S. OchiengHighly rated Kenyan youngster Joshua Weru loses pro-rugby contract with English side Northampton Saints
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 08.11.22. | 13:41
The player, having made his senior debut, fell short of the requirement that needs him to have ten international caps to be eligible for the contract since Kenya is a tier three rugby nation
Highly rated Kenya Simbas youngster Joshua Weru will not be pursuing his first professional rugby stint with England’s Premiership side Northampton Saints as the 19-year-old back row lost his contract with the club barely three months after joining the senior academy setup back in August 2022.
In a statement released by Northampton Saints on Monday, just a day after Weru made his debut for the men’s national rugby 15s side in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament (The Repechage) currently taking place in Dubai, the club announced the departure of the youngster much to the surprise of rugby fans in the country.
Due to his international aspirations, Josh Weru has recently left the Club.
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) November 7, 2022
We congratulate Josh on his try-scoring debut for Kenya over the weekend and wish him well for the future 🇰🇪
“Josh Weru has left Northampton Saints to pursue his international aspirations with Kenya. The 19-year-old back row signed his first professional contract with the men in Black, Green and Gold back in August having been a part of Saints’ Academy set-up since the age of 14.
Weru was due to train with the first-team squad at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens around studying full-time for a degree at Loughborough University, but has now left the Club to join Kenya’s squad,” the club posted in a statement.
Kenya Chipu youngster Josh Weru has signed his first professional rugby contract after joining the senior academy setup at England’s Premiership side Northampton Saints
— Ochieng' Stephen (@soo_ochieng) August 7, 2022
Full Story📩#JoshWeru #KenyaChipuhttps://t.co/kqSMqNN5lS
“He made his debut in a Rugby World Cup qualification match against the USA in Dubai on Sunday, scoring a late try in his side’s 68-14 defeat. Everyone at Saints wishes Josh the best for the future,” the statement added.
Having featured for the club since 14 years and having not made a senior international appearance for Kenya, Weru, an athletic back row who predominantly features at No.8 or blindside flanker, was treated as an England Qualified Player (EQP) which allowed him to get a professional contract.
Here are the @kenyasimbas tries from Brian Juma and teenager Joshua Weru during the 14-68 loss to the USA in the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament opener in Dubai on Sunday 6 November 2022 pic.twitter.com/nGEuk9EFYT
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) November 7, 2022
But in making his debut for Kenya Simbas, Weru lost his status as a local player. Being treated as a foreigner now, he fell short of the requirement that needs him to have ten international caps to be eligible for the contract since Kenya is a tier three rugby nation.
The player, who was called up to the Kenya U20 setup back in 2020 by Simbas head coach Paul Odera when he was just 16, drew a lot of praise from his academy coaches following his move to the senior academy setup.
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