With Premiership Rugby having ditched the previous rule that said clubs can not approach players about moving clubs before January 1, there are deals being done all over the league despite it still only being October.
Here is a closer look at all the biggest transfer rumours, contract renewals and confirmed moves from around the Gallagher Premiership....
Ulster to beat Bath, Castres and Glasgow to signing Rory Sutherland
British and Irish Lions prop Rory Sutherland will sign for Ulster according to the latest reports.
The Scottish international loosehead prop is set to sign for Ulster for the rest of the season according to The Belfast Telegraph, with Springbok Steven Kitshoff set to join the club next year.
Sutherland finds himself out of work following the financial collapse of crisis-hit Worcester Warriors.
Sutherland's arrival in Belfast was first reported by former Ireland and Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman on social media.
The deal is not yet fully complete by the publication reports there is real confidence that the move will come to fruition despite interest from Bath, Castres and Glasgow Warriors for his services.
Falcons winger attracting interest
Out of contract Newcastle Falcons winger Nathan Earle is attracting interest from a number of 'London based clubs' according to the latest reports from The Rugby Paper
The former Saracens man is out of contract at Kingston Park at the end of the season and could return to the capital.
London-based clubs narrows the Premiership sides down to his former club Saracens, Harlequins and London Irish.
Scotland international lined up by Sale Sharks as Manu Tuilagi replacement
Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson looks to be preparing for life without Manu Tuilagi at the AJ Bell next season as he feels out interest from a number of like-for-like power centres.
The Rugby Paper reports Sanderson is interested in both Ollie Lawrence, who has just signed a short team deal for Bath, and now Glasgow Warriors' Sione Tuipulotu.
Tuipulotu represented Australia at Schoolboy, U17 and U20 level and played Super Rugby for Melbourne Rebels between 2016 and 2019, and then in the Japanese Top League in 2021, before signing a deal with Glasgow Warriors. He made his Scotland debut in 2021 against Tonga and qualifies for them through his grandmother, but is understood to be out of contract at Warriors at the end of the season.
Released Bristol Bears flanker makes MLR move
Major League Rugby side the Toronto Arrows have signed released Bristol Bears backrower Mitch Eadie ahead of the 2023 season.
Eadie, 30, found himself without a club when he was released by Bristol back in June following his second spell at his hometown club.
Discussing his move, Eadie said: “I can’t wait to get started with the Arrows. With the way the sport has grown in North America over the past few years, this is the perfect opportunity for a new challenge with an ambitious team that’s on the rise, and for me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit.”
“In speaking with the coaches, and in speaking with Mark [Winokur] and Bill [Webb], it’s clear that the Arrows have serious ambition, and that the club’s goals sync up with my own personal and professional ambitions. When it comes down to the direction the Arrows are going, joining the club became an easy decision.”
“My family and I are very excited to make the move to Toronto. Everything that we’ve heard about Canada has been fantastic, and while it’s a big decision to move to a new continent, we decided that if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it properly. This is a city and an organization where we’ll feel comfortable but will give us a chance to experience something new.”
“We’re really looking forward to embracing this new adventure, and I can’t wait to get stuck in and help the Arrows win a championship.”
Welsh captain to leave Saints
Northampton Saints have confirmed that Welsh international star Dan Biggar will leave the club at the end of the 2022/23 season.
The 32-year-old fly-half has pulled on the Black, Green and Gold jersey 68 times to date, starting every game he has been involved in for Northampton and scoring 605 points so far.
Biggar made the switch to Saints from the Ospreys ahead of the 2018/19 campaign and has made a big impact at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens – guiding the Club to two top-four finishes in the Gallagher Premiership in four seasons, and using over a decade’s worth of international experience to help develop Northampton’s young squad.
Exeter Chiefs talisman Jack Nowell discusses links with French move
Jack Nowell’s future at Exeter Chiefs is up in the air but as of yet no decision as have been made.
England winger Nowell, 29, is out of contract at Exeter at the end of the season, having only ever played professional rugby at the Devon club, barring loan spells at Redruth, Plymouth Albion and the Cornish Pirates in his youth.
Now, with 42 England caps under his belt as well as a British and Irish Lions tour, he is carefully considering the best next step for him and his young family. The Rugby Paper report both Racing 92 and Clermont Auvergne are interested in Nowell’s services post-2023 Rugby World Cup, with lucrative contracts up for grabs as French club rugby flourishes while the English professional game flounders as it financially gets back on its feet following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Worcester backrower snapped by by French Top 14 giants
Italian international backrower Renato Giammarioli has been signed by French Top 14 heavyweights Bordeaux Begles less than a day after he was made jobless at Worcester Warriors.
Giammarioli, 27, only joined Worcester his summer from United Rugby Championship side Zebre and has 8 eight caps for the Azzurri.
His deal with Bordeaux keeps him at the club until the end of the current season.
Worcester lock Joe Batley re-joins Bristol Bears
Versatile forward Joe Batley has re-joined Bristol Bears with immediate effect, the club have confirmed.
The 26-year-old, who can play in the second row and back row, returns to Ashton Gate after leaving Worcester Warriors following their financial collapse.
Four out of work Worcester players picked up by Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby can confirm the loan signings of Worcester Warrior players Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Fergus Lee-Warner and Valeriy Morozov.
With a high number of injuries to ball carriers and players in key positions, the quartet have joined the Blue, Black and White as short term injury dispensation cover.
Argentina international checks in at Kingsholm
Gloucester Rugby have confirmed the immediate signing of Argentinian international loosehead prop Mayco Vivas.
The 6'1'', 122kg prop made a name for himself playing Super Rugby for the Jaguares in 2019 before making his international debut in the same year.
Vivas, who has won 17 caps for his homeland, was involved in this year's Rugby Championship squad for the Pumas, including their historic victory over the All Blacks.
Cherry and Whites head coach George Skivington said: "We're delighted to bring Mayco here to Gloucester. He's clearly a talented player that offers a lot to the team in terms of set-piece and around the park.
"Mayco is 24 and has got the potential to progress even further here at Kingsholm, we're really excited to see what he can bring to us.
"He also adds some extra quality into an already strong front row which is crucial for a long Premiership season."
Warriors' British and Irish Lions wing returns to Scotland
Edinburgh have capitalised on Worcester’s plight by striking a deal to bring British and Irish Lions and Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe back to the Scottish capital.
All Warriors players had their contracts terminated on Wednesday following the Gallagher Premiership side’s financial implosion.
And Edinburgh have moved quickly to re-sign Van der Merwe, who left to join Worcester last year.
Saracens star Max Malins to join Bristol Bears
Last season's leading Premiership try scorer Max Malins is heading back to Bristol Bears next season the club have officially confirmed.
England international back Malins, who can play at full-back, wing or fly-half, will join Bristol from Saracens in July 2023 on a two-year deal.
The 25-year-old, who has 14 caps for England, enjoyed a prolific loan spell at Ashton Gate between 2020 and 2021, scoring 18 tries in 19 matches and helping the Bears to a maiden European title with Challenge Cup glory and top spot in the Gallagher Premiership.
Bath Rugby sign pair of talented South African schoolboys to the academy
Two talented South African youngster will join the Bath Rugby Academy in January 2023, the club have confirmed.
English qualified Daniel Marais and Luke Graham, both pupils at Paul Roos Gymnasium in South Africa, will the join the Blue, Black and White in the New Year after impressing at schoolboy level.
The pair add to the growing South Africa influence at the Rec is with former Springboks coach Johann van Graan at the helm as head of rugby having arrived this summer from Munster with countryman JP Ferreira.
In terms of signings, van Graan has already brought in South Africans Chris Cloete, GJ van Velze, Louis Schreuder, Wesley White and Namibian prop Aranos Coetzee, with interest in Sale forward brothers Jean-Luc and Daniel du Preez filling the transfer rumour columns ahead of next season.
Sam Simmonds to join Montpellier
Exeter Chiefs and England star number eight Sam Simmonds is joining reigning French Top 14 champions Montpellier next season, head coach Ali Hepher confirmed today.
News broke on Friday night that 14-cap England international, and 2021 British and Irish Lion Simmonds has been lined up to replace Zach Mercer, who is joining Gloucester in a bid to regain his place in the national side, as Montpellier's star option at the back of the scrum.
Key forward signs new deal at Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester Rugby head coach George Skivinginton has emphasised how 'integral' Freddie Clarke has become to the club in recent seasons following the announcement he has sided a new deal at Kingsholm.
Academy graduate Clarke, 29, took his game to the next level in 2021/22, stepping into the shoes of Ed Slater who missed almost the entire season before retiring following his MND diagnosis in the summer.
The versatile forward who can play second row or back row has established himself in the Gloucester Rugby pack, making 124 appearances for the club to date.
Leicester Tigers agree new deals with England trio
Leicester Tigers have agreed new deals with flanker George Martin, scrum half Jack van Poortvliet and full-back Freddie Steward beyond the 2022/23 season.
Speaking about the trio, Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick said: "This is a very exciting day for the club and I hope the supporters have enjoyed receiving this news."
"All three of these young men - George, Freddie and Jack - are proud Leicester Tigers players, who have been a part of the club since they were kids and grown up, together, at the club.
"There is so much growth in all of their games; the steps they have taken so far in their young careers has been brilliant to witness and a privilege to be a part of at Leicester Tigers.
"These are three young men who possess great character and hunger to be successful and, at a young age, the leadership qualities they have displayed have been exceptional and I am pleased to be able to confirm their renewals."
READ MORE:
‘Ready for the Olympics but not rugby’ - Injury latest on Bristol Bears star Siva Naulago
‘His priority is his rehab’ - Pat Lam clarifies Steven Luatua's Samoa involvement this Autumn
How Magnus Bradbury's arrival at Bristol Bears was almost 10 years in the making
- Bristol Bears ‘icon’ Ellis Genge joins Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports agency
