Cam Shepperd off to Northampton

[Radars]

Cameron Shepherd‏@Cam_Shepherd

Very excited to be joining @SaintsRugby for the next 3yrs. Amazing club with a great history. Great challenge for me and my young family

[Tazzmania]

Not totally unexpected, desreves a gig, thanks for the memories Cam, nice to see his comment about us the fans

Northamptoin saints official site

[todd4]

Northampton Saints sign Australian Cameron Shepherd
Northampton Saints have signed Western Force and Australia full-back Cameron Shepherd for the 2012/13 season.

The 28-year-old, who can also play on the wing, is the Super Rugby side's all-time leading points scorer and has nine international caps.

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder told BBC Northampton: "We've been watching him for a few years now and admired the way he plays.

"We think he'll be able to make a massive contribution."

Mallinder added: "Any player who's played for Australia is talented.

"He's an outside back and he's got a very good kicking game. You'd rather have it that way [with Stephen Myler, Ryan Lamb and Shepherd] than have nobody who can kick goals."

Analysis
James Burridge
BBC Look East sports reporter Jim Mallinder has kept a close eye on Cameron Shepherd, a dangerous runner and a consistent performer from the kicking tee.

But he's also been blighted with injury during his time at the Force.

He's keen for a fresh start at the Saints when he arrives in August.

Expect a few more announcements in the coming weeks as Saints are keen on signing a new fly-half as well as another centre.

The Premiership Rugby board has decided that, from the 2012-13 season, clubs will be able to exclude one marquee player from their salary cap.

But Mallinder denies that Shepherd is that player.

"We don't make marquee signings - he's a good quality international player and we're looking to make a couple [more] announcements in the near future."

With the departure of Chris Ashton to Saracens, Shepherd seems most likely to fill that spot in the team for the Premiership semi-finalists.

He is the Saints' fourth signing for next season, after Luther Burrell, Sam Dickinson and Gerrit-Jan van Velze.

"Northampton is similar to the Force in that it has a great fan base behind the team and I'm looking forward to showing the Saints supporters what I can do as a player," said Shepherd.

"I've heard lots of good things about Jim Mallinder as a coach and about the Saints as a club.

"You can see that with the quality of player that there is at the club, players like Ben Foden and George Pisi, who are established internationals.

"Jim has got the team playing a great brand of rugby which I believe suits my style of play. I can't wait to get there."

Shepherd won the first of his nine international caps against England - the country of his birth - and he also played for the Wallabies in the 2007 World Cup.

[todd4]

Good luck to him, hope he makes it through next year injury free.

[The InnFORCEr]

Thanks for your service Cam, would have been awesome to see you go a few seasons without injury, all the best with the move

[The InnFORCEr]

Mods, can we combine the threads please

[shasta]

Thanks for being a true Forceman Cam. The very best wishes of Force supporters will go with you. Pretty sure this site will keep aprised of how you're going too.

[wqerti]

Sad that he left but excited for him!

Thank you Cam!

[normie]

I concur. Will never forget that try and conversion for our first home win.

[SNOB]

Good luck Shep, hope you stay injury free.
Mrs SNOB is very upset as she has been wanting to adopt you for 7 years now!

[joblot]

Sincerely hope it works well for you Cam. You have been a great club man and also a fantastic contributor to the game. Stay fit and well young fella.

[brokendown gunfighter]

the irony is that we used to see more of cam's parents,than of Cam!

[benny]

I think he saw the writing on the wall with the new salary cap + match payments, being injury prone.

I'll always remember the Canberra game where he came back from injury to be the star player + THAT KICK against the Canes...

But here's some breaking news... After talking to Cam today in Subiaco I realised he is going to the Northampton Sharks football club, playing Full Back or Full Forward....here's a map of his new location (he's really not going that far)

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Nor...ralia&t=m&z=10

[Happy]

Thanks for all your work Cam!!!

[hertryk]

I concur. Will never forget that try and conversion for our first home win.

Neither will I..I have the ball signed as a momento..maybe it's gone up in value now??..

"Thanks for the memories" Cam...I seem to be saying that alot lately...