By Zim Sport Live Writer
Zimbabwe rugby star Cleopas Kundiona is relishing the prospect of taking another step forward in his career in the Gallagher Premiership after completing his move to Northampton Saints.
The 26-year-old highly rated tighthead prop will arrive at Franklin’s Gardens this summer from Pro D2 side Nevers, for whom he has made 49 appearances since joining in 2022.
Kundiona will become the second Zimbabwe-born prop to represent Northampton, following in the footsteps of Brian Mujati.
In his first interview since the confirmation of his move to Northampton Saints Kundiona said he hopes to use his move as an opportunity to further elevate his game to the next level.
“Saints is a huge Club with a lot of heritage, and speaking to the coaches about the prospect of continuing to learn and progress my game in Northampton, it felt like this was a really positive move for me to make,” Kundiona said
“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity, it feels like a blessing for me to make this step and it has taken a lot of hard work and perseverance.
“The coaching, the facilities and the fanbase in Northampton are all incredible, so I am very excited to be signing for Saints.”
Kundiona, who becomes the latest Zimbabwean to break into the Gallagher Premiership said he is looking forward to the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the games leading players in the English topflight rugby union competition.
“I am also really looking forward to playing in the Premiership for the first time in my career. The league is definitely faster than Pro D2, and I’ve already watched plenty of Saints’ matches so I am relishing the chance to work alongside the players already at the Club.
“I want to be able to assert myself and my skillset on the field. As a prop, scrummaging always comes first and foremost, but from there I love to get around the pitch as much as I can and put my teammates into space. Defensively, I love being in the fight and helping to put the team in a position to win matches.
“The support for Saints in Northampton is clear to see and that’s a great thing. The Club is a big part of the community and as a player, you always want to feel like you’re playing for something bigger than yourself. Seeing the stadium packed out every week means a lot, so I am very excited to play in front of that crowd next season.”
Kundiona is also a key member of Zimbabwe’s international side, with the Sables winning the 2024 Africa Cup and aiming to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia by winning the tournament again this coming July.
At 6’0” and 124kg, the powerful prop is a strong set-piece operator but also boasts superb mobility around the park, and Northampton’s Director of Rugby Phil Dowson believes that Kundiona has all the attributes required to make an impact as a front rower in the Gallagher Premiership.
“We initially spoke with Cleopas around 18 months ago, and we’ve continued to watch him over at Nevers,” he said. “If you’re a young prop playing regularly in Pro D2, then you’re definitely doing a lot of good things on the pitch.
“He’s garnered a huge amount of experience in what is a very tough French league, and he’s someone with a lot of athleticism; he’s a big man, but he is also fast and very powerful.”
Phil Dowson, Director of Rugby
“He really impressed us with the way he spoke about everything he wants to achieve during his career, and how he wants to push himself as hard as possible to get there – we thought he would fit in really well with us here at Saints.
“So, we’re excited to get Cleopas on board and very optimistic that he can have a big impact within our front-row group in Northampton.”
While still a student at Falcon College in his native Zimbabwe, Kundiona caught the eye for his country’s Under-18s side with his technical maturity and raw power – earning his first senior start at tighthead for Zimbabwe at just 19 years old.
A move to the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ professional set-up followed, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Springbok props Ox Nche and Beast Mtawarira, before Kundiona made the switch to Stade Olympique Chambéry for the 2021/22 campaign.
A series of impressive performances in the Nationale (France’s third tier) led to a move to Nevers the following season, with Kundiona plying his trade there ever since.
- Additional Reporting by Northampton Saints Media