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Rugby Union

Saints swoop for Everitt

19/02/2007

Northampton Saints have signed London Irish's record points-scorer and fly-half Barry Everitt on a three-year deal.

The 30-year-old goalkicker has scored 1,725 points in 164 appearances for Irish since he signed for the club in July 2000.

Everitt moved to the Madejski Stadium after stints for Irish provincial sides Munster and Leinster. He was also selected for the Barbarians in 2002 and has played for the Ireland under-18s, under-21s, Ireland A and the sevens team.

"I see this an opportunity to develop my game under a head coach like Paul Grayson, who I have a lot of respect for having played against him many times and I can completely appreciate his extensive knowledge of the game," Everitt told the Saints website.

"This was a difficult decision for me having spent so many years with London Irish but having come to Franklin's Gardens as an opposition player, I was always aware of the great sense of loyalty and camaraderie among the supporters; a similarity that is shared with the club I am coming from and at Munster.

"Northampton is… a club that is steeped in history, is a past Heineken Cup winner, has been a major force in Europe for many years and has the best facilities I have seen in the Premiership."

Everitt was part of the London Irish side that beat Northampton in the 2002 Powergen Cup final but has recently found himself down the pecking order at the Berkshire-based club.

Countryman Shane Geraghty, who is making a name for himself in the Ireland Six Nations squad, has been preferred to Everitt this season and this is widely seen as a key reason in his decision to leave the Exiles.

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