Cameron Shepherd, the full back for the Australian international rugby team has threatened to sue Aviva Premiership Rugby Union club the Northampton Saints for apparently pulling out of an agreement to sign him. The club made a formal announcement back in May that the 28 year old Australian would be joining the side after being given a three year deal at Franklin’s Gardens.
However, earlier in August, they a announced that they have pulled out of the deal, and cited fitness and health concerns and fellow Aviva Premiership side the Sale Sharks swooped for his signature. And now, the agent of Shepherd has come out with a statement that he was absolutely appalled at the behavior of the club towards him. According to reports, the player’s suspect left ankle made the club skeptical about moving for his signature and this ultimately led the Northampton Saints to call the deal off.
And his agent clarified that his agent has taken the expert opinion of leading orthopedic surgeons in the country as well as that of the doctors at his former club Western Force and according to them, the consensus was that there is absolutely nothing wrong with his left ankle. The statement further added that since then, Shepherd has undergone a medical and was deemed fit enough for the Sale Sharks to sign him and this puts lots of holes in the theories conjured up by The Saints.
At the time of calling off the deal with him, Jim Mallinder, the Director of Rugby of the Northampton Saints had stated that the club was not certain that he would be able to handle the rigors of a long and tough season with the club; but the statement of Shepherd and his agent show that there might still be a twist to the tale.