Josh Kemeny acknowledges the “draw factor” of a potential Northampton exit at the end of his contract
Josh Kemeny, who is entering the final six months of his deal, candidly admits he isn’t sure whether he’ll remain with Saints next season.
At 27, Kemeny—nephew of Australian TV host Lara Pitt—made a surprising switch from the Melbourne Rebels to Franklin’s Gardens in 2024, signing a two-year contract after England flanker Lewis Ludlam moved to Toulon.
Kemeny began his rugby career in Sydney’s National Rugby Championship before joining the Rebels, where he played 38 times. He then moved to Northampton, where he has appeared 27 times.
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The 2023 Wallabies debut came against Argentina, with a second cap against Portugal later that year during the World Cup. Kemeny has repeatedly expressed his ambition to win more international caps.
“I’ve had a taste of international rugby, and it’s always been a goal of mine. It’s a bit more realistic now that I’m not in Australia,” he said to the BBC earlier this season.
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This year, Rugby Australia scrapped Giteau’s Law, which previously limited overseas-based Wallabies selections.
Joe Schmidt has indicated a preference for players from Super Rugby if they are of equal calibre to those abroad, and if incoming coach Les Kiss shares that view, a return home could be more appealing.
“I signed a two-year contract, which means I’m due to be a free agent this summer, but everything’s going well here. I’m really enjoying it and the experience has been great.
There’s always the pull of home—the lure of family, international dreams, and all that comes with it. I’m not certain what my next move will be.
All I know is that I’m happy, and so is my family, so we’ll see. We’ve definitely been in touch, and things look positive. But it’s a nuanced decision that doesn’t happen overnight. We’ll see,” he told RugbyPass.
