Former Otley prop Gareth Denman has signed for Aviva Premiership giants Northampton.

The Rotherham-born 22-year-old has joined the Saints from his local Championship club Rotherham Titans.

Denman, who has also played for Dinnington and Leeds Carnegie, joined the Titans in 2012 and made a significant impact last term.

The prop made 22 appearances in all competitions, scoring his sole try in the 41-28 home victory over Cornish Pirates in the Championship.

Titans’ head coach Lee Blackett, while disappointed at losing such a quality player, is delighted that Gareth will now have the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities in the top flight of English rugby.

Blackett explained: “Northampton contacted us with about two weeks of our season to go and enquired about Gareth.

“At the time we were reluctant to let him go, but I have to say that Gareth’s professionalism throughout has been second to none.

“He’s always been loyal to the club; this is his club. That’s the reason why it’s taken so long to come about because I think Gareth didn’t want to feel as though he was letting anyone down.

“We all sat down as a club with Gareth and it was too good an option for him not to give it a go at Northampton.

“They’ve just finished as runners-up in the Premiership final and they are a great club.

“I think had it been a bottom-end Premiership club, then Gareth would have stayed here – that’s how much the club means to him being a Rotherham lad.

“But I’m positive we’ll see Gareth in a Rotherham shirt again.”