ZIMBABWE rugby powerhouse Cleopas Kundiona is set to complete a big move to reigning Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions Northampton Saints from French second tier outfit USON Nevers.
The 26-year-old tighthead prop has spent the last three years in the French Pro D2 with USON Nevers after joining them from third tier side SO Chambéry.
Kundiona also had a stint at South African giants Sharks from 2019 to 2021.
He is now set to make the biggest move of his career by joining the reigning English Premiership champions Northampton Saints at the end of the current
season.
Kundiona’s move was confirmed by the USON Nevers president Régis Dumange in a wide ranging interview with the French bi-weekly newspaper specialising in rugby, Midi
Olympique.
The Zimbabwe star’s move to Northampton Saints comes after English second rower George Smith completed a move in the opposite direction from the Premiership side to Nevers.
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USON Nevers is also home to Zimbabwe internationals Farai Mudariki and Jason Fraser.
The move to Northampton Saints will see Kundiona following in the footsteps of one of his childhood idols, the Zimbabwe-born former Springboks prop Farai Mujati.
Mujati, who was capped 12 times by South Africa, racked up a century of games at Franklin’s Gardens, where cries of ‘Mooj’ were heard on a regular basis.
Kundiona is a key member of the Sables team, which are aiming to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Zimbabwe are the current Rugby Africa Cup champions and need to defend their title in July to qualify for the World Cup.
