The dust is beginning to settle after London Irish' going the way of Worcester Warriors and Wasps and becoming the third Gallagher Premiership to collapse in the last year.
That means ahead of next season means once again the rugby transfer market has been flooded with top-class talent from a squad that finished fifth in the league last season, meaning clubs with room left in their budgets can add some of the best players in the league
There are plenty of other players on the move or looking for jobs as well with clubs having to trim their belts so here are all rugby transfer rumours and gossip, confirmed moves, retirements and contract renewals....
South African heavyweights set to beat Saracens and Bristol to Exiles winger
Out-of-work London Irish winger Ben Loader looks set to join South African side the Stormers according to the latest reports.
The Daily Telegraph report that despite interest from Bristol Bears, and talking to Saracens, Loader will sign for the Stormers on a two-year deal after impressing against the Cape Town-based side in the Champions Cup.
Bristol look light on the wing ahead of next season having parted company with Henry Purdy and Toby Fricker this summer, with Luke Morahan making a midseason switch to Bayonne in December.
Gloucester Rugby confirm 10 departing players
Scrum-half Ben Meehan has been named amongst a list of nine senior players confirmed as leaving Gloucester Rugby this summer.
The Australian is joined by Scottish international lock Alex Craig and Georgian international centre Giorgi Kveseladze in leaving Kingsholm ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Full-back Kyle Moyle, who joined from Cornish Pirates in 2020/21 and hooker Henry Walker, who emerged from the club’s academy, will also depart.
The Cherry and Whites had previously confirmed that centre Billy Twelvetrees and flanker Jordy Reid will join Championship side Ealing Trailfinders next season, while Azzurri international Jake Polledri has signed for Italian United Rugby Championship side Zebre.
Former England number eight Ben Morgan will retire having made 187 appearances in Cherry and White, scoring 145 points. Versatile back Tom Seabrook move to fellow Gallagher Premiership side Northampton Saints ahead of the new campaign had also been confirmed earlier in the season.
'Nothing but agent talk' - Bristol not looking to sign Alun Wyn Jones
Bristol Bears are not in the market to sign Welsh legend Alun Wyn Jones despite reports to the contrary last week.
Bristol Live understands suggestions that Pat Lam was interested in adding the 170-cap international lock ahead of the 2023/24 season despite the former Wales captain being 37-years-old are wide of the mark.
The former Wales captain, who has retired from the international game now, was also linked with a possible move from Ospreys to Bath or Gloucester.
Bordeaux linked with swoop for London Irish lock
Reports coming out of France suggest Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Toulouse and Bayone are looking to sign Wallaby lock Adam Coleman following London Irish's downfall.
According to RugbyRama, second row is a target for Bordeaux, while The Rugby Paper report the other two French Top 14 sides are interested in his services.
It was announced this week that Coleman will switch international allegiances to play for Tonga ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Racing 92 in the chase for Henry Arundell
Bath Rugby face competition from French Top 14 heavyweights Racing 92 for the services of English rugby rising star Henry Arundell according to the latest reports.
Arundell was widely reported to have attracted interest from France as well as Bath, but several sources, including leading newspaper L’Equipe report Racing 92, who will be led by former England coach Stuart Lancaster next season, are keen on adding the dynamic 20-year-old most likely as a full-back replacement for rugby league convert Regan Grace who has had his stay in the French capital blighted by injury.
However, The Rugby Paper report that Racing are either at capacity or very close to capacity of JIFF players, ie non-French qualified players, which could prove to be an insurmountable hurdle.
Saints sign rising star of English rugby Tom Pearson
Northampton Saints have confirmed the signing of former London Irish back row Tom Pearson.
The 23-year-old was left without a club side last week when the Exiles were placed into administration and suspended from the Gallagher Premiership, but now joins the men in Black, Green and Gold ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Pearson initially joined London Irish’s Academy set-up following a stint at Cardiff Metropolitan University – where he made 28 BUCS Super Rugby appearances, 14 Welsh Championship appearances, and was named in the BUCS Super Rugby Team of the Year.
The 6’3", 114kg back row arrived at the Exiles ahead of the 2021/22 season, and went on to make 39 appearances in his first two years of professional rugby, scoring ten tries.
He scooped London Irish’s Young Player of the Year award after his debut campaign, but began to really capture the headlines in 2022/23, with a season’s worth of standout performances seeing him named as the Premiership’s Breakthrough Player of the Season and the RPA’s Young Player of the Season.
Harlequins announce coaching shake-up
Harlequins have confirmed that head of rugby Tabai Matson will take a step back from leading coaching team at the club.
Billy Millard, who joined the Club in 2018, will move from his role as Director of Rugby Performance to Director of Rugby and have a direct responsibility for the Men’s first-team squad, the coaching team and support staff.
Matson has transitioned into a newly created Director of Performance Development coaching role, working across both the men's and women's teams.
Bears lock makes Championship move
Bristol Bears second row John Hawkins has signed for RFU Championship winners Jersey Reds ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The 26-year-old, who can also play as a blindside flanker, ended a seven-year spell with Bristol this summer after he was released by the club. Hawkins signed for the Bears in 2015 having joined the club from Northampton Saints' academy and went on to make 45 appearances for the club.
South African fly-half leaves Falcons
Newcastle Falcons fly-half Tian Schoeman has left the Gallagher Premiership club by mutual consent.
The South African arrived from Bath in the summer of 2022 and scored 48 points in his 17 games.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “I would like to thank Tian for everything he put into the club during his season with us and wish him and his family all the best for the future.”
Cherry and Whites chasing former son
Gloucester Rugby are understood to have explored the possibility of re-signing former scrum-half Dan Robson to fill the void left by Ben Meehan’s departure, however, the England international looks set to stay in France.
The Cherry and Whites confirmed on Monday that Meehan, 30, will return to Australia this summer despite reportedly still having a year left on his current contract with the club, leaving Stephen Varney and Charlie Chapman as the club’s two senior scrum halves, and 21-year-old Matty Jones the other option. Gloucester are understood to be actively looking to strengthen in the key playmaker area, especially with Varney set to miss the start of the 2023/24 season on international duty with Italy at the Rugby World Cup.
Chunya Munga signs for Saints
Northampton Saints have confirmrf the signing of lock Chunya Munga ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The athletic, 120kg second row stands at 6’7" tall, and made 53 appearances in total for Irish (scoring two tries) while also representing England at Under-18s and Under-20s level – playing at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens against Ireland for the latter.
Munga, 22, arrives at Northampton from London Irish, following the Exiles filing for administration and suspension from the Gallagher Premiership last week.
"It’s been a challenging few weeks, but I’m very grateful and excited to be able to focus on playing rugby again and being within a team environment," said Munga. "Saints have a great collective of young players who have grown up together at the Club, with a few senior boys in there to steer the way, which was really attractive to me.
Newcastle snap up Saracens prop
Argentina tighthead prop Eduardo Bello has switched Saracens for Newcastle Falcons on a two-year deal, the club have confirmed.
Bello, 27, has been capped nine times by Argentina, including November’s victory over England at Twickenham and their historic first away win over New Zealand eight months ago.
Renowned for his scrummaging prowess, Bello stands at 190cm (6 foot 3) and 120kg (18 stone 12).
Quins raid Cardiff Met for star winger
Harlequins have confirmed the signing of wing Roma Zheng who will join the Senior Academy ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The former Warrington RUFC player, who has recently represented England Students, will link up with the Harlequins Academy, whilst completing his final year of studies at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Renowned for his dominance in attack and defence, Zheng has been a standout in his first two years in BUCS Super Rugby, crossing for a combined 21 tries, making 233 ball carries, and beating 175 defenders.
Northampton add London Irish loosehead
Northampton Saints have confirmed that prop Tarek Haffar has put pen to paper on a contract with the club ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The 115kg, 6’0” loosehead joins the men in Black, Green and Gold from London Irish, after the Exiles filed for administration and were suspended from the Gallagher Premiership last week.
Haffar, 21, joined the London Irish Academy set-up aged 14, having caught the eye with club side Grasshoppers RFC while also playing for Gunnersbury Catholic School.
He notched up ten appearances for the Exiles during the 2022/23 season, after making his debut against Harlequins in September 2022, scoring one try against Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership.
Melbourne Rebels confirm the signing of Saints lock
Super Rugby Pacific side the Melbourne Rebels have confirmed signing of Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who has committed to the Rebels until at least the end of 2025.
Salakaia-Loto is the club’s third major addition having left Northampton Saints in a surprise departure.
32-cap Welsh international signs for Ealing Trailfinders
Ealing Trailfinders have confirmed the signing of Welsh international Lloyd Williams ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The scrum-half will depart Cardiff Rugby after 13 years of service for the region, making 260 appearances.
Willams has earned 32 caps for Wales, with his debut coming in 2011 against Argentina. He has been to two World Cups, New Zealand in 2011 and England in 2015, and has also represented the Welsh 7s side and Wales U20 at the 2009 Junior World Cup.
Former Wasps hooker signs extension at Northampton
Hooker Tom Cruse has signed a contract extension with Northampton Saints, the club have confirmed.
The 34-year-old veteran front rower signed for Saints midway through last season as injury cover from Edinburgh Rugby, bringing eight seasons of Gallagher Premiership experience with him to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens following a long stint with Wasps.
Cruse has made nine appearances so far in Black, Green and Gold, including a start in the Gallagher Premiership semi-final at Saracens.
Tighthead commits for two more years at Falcons
Prop-forward Richard Palframan has committed himself to a new contract at Newcastle Falcons, with the tight-head signing up for another two seasons.
The 29-year-old has made 27 appearances for the Falcons since arriving two years ago from Worcester Warriors, with 19 of those coming last season.
READ MORE:
