Northampton Saints head coach Sam Vesty has praised the impact of former Hull FC and Castleford Tigers boss Lee Radford following his switch to Rugby Union.
Radford was let go by Castleford Tigers at the beginning of the 2023 season, and has since joined the Gallagher Premiership club as their defence coach.
Speaking to members of the media yesterday, the Saints coach Vesty praised the impact Radford has had.
“He’s had a massive impact,” he said. “I think we’re a much more connected defence now. We defend as one and I think that has been a big step forward for us as a group.”
He added: “We’re really starting to get a lot of trust out of what we’re doing and you know that once you start trusting your defence you take it a long way.”
Radford’s two-year spell as Castleford Tigers ended in March of last year, as the Fords lost their first three games of the season.
There was much talk of him carrying on in the 13-man game down under as an assistant; however Radford agreed to switch over to the 15-man game in July, following in the footsteps of Kevin Sinfield, Shaun Edwards, Andy Farrell and Martin Gleeson.
Since his arrival in the midlands, he has helped change the fortunes of his new sides defence.
Northampton Saints finished last season with the second worst defence in the Gallagher Premiership, however this year Radford has aided their defence to become the third best in the league after just six months with the club.
Prior to his move into Union, Radford detailed the code ‘always intrigued’ him: “Rugby union has always intrigued me, just the size of the sport and its global appeal,” he told BBC Radio Humberside.
He added: “Just being in and around it this week down in Northampton, the size of the club and the size of the operation in terms of staff and infrastructure has blown me away a little bit.”
During his interview with Radio Humberside, he also explained he sought advice from other cross-code coaches.
“I’ve spoken to every man and his dog, every ex-leaguer who’s currently in rugby union,” he said.
He added: “Kev’s (Kevin Sinfield) been one of them, Jamie Langley, Paul Deacon are up in Sale, Martin Gleeson was previously head coach of England attack, Shaun Edwards. It’s a natural thing to be done.”
Whilst this is his first taste of professional Rugby Union, Radford was involved with National Two Union side Hull RUFC and was also in line to join the Dallas Jackals in the MLR, however this never came to be.
