has it been to work that out?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
This year it is true, they've been great, but they were the softest pack in the GP for seasons before that and hardly a club with a history of improving players. Nobody would have moved there to improve their forward play. This season it's completely turned around though so I hope he gets to become part of that
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Well, there's the first notable impact of LSL joining the Rebels. I don't blame any players making these decisions now though. They need to look after themselves.
Paul
Roar Rookie
And now calling it in so they themselves don't go under. I get they were trying to do the right thing, but what's the cost going to be?