Saints lock Smith makes the move to French side USON Nevers

George Smith (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)George Smith (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
George Smith (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Saints have announced that George Smith has departed the club with immediate effect to pursue a playing opportunity with French ProD2 side USON Nevers.

The 24-year-old lock first linked up with the black, green and gold for the final months of the 2023/24 campaign, having arrived from the NFL International Player Pathway programme in the USA.

He has regularly been featuring for Championship club Bedford Blues as part of their strategic partnership with Saints.

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But Smith has been unable to break into the first team at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens and has now joined Nevers as a medical joker until the end of the season.

“We have agreed to release George from his contract early; he wanted to pursue a playing opportunity overseas and we did not want to stand in his way,” said Saints boss Phil Dowson.

“I am sure he will have learned a lot from his time at Saints, and hopefully this next chapter of his career provides him with more opportunities to play rugby regularly.”

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