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Neil Fissler

Neil Fissler is an experienced Fleet Street hack with the Daily Star Sunday and then the Sunday Express and has been breaking most of rugby's biggest transfer stories for over 20 years for Rugby Times, The Rugby Paper and now RugbyPass. A respected historian who has written over 20 books. 

Gloucester in talks with former England lock prospect
Gloucester have had talks with lock Elliott Stooke about making a return to Kingsholm when his contract with bitter West Country r…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
02 May 2024, 10:56
Hacjivah Dayimani exits SA on back of Springboks snub
French giants Racing 92 are poised to make their fourth signing for next season, with Stormers back-row Hacjivah Dayimani on the v…
Neil Fissler
02 May 2024, 8:28
Henry Slade and Exeter Chiefs smash stalemate with new deal
England outside centre Henry Slade has pledged his future to Exeter Chiefs by finally signing a new one-year contract with the opt…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
02 May 2024, 7:17
Fissler Confidential: Radwan eyed to replace exit-bound England wing
Gloucester are keeping tabs on Newcastle Falcons flyer Adam Radwan, but it is not a move that they are planning for next season. I…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
27 Apr 2024, 5:28
Ex-Springboks assistant Frans Ludeke a shock contender to land URC job
Kubota Spears boss Frans Ludeke has emerged as a shock contender to take over the reins at the financially troubled United Rugby C…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
24 Apr 2024, 6:49
Mark McCall launches centre search after serious Olly Hartley setback
The 22-year-old is set to miss the rest of 2024 after it was revealed he suffered ACL damage in the 46-24 victory in London, which…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
24 Apr 2024, 5:20
Philippe Saint-Andre targeted for DoR role - report
Lyon have approached former France coach Philippe Saint-André to become Director of Rugby and work alongside current boss Fabien …
Neil Fissler
22 Apr 2024, 12:42
Johann Ackermann ready to walk out on club to make return
Johan Ackermann admits that he could return to South Africa at the end of the season despite having another year left to run on hi…
Neil Fissler
22 Apr 2024, 7:16
Former Leinster star set to join Castres staff
Castres head coach, former Ireland and Lions lock Jeremy Davidson, has turned to Chris Whitaker to fill his vacant attack coach jo…
Neil Fissler
22 Apr 2024, 5:36
Fissler Confidential: Outlandish Maro Itoje rumour put to bed
You could have been forgiven for thinking April Fools Day is happening twice this year after far-fetched rumours reached Fissler C…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
20 Apr 2024, 5:57
14 rugby transfers to get excited about ahead of next season
Leinster's signing of Jordie Barrett from the Hurricanes is maybe the standout move in this season's flurry of rugby transfers.
Neil Fissler
18 Apr 2024, 10:04
Ex-All Black Aaron Cruden emerges as a candidate for Ireland move
Ulster are considering a move for veteran former All Blacks playmaker Aaron Cruden as they look to increase their options at fly-h…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
16 Apr 2024, 11:10
Stormers fight off English interest in Connor Evans
The Stormers have moved to keep highly-rated lock Connor Evans out of the clutches of admiring Premiership clubs after signing him…
Neil Fissler
14 Apr 2024, 10:28
England centre Guy Porter set for Super switch
England centre Guy Porter looks set to be on the move to Super Rugby after Leicester Tigers announced he was leaving at the end of…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Apr 2024, 6:13
Munster and IRFU circling England centres
Munster have drawn up a wish list to replace Antoine Frisch, who is firmly in the sights of big-spending Toulon after pledging his…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Apr 2024, 5:58
Fissler Confidential: Exeter eye Welsh star as Scottish one exits
Tonga lock Vaea Fifita is being marketed to clubs in France and Japan, with the Scarlets seemingly willing to offload his estimate…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Apr 2024, 4:54
14 of the biggest transfer flops in rugby union history
RG Snyman was branded the worst signing ever following Munster’s Champions Cup at the hands of Northampton Saints last weekend.
Opinion
Neil Fissler
11 Apr 2024, 9:44
Toulon owner may have given up on signing Zach Mercer
Toulon owner Bernard Lemaitre has moved to pour cold water on a potential move to the Cote d’Azur this summer for England intern…
Neil Fissler
08 Apr 2024, 9:45
Scotland and Exeter prop Alec Hepburn to join Scarlets
Scotland and former England loosehead Alec Hepburn will become the latest international to leave Exeter Chiefs when his contract r…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
06 Apr 2024, 7:48
Fissler Confidential: Leinster's up-hill battle for Taniela Tupou
Antoine Frisch pledging his international allegiances to France might not be enough to secure himself a move to one of a trio of T…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
06 Apr 2024, 6:41
Saracens announce Owen Farrell successor
Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens have confirmed the signing of fly-half Fergus Burke from the Crusaders as the long-term r…
Neil Fissler
02 Apr 2024, 11:16
Fissler Confidential: Faf too expensive? Quins line up Sinfield
Montpellier were rebuffed in a move for the 26-year-old, so they went for Billy Vunipola instead. However, the whispers are that M…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
30 Mar 2024, 5:44
Misguided pile-ons do more harm than good to women's rugby
In my job, social media is a necessary evil, but the cesspit that is X, formally Twitter, managed to outdo itself this week after …
Opinion
Neil Fissler
29 Mar 2024, 10:42
Toulon president confirms signing of England duo
Toulon president Bernard Lemaitre has confirmed that England internationals Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlam have signed three-year …
Neil Fissler
28 Mar 2024, 12:32
Danny Care shuns French offers to stay in England
Danny Care is set to end speculation on his future by signing a one-year deal to extend his career with Harlequins and turn his ba…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
28 Mar 2024, 5:34
Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Roc Nation ahead of his Kansas visit
The former Wales winger has linked up with the management giants after visiting the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Denver Bro…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
26 Mar 2024, 12:02
Mako Vunipola has held talks about joining Billy at Montpellier
The 33-year-old prop, who missed the Rugby World Cup earlier this season because of a back injury, retired from international rugb…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
26 Mar 2024, 7:41
Super Bowl champs eye NFL hopeful Louis Rees-Zammit
Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, have emerged as potential contenders in the race to sign up former Wales superstar L…
Neil Fissler
25 Mar 2024, 9:58
Saracens drop biggest clue yet on Owen Farrell's replacment
Saracens have dropped a major hint that they have reached an agreement to sign highly-rated Crusaders fly-half Fergus Burke after …
Neil Fissler
24 Mar 2024, 6:23
Fissler Confidential: Owen Farrell's replacement... and a Bok rebuffing
Toulon and Montpellier are among the Top 14 clubs exploring the possibility of taking Munster outside centre Antoine Frisch back t…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
23 Mar 2024, 3:52
Rees-Zammit's vist 2 teams as his NFL journey heats up
Louis Rees-Zammit is taking another giant step towards a career in the NFL as he begins a series of team visits after dazzling on …
Neil Fissler
22 Mar 2024, 12:16
Billy Vunipola turned down Super Rugby deal for France
Billy Vunipola has turned down a move to Australia to join French outfit Montpellier on a two-year deal when his contract with Pre…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
21 Mar 2024, 10:00
Louis Rees-Zammit receives offers from 3 NFL franchises
The 23-year-old Rees-Zammit is on a 10-week crash course to prepare to play American football as part of the 2024 International Pl…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
20 Mar 2024, 14:47
The Rob Baxter update on the future of Henry Slade at Exeter
Slade spoke to Top 14 leaders Stade Francais after being left out of his country’s Rugby World Cup squad earlier this season, bu…
Neil Fissler
20 Mar 2024, 9:36
Fissler Confidential: Tuilagi due in Bayonne, Leicester's new centre
England centre Manu Tuilagi is due in Bayonne on Monday for talks that could finally settle his future despite a double-late bid f…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
16 Mar 2024, 5:54
Werner Kok to become the first Ulster signing for 2024/25
Fissler Confidential reported a couple of weeks ago that Kok, the 31-year-old who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and …
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Mar 2024, 6:21
Rory Hutchinson has agreed a contract extension at Northampton
Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson told a media call on Tuesday that news about the future of Cambridge-born Hutchinson, who is …
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Mar 2024, 5:58
Scotland centre Matt Scott ready to leave Leicester Tigers
Former Scotland international Matt Scott has spoken to Edinburgh about signing up for a third spell when his contract with Leicest…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
11 Mar 2024, 10:24
Harlequins' last ditch bid to gazump Leicester for Izaia Perese
Harlequins have made a late bid to snatch the signing of NSW Waratahs and Wallaby ace Izaia Perese, who has been having talks wit…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
11 Mar 2024, 6:10
Arrogant Ireland cheerleaders brought down to earth with a slap
It is unbelievable to think that after one swing of Marcus Smith’s right foot, England can be crowned Six Nations Champions in L…
Opinion
Neil Fissler
10 Mar 2024, 8:14
Fissler Confidential: Elton Jantjies back in play, Pat Lam exit
The Lions could move to sign Elton Jantjies for a third time after WADA suspended the accreditation of the South African Doping Co…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
09 Mar 2024, 5:07
League star Regan Grace to make professional union bow
Former Super League star Regan Grace will make his union bow for Bath in a friendly against arch-West Country rivals Gloucester at…
Neil Fissler
08 Mar 2024, 8:45
All Black Sevu Reece winging his way to France?
All Blacks winger Sevu Reece is closing in on a move to French club Montpellier when his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union…
Neil Fissler
08 Mar 2024, 6:44
Billy Vunipola close to deal with Montpellier
Vunipola, who won the last of his 75 England caps in the Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of South Africa last Octob…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
08 Mar 2024, 5:59
Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe signs for Gloucester
RugbyPass last week reported that Anscombe had been spotted getting a guided tour of Kingsholm after they were knocked back by Ire…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
05 Mar 2024, 6:03
Titi Lamositele is heading to Harlequins to replace Will Collier
The 29-year-old, who hails from Tacoma, won international caps for the United States before switching to Samoa in 2023.
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
05 Mar 2024, 5:44
10 England rugby players who defied convention
Manny Feyi-Waboso became the 1460th player to be capped by England when he came off the bench against Italy last month.
Neil Fissler
03 Mar 2024, 12:30
Fissler Confidential: Bath hunt All Black as Sarries lose another 10
The 28-year-old Gisborne-born Bridge, who scored 12 tries in 19 appearances for New Zealand, has had a meeting with Bath officials…
Neil Fissler
02 Mar 2024, 3:44
Gareth Anscombe visits Kingsholm as Gloucester hunt new fly-half
Adam Hastings confirmed his departure earlier this month after contract talks with the Cherry and Whites stalled at the last minut…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
29 Feb 2024, 9:08
Gloucester look to Christian Wade to fill Louis Rees-Zammit vacancy
Rees-Zammit is ironically on the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) since January, the same programme that the 32-year-old W…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
27 Feb 2024, 12:23
Huw Jones to travel to France this week to complete Top 14 switch
The 30-year-old Glasgow outside centre, who had a move to Bayonne scrapped three years ago after they were relegated to Pro D2, is…
Neil Fissler
27 Feb 2024, 5:36
Fissler Confidential: Burns to Munster agreed as Tigers hunt Wallaby
Leicester Tigers head coach Dan McKellar is looking to go shopping in his native Australia as he endeavours to strengthen his Welf…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
24 Feb 2024, 3:28
Richie Murphy has 7-game audition for Ulster top job
Richie Murphy has been told that he has got a seven-game audition to secure himself the Ulster job on a permanent basis after bein…
Neil Fissler
22 Feb 2024, 7:33
Courtney Lawes is due in France on Friday to seal his Pro D2 move
The soon-to-be 35-year-old retired from international rugby after winning his 105th England Test cap at the recent Rugby World Cup…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
20 Feb 2024, 6:59
Sale bring in Hyron Andrews on short-term deal from the Sharks
Andrews has this season played four games for the struggling South African franchise, who are bottom of the URC table with only on…
Neil Fissler
20 Feb 2024, 3:49
Sharks sign Nyakane and Esterhuizen in sensational double deal
The Sharks have pulled off a sensational double deal to take World Cup winners centre Andre Esterhuizen and prop Trevor Nyakane to…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
18 Feb 2024, 6:45
Fissler Confidential: Esterhuizen's return to SA, Exeter sweat on Slade
Andre Esterhuizen appears to be advancing towards a return to South Africa where the Sharks and Stormers have both expressed an in…
Neil Fissler
17 Feb 2024, 4:16
Adam Hastings to exit Gloucester and join Glasgow Warriors
Scotland international Adam Hastings has secured a return to North of the Border and is re-joining former club Glasgow Warriors wh…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
16 Feb 2024, 5:19
Ex-Ireland back Will Addison in talks about rejoining Sale Sharks
Ulster utility back and former Ireland international Will Addison is in talks about returning to Sale, his former Gallagher Premie…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
14 Feb 2024, 6:54
In-demand Newcastle youngster Guy Pepper will join Bath next season
Bath have won the race to land highly rated Newcastle Falcons openside Guy Pepper, who has turned down a lucrative three-year deal…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Feb 2024, 11:46
Ex-Springboks winger Sbu Nkosi lines up one-year Currie Cup deal
Former Springboks winger Sbu Nkosi, who has been a free agent since leaving the Bulls last summer, is poised to make his comeback.
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Feb 2024, 8:46
Ollie Lawrence on Harlequins' radar if Andre Esterhuizen heads home
Harlequins could look no further than England international Ollie Lawrence should they need to replace Springboks Rugby World Cup …
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
13 Feb 2024, 7:33
Benetton drop massive hint on incoming star spurned by England
Benetton dropped a major hint that Louis Lynagh is on his way to Italy to finalise his move from Harlequins that, RugbyPass exclus…
Neil Fissler
12 Feb 2024, 6:43
Fissler Confidential: Tuilagi a target as third club chase Lawes
The battle to sign former England captain Courtney Lawes appeared to be a straight shoot-out between Pro D2 promotion hopefuls Pro…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
10 Feb 2024, 1:40
Exit bound Louis Lynagh backed into a corner by Harlequins
Louis Lynagh is this weekend set to complete his move to Benetton after agreeing to sign on at the United Rugby Championship high-…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
08 Feb 2024, 8:30
Harlequins' Louis Lynagh poised to quit the Premiership for URC
The 23-year-old is set to follow in the footsteps of his father, Wallabies legend Michael, by joining Benetton, the Treviso franch…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
07 Feb 2024, 4:23
Rivals hope to pounce as Courtney Lawes to Brive deal not fully done
The 34-year-old Lawes, who won 105 Test caps with England, retired from international rugby after the recent Rugby World Cup in Fr…
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
06 Feb 2024, 8:09
Glasgow Warriors set to confirm Rory Sutherland signing
Glasgow Warriors are poised to announce that they have signed Scotland and Lions prop Rory Sutherland on a two-year when his short…
Neil Fissler
05 Feb 2024, 9:27
French club in bid to prise Danny Care from Harlequins
Bayonne are making a last-minute attempt to derail Harlequins bid to keep veteran England scrum-half Danny Care at the Twickenham …
Exclusive
Neil Fissler
05 Feb 2024, 5:58
Lewis Ludlam the first of a Toulon double-header
Toulon are poised to unveil the first leg of a double raid for two England internationals after Northampton Saints announced flank…
Neil Fissler
05 Feb 2024, 4:55
Borthwick: The most expensive mistake in rugby history
Appointing Steve Borthwick, England's coach, will become the most expensive mistake in rugby history because he isn’t up to the …
Opinion
Neil Fissler
27 Aug 2023, 9:48