Northampton Saints have confirmed that George Furbank’s final season with the club will be the 2025/26 campaign.
The 29-year-old fullback, who has been Club Captain since September 2024, will then join Harlequins at the end of June after a ten-season senior career at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Furbank’s Time with Northampton Saints
Furbank initially came through Saints’ Academy pathway system, signing his first professional contract in 2016. He made his senior debut in November 2017 against Exeter Chiefs in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
His Gallagher PREM debut followed the next term. Since then, Furbank has made 140 appearances so far for Saints, scoring 283 points. He has also earned 14 England caps following his Test debut in the 2020 Six Nations.
Director of Rugby’s Statement
Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, said that George is an outstanding player. He stated that Furbank has exceptional talent and character and has made a significant contribution to the team’s success in recent years.
Dowson added that Furbank’s journey from the Academy to Club Captain epitomises what Northampton Saints is all about. He is also a brilliant leader, always putting the team first and thinking deeply about how to communicate with and get the best out of the group.
Dowson noted the challenges of retaining homegrown talent season after season. He said the more successful they are at developing players, the more interest they attract from elsewhere.
He explained that squad retention is a long-term process. It requires balancing performance, the salary cap, and succession planning over several years, which inevitably creates some difficult decisions.
Dowson said that George had other competitive offers to weigh against theirs, and ultimately chose a different path. While naturally they’re disappointed to see him move on, they respect his decision and support him fully.
Dowson added that George is a top man who cares profoundly about Saints, and he knows this wasn’t a decision he took lightly. He remains fully committed to helping the team perform at the highest level possible this season, and they’ll do everything they can to make sure his final campaign is a successful one. When the time comes, they’ll wish him all the best for the future.
Furbank’s Contributions on the Field
Furbank played a key role in Saints’ Gallagher PREM title-winning 2023/24 campaign. He scored more points (with seven tries and 39 points off the tee) than in any of his other eight full seasons with Northampton.
His leadership qualities also shone through that term as he captained the side on 12 occasions. Unfortunately his first season as appointed Club Captain in 2024/25 was limited to just nine appearances following an arm break in the Champions Cup win away at Vodacom Bulls in December 2024.
The 29-year-old has recovered fully and has made 11 appearances so far this term, and is primed for the run-in to the end of his final season as a S