The Gallagher Premiership is underway for the 2022/23 campaign but directors of rugby are still making additions to their squads and some players are already lining up their options for next season.
Here is a look at all the latest transfer rumours and news from around the Gallagher Premiership....
READ MORE: ‘It is heart breaking’ - Bristol Bears’ man of the match suffers significant injury in Wasps win
Kyle Sinckler linked with Bristol Bears exit
England tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler is exploring his options with his contract at Bristol Bears due to expire at the end of the season.
Sinckler's departure from Bristol is by no means certain, but the club are reported to be unwilling to match his current pay check which is widely reported to be in the region of £500,000 a year with Premiership club's forced to tighten their purse strings with the reduced £5m salary cap in place.
The CV of the British and Irish Lions frontrower is doing the rounds amongst clubs in the French Top 14 for a potential move post 2023 World Cup, according to The Rugby Paper while Sinckler's former club Harlequins are reported to be interest in him returning to West London but for a fee in the region of £280,000.
Gloucester Rugby beat Bath and Saracens to signature of international prop
Gloucester Rugby have fascinatingly done a deal to add an international loosehead prop to their squad, according to the latest reports.
The Rugby Paper reports Cherry and Whites head coach George Skivington has secured the services of another Argentina international to bolster his pack following the conclusion of The Rugby Championship.
The publication reports Gloucester have signed Argentina loosehead Mayco Vivas on a short term deal, initially until the end of the 2022/23 season, but with an eye on a longer stay should he prove successful in the Premiership like the club’s other Pumas stars have.
Johann van Graan linked with Sale Sharks duo
Bath Rugby have been linked with a move for Sale Sharks' powerful South African brothers Dan and Jean-Luc du Preez.
The twins are likely to be involved at the Rec on Saturday when Sale come to town to face Bath, but the pair of forwards are understood to be out of contract at the Sharks at the end of the season and unlikely to sign a new deal at the AJ Bell as the South African influence at the club continues to wane.
That is certainly not the case at Bath were former Springboks coach Johann van Graan has brought in a raft of fellow countryman to sure up the squad having arrived from Munster this summer.
Bordeaux Begles are reported to be very interested in landing the number eight and lock but The Rugby Paper report Bath's recruitment team are now taking a good look at the 27 year-olds.
Former Bristol Bears favourite signs for URC club
Released Bristol Bears backrower Alapati Leiua has signed with the United Rugby Championship side the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The powerful 33-cap Samoan international back, who can play both in the centre and on the wing, who started his career at the Hurricanes before moving to the Premiership where he played for Wasps and the Bristol Bears.
Since his release from the Bears in June, 33-year-old Leiua has been playing back in New Zealand after a move to French ProD2 side Vannes fell through due to something picked up in his medical.
He will link up with his new teammates in South Africa on approval of his work permit.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said: “Alapati is a proven performer who will give us a hard edge in midfield while also mentoring some of the talented youngsters we have here.
“We saw the huge influence Jamie Roberts had in a short time here two years ago and we are expecting Alapati to play a similar role for us this season.
“We are looking forward to seeing the impact he makes here both on and off the field."
London Irish add front row duo ahead of facing Bristol
Patrick Harrison and Jamie Jack have joined London Irish on a short-term loan from United Rugby Championship side Edinburgh Rugby.
Due to injuries in the front row, the Exiles have completed the short-term signings of Harrison and Jack with immediate effect
Harrison, who plies his trade from hooker, has made four outings for the Scottish side. Patrick made his debut against Dragons at the age of 18, making him the youngest hooker in Edinburgh Rugby history.
Loosehead prop Jamie Jack joined Edinburgh Rugby from Championship side Ampthill Rugby towards the end of the 2021/22 season. He started his career with Nottingham Rugby, while studying for a degree in Sport Science and Coaching at Nottingham Trent University.
Christian Wade makes rugby return with Racing
Christian Wade revealed Wasps were 'a bit too late' with their offer to secure a return to the club he left in 2018.
Racing 92's confirmed this week that the once-capped England winger had signed a deal until the end of the season.
Wasps head coach Lee Blackett recently confirmed that the club's ongoing off-field issues regarding the refinancing of a £35m bond that helped fund their relocation from London to Coventry and the Coventry Building Society Arena (then the Ricoh Arena) meant his hands were temporarily tied with a recruitment freeze - which impacted their ability to secure Wade's signature.
Wade said: "Wasps obviously had issues, they were paused and they couldn't offer anything
"By the time they offered something I'd already signed [for Racing] so it was probably a bit too late for anything in that respect."
Former Scottish U20s international back joins London Irish
London Irish have confirmed the signature of former Scotland U20s international outside back Logan Trotter.
The 23-year-old came through the academy of Glasgow Warriors and played for his country at the 2017 U20 Six Nations and also the 2017 and 2018 U20 World Rugby Championships.
Trotter has been training with the club this summer and made his first appearance for London Irish in a recent pre-season run-out against Bath United at Chippenham RFC, with the Exiles winning 29-26.
He joins the Exiles as injury cover.
Bristol Bears fill key vacant coaching role with former player
Bringing young players through from the academy into the Bristol Bears first team remains a core pillar of Pat Lam's vision for the club and the director of rugby has appointed another former player to take charge of that process.
Club centurion Glen Townson has returned to Bristol Bears as academy transition coach, coming in to replace Jordan Crane who was promoted to defence coach in July following the departure of Omar Mouneimne who has moved to Exeter Chiefs.
Former lock Townson, 35, made 112 appearances for Bristol during six seasons in the West Country between 2012 and 2017 and brings huge experience to the role, having spent two seasons as forwards and defence coach at Championship side Ealing Trailfinders before heading up the West London club’s Academy.
Falcons snap up former Saracen man
Newcastle Falcons have confirmed the signing of back-three player Elliott Obatoyinbo on a short-term deal.
The former Saracen will be with the Falcons for the next two months, with the 23-year-old able to play full-back or wing.
A former Harrow and Stonyhurst schoolboy, Obatoyinbo made 32 appearances during his four seasons with Saracens after coming through their academy, also playing on dual-registration for London Scottish, Ampthill and Old Albanians.
“I left Saracens after last season, I’ve been looking for a club and I’m happy that Newcastle have given me this opportunity,” said the new arrival.
Welsh flanker signs for Bristol Bears
Former Worcester Warriors flanker Sam Lewis has signed for Bristol Bears after spending the last month on trial at the club.
The highly rated 31-year-old Welsh flanker had been linked with potential moves to the Japananese League One or MLR in the United States having been left without a club at the end of last season despite being a regular top performer for Worcester.
But instead of a move abroad Lewis has signed for the Bears for the 2022-23 season after impressing Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam, reports Wales Online, with the flanker putting pen to paper on a deal last week week.
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