Premiership Rugby

Rugby Round-Up -- News, Transfers And Rumours From The World Of Rugby

Rugby Round-Up -- News, Transfers And Rumours From The World Of Rugby

Rugby Union news, transfers, rumours as the United Rugby Championship nears its conclusion, a new Premiership try record and international stars on the move

Apr 17, 2023
Rugby Round-Up -- News, Transfers And Rumours From The World Of Rugby

The wheels keep on turning as the adage goes. As ever, the world of Professional Rugby continues to morph from one iteration to the next, both on and off the field. 

Never more obvious is the turnover in the sports top level from a transfer’s standpoint than at the conclusion of a World Cup cycle. With the tournament now mere months away, several of the game’s biggest names have confirmed their next moves. Some have, of course, opted to stay put, whilst others have looked for new pastures. 

Currently finding itself in a moment of flux with several potential sport-defining alterations on the horizon. The landscape of Rugby Union could look significantly different in twelve months’ time. 

Transfers 

Busy Week For Irish Rugby 

Current Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has confirmed that he will join Irish provincial side Leinster at the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup. Focusing fully on the Bok's defence of the trophy, Nienaber said: "My sole focus is on seeing the Springboks defend the Rugby World Cup title this year. I will continue to channel all my energy into ensuring that we leave no stone unturned to achieve that." 


In addition to the signing of Nienaber, a long list of players has re-signed to stay in the country. Starting with powerhouse Leinster, who have confirmed that Irish internationals James Lowe, Josh van der Flier, James Ryan and Ronan Kelleher have all committed to the province. 

Elsewhere, Ulster Rugby has confirmed that Harry Sheridan, Conor McKee, James McCormick, Reuben Crothers, and Ben Carson have all put pen to paper on extensions. 

Finally, Connacht has retained the services of Tiernan O’Halloran and Liam McNamara but has seen Adam Byrne, Leva Fifita, Conor Fitzgerald, Seán Masterson and Ciaran Booth, Kieran Marmion, Shane Delahunt, and Alex Wootton all move on. 

New Zealand Rugby Begin Their Retention Process 

Typically, one of the biggest suppliers of top-quality rugby talent to international leagues. The New Zealand Rugby Union have announced the signing of key All Black Rieko Ioane for the next five seasons. Ioane’s signing is a major nod to the draw of the All Black jersey, as the centre was one of the most sought-after signatures this season. Included in his contract is a ‘sabbatical’ year where he will be eligible to play overseas for a season before returning to the All Blacks. 

Joining Ioane in re-signing is dynamic Prop Samisoni Taukei'aho, who has made significant strides in recent seasons and looks set to be a pillar for the All Blacks scrum for the next few seasons. 

Offsetting the re-signings is the departure of several senior All Blacks, most notably Flyhalves Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga. The two first-choice playmakers will leave a major gap in the All Blacks set-up. Starting with 31-year-old Barrett, who has signed a one-year deal to play in the Japanese Top League, the Blues star has been a stalwart of the All Blacks since making his debut in 2012. Since then, he has gone on to win 112 caps whilst scoring 720 points. Mo’unga, on the other hand, is very much in the prime of his career as a flyhalf at just 28 years old, making his three-year deal in Japan a major blow to New Zealand Rugby. 

The departure of the two experienced playmakers makes the re-signing of 27-year-old Chiefs star Damian McKenzie all the more crucial. Arguably the form number ten in Super Rugby, McKenzie will likely be the first choice for the All Blacks from next season should he wish to stay. 

English Rugby Unable To Stop The Bleeding 

It has been a rather rough twelve months for English Rugby, with both the national team and Premiership being at perhaps their lowest ebbs in quite some time. 

Starting with the firing of head coach Eddie Jones less than a year out from the World Cup to the dismissal of Premiership clubs Worcester and Wasps, who both went administration. England Rugby has come through a mightily tough period without any true confirmation of their next steps. 

Adding to their woes has been the announcement of several top homegrown players who will now depart the Premiership at the season's end.

Starting with the Exeter Chiefs, who see a raft of their current squad who have been with the club from their academy days depart. Forming the backbone of the club over the past decade, the Simmonds brothers Sam and Joe have announced they will depart for the Top 14 at season's end. Joining them are fellow stalwarts Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie, who are also heading to France. The final player to sign elsewhere is secondrow Dave Ewers, who will join Irish side Ulster at the end of this season. Finally, the Chiefs, Scottish centurion Stuart Hogg has confirmed that he will retire at the end of the season, confirming that the Chiefs are now in the process of a full overhaul. 

Joining the Chiefs players is Northampton secondrow David Ribbans, who has signed a three-year deal with French Top 14 side Toulon. 

Elsewhere, star backrow Jack Willis has re-signed with French giants Toulouse on a long-term deal, having joined the club from Wasps following their ceasing of operations. 


Speaking recently, star secondrow Maro Itoje who has been one of England’s key contributors since making his debut in 2016, said in a recent interview with the Telegraph: 

“First and foremost, I love playing for Saracens,I love Saracens. In an ideal world, I would love to spend the majority – if not the rest – of my career at Saracens. 

“I want to stay here, I want to stay in England. I think that it’s good for the game to have English players in England. I think it’s good for the game to have a situation where the Premiership is thriving, English players are in England, and the clubs have their English players…I think that’s a situation where all parties win. 

“But unfortunately, at the moment, we have a situation where, for numerous reasons, there are a number of regulations and requirements that are making it more and more difficult for English players to stay in England. I think we’re seeing an unfortunate trend at the moment. There are numerous quality English players in their prime who are going abroad, which has never really happened before in my playing career. 

Since the interview, rumours have emerged that the 28-year-old could become the game's highest-paid player, with clubs in France and Japan vying for his signature. 

One positive news for English Rugby has been the return of secondrow Charlie Ewels, who has signed a short-term contract with South African side the Bulls. The 27-year-old Bath star has returned from injury sooner than many believed possible and has taken up the short-term deal to get match fitness in a bid to push for World Cup selection.

Rumours 

Australian and Waratahs stalwart Michael Hooper has hinted that he may retire at the end of the season. The 31-year-old has amassed a remarkable 124 caps for his country since making his debut in 2012. Having taken a break from the international game for ‘personal reasons’ last season, Hooper said, “There’s a bit of ambiguity in the air and ambiguity in my mind. I’ve not got anything lined up for next year. I’ve been in a contract since the end of 2009. Aside from that [stint in Japan in 2021], it’s all been in Australia. I don’t know what the next thing is going to look like. It’s a nice position to be in. That might be playing, that might not be playing, that might be having time off. I’m a completely open book. Or I’ll just hang them up.” 

Springbok World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe has been linked with a move to Japanese Rugby from French giants Toulon. Refuting the claim, Toulon head coach Franck Azéma has said that it is the club’s intention to retain Kolbe’s services post the World Cup. In terms of the Japanese clubs, it is believed that Suntory Sungoliath is leading the charge for Kolbe. 


General News 

Leicester Tigers and former England international Chris Ashton became the first player to score 100 tries in the Premiership. Crossing for a hattrick in Leicester’s dominant 62 – 19 win over the Exeter Chiefs. Whilst the winger didn’t celebrate with the famous Ashsplash he did have something special lined up. 


The United Rugby Championship season is now just one round from its regular season conclusion, and with it, the quarterfinalists have been confirmed. Whilst the order is yet to be decided, Leinster, Ulster, DHL Stormers, Glasgow Warriors, Munster, Connacht, Vodacom Bulls and the Cell C Sharks will compete in the post-season. Crucially, however, whichever team should finish 8th is not guaranteed a place in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup, given at least one Welsh side must feature in the competition. 


England and France Women’s teams have stayed on course for a head-to-head that will decide the year’s Tiktok Six Nations champions. The two sides will meet on the final weekend in what will likely be a Grand Slam decider. 

Japanese League On side Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights experienced defeat for the first time in four and half years over the weekend. Seeing their remarkable 47-game win streak come to an end as they fell 44 – 25 to the Shizuoka Blue Revs. This is the first time in former Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans tenure that the club have lost a match. 

Stricken English Premiership side Wasps RFC have launched a bold new bid to regenerate the club. Announcing plans for a new stadium and commercial centre that will be known as the “Wasps Nest”. The stadium itself will be a 25,000 seater, whilst from a business perspective, the ambition is that Rugby operations would account for less than 50 percent of the club's revenue by 2028. According to reporting in the Telegraph, the club aims to return to the Premiership by 2025.

Finally, Harlequins RFC have confirmed that attack coach Nick Evans will not re-join the England coaching team in what is a major blow for head coach Steve Borthwick. The move by Evans will mean that England will now be searching for a 5th attack coach in five years.