14 Gallagher Premiership players exiting the league
A bevvy of top rugby players in the Gallagher Premiership will be leaving for new challenges overseas next season.
Here’s a look at 14 big names departing English rugby at the end of this term.
Rob Simmons to Clermont from London Irish
Former Wallabies lock Rob Simmons joined London Irish in 2020 and played an important role in their squad since. He’s set to join French side Clermont for the upcoming season.
David Ribbans to Toulon from Northampton Saints
It’s not exactly an ideal bellwether for English rugby when an in-situ England lock heads abroad. Northampton lock David Ribbans has done exactly that and is set to join Toulon.
Jack Nowell to La Rochelle from Exeter
Long rumoured, the England back three star appears to be the latest senior Chiefs player to head to the exit and out of the country, following hot on the heels of a number of his Exeter teammates.
Joe Simmonds to Pau from Exeter
Exeter Chiefs’ playmaker Joe Simmonds has been a key player for the club, leading them to a Premiership and European Champions Cup double in 2020. Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed, the talented fly-half is set to join French Top 14 club Pau for the upcoming season.
Luke Cowan-Dickie to Montpellier from Exeter
Cowan-Dickie has been a stalwart for the side since making his debut in 2011 as an 18-year-old. A question mark still remains over a potential G3 ban on him playing rugby in France [due to a neck injury], but if he can get over that hurdle it appears he’s set to join French side Montpellier for the 2023-24 season.
Sam Simmonds to Montpellier from Exeter
Brother of Joe, Sam Simmonds is a prolific number eight who has been in exceptional form for Exeter in recent years. His move to Montpellier in the Top 14 will give the British & Irish Lion a chance to showcase his skills on a new stage. He leaves despite finally breaking into the wider England squad.
Semi Radradra to Lyon from Bristol Bears
Fijian superstar Semi Radradra was a marquee signing for Bristol Bears in 2020 and played a key role for the Ashton Gate-based side when not injured. He’s set to join French side Lyon and continue his impressive form.
Harry Williams to Montpellier from Exeter
The Exeter tighthead has been a reliable presence for the club, helping them win multiple titles over the years. He’s set to join his buddies in Montpellier in France for the upcoming season.
Jannes Kirsten to the Bulls in South Africa from Exeter
Exeter lock Jannes Kirsten has been a valuable member of Rob Baxter’s forward pack and helped them win the Premiership in 2020. He’s set to return to his native South Africa and join Jake White’s Bulls for the 2023 season.
Wilco Louw to Bulls from Harlequins
Another major signing for the Bulls, Harlequins prop Louw is heading home after he played his part in their Quins’ Premiership triumph the season before last.
Dave Ewers to Ulster from Exeter
Giant back row behemoth Ewers has been a consistent performer for the club and helped them win the Gallagher Premiership and Champions Cup double in 2020. He’s set to join Irish province Ulster for the upcoming URC season.
Jake Polledri to Zebre Parma from Gloucester
Another URC switcher, Gloucester back-rower Jake Polledri has been a standout player for the Cherry & Whites and has earned international recognition with Italy. After battling back from injury in recent seasons, he is set to join Italian side Zebre Parma.
Tomasso Allen to Perpignan from Harlequins
Harlequins fly-half Tomasso Allen has been a key player for the West Londoners since joining in 2019. He’s set to join French side Perpignan for the 2023-24 season.
Charles Piutau – released by Bristol Bears
It’s not been confirmed where exactly he is going but one thing is clear, the purported million-pound man is leaving Bristol. At 31 years old, it’s unlikely he’ll be hanging up his boots just yet and another Gallagher Premiership seems unlikely.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments