Saints sign Tom Pearson ahead of 2023/24 season

Northampton Saints today confirms the signing of former London Irish back row Tom Pearson.

The 23-year-old was left without a club side last week when the Exiles were placed into administration and suspended from the Gallagher Premiership, but now joins the men in Black, Green and Gold ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Pearson initially joined London Irish’s Academy set-up following a stint at Cardiff Metropolitan University – where he made 28 BUCS Super Rugby appearances, 14 Welsh Championship appearances, and was named in the BUCS Super Rugby Team of the Year.

The 6’3”, 114kg back row arrived at the Exiles ahead of the 2021/22 season, and went on to make 39 appearances in his first two years of professional rugby, scoring ten tries.

He scooped London Irish’s Young Player of the Year award after his debut campaign, but began to really capture the headlines in 2022/23, with a season’s worth of standout performances seeing him named as the Premiership’s Breakthrough Player of the Season and the RPA’s Young Player of the Season.

Pearson was a key cog for London Irish last term, as the Exiles recorded their highest finish in over a decade to reach fifth in the Gallagher Premiership.

He made 235 tackles in 2022/23 – with only Saints second row Alex Moon making more across the league – and was also in the top three players for turnovers won (21).

Pearson’s performances put him firmly in World Cup contention and the flanker was named in England’s training squad on Monday, with Steve Borthwick’s side beginning their preparations for the tournament this week.