Changing Places: This Season's Biggest Aviva Premiership Transfers

With the 2016-17 Aviva Premiership season fast approaching, Lee Calvert looks at some of the high-profile transfers who will be taking the pitch in new colours this season.

Matt Toomua and JP Pietersen – Leicester Tigers
Leicester were once an unstoppable force in English rugby, devouring every trophy in their path with an almost boring consistency. This has not been the case more recently, though, and fans in the East Midlands are itching for things to return to how they used to be. The signings of Toomua and Pietersen certainly give them that chance. Pietersen has only just turned 30, which, given how long he has been a fixture for the Springboks, means he must have made his debut as a pre-teen. Despite his last season not being a vintage one he still remains top drawer and will definitely get over the whitewash regularly at this level. Matt Toomua is, to put it bluntly, outstanding, and it continues to amaze that he is not already a fixture for the Wallabies.  Someone of his class could propel Leicester back to the glory days.

Dave Dennis – Exeter Chiefs
At first glance, Dennis is not as eye catching a signing as some of the others, but don’t be fooled – he is exactly what a team like Exeter require. The Chiefs play a forward platform dominated game, as demonstrated by their top scorer last year being incomparably chubby Number 8 Thomas Waldrom, who scored a boatload of tries from the back of mauls. Add Dave Dennis’s power, leadership and experience to that pack and it will make Exeter even more Exeter, which given they reached the final last season can only be a good thing.

Matt Scott – Gloucester
For quite some time Scotland were so unable to produce a quality international centre that they looked abroad and started the “kilted Kiwi” trend, before that stopped working and the likes of Graeme Morrison and Nick de Luca (yes really) started getting the nod. It seemed their only way forward would have to be witchcraft or illegal genetic modification. Whichever of these routes they took it seems to have worked, and from out of nowhere the likes of Mark Bennett,  Duncan Taylor and Matt Scott have appeared. Gloucester have picked up arguably the pick of the bunch in Matt Scott.

Louis Picamoles – Northampton Saints
On his day Louis Picamoles is a magnificent and destructive Number 8 but when it’s not his day he looks like septic tank on rusty wheels with feet for hands. For the last twelve months, including the World Cup, it has not been Louis’ day.  At all. But Northampton fans will hope that a change of scenery from France will allow him to relocate his mojo, stay off the confit meats and lose a bit of weight.   If he does, then it will be tough season for all the eights he faces.

AJ MacGinty – Sale Sharks
If John Muldoon was the beating heart of Connacht’s wonderful Pro12 win last year, then MacGinty was the brains, playing wonderfully up to and including the final and looking every inch the accomplished and inventive fly half.  The Premiership will be a different challenge, but with Sale’s other big signing, Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, alongside him they could be the pairing to watch.  Also keep an eye on league convert Josh Charnley, who has signed from Wigan Warriors and brings with him an outstanding try-scoring record.  The last Wigan winger to sign for Sale – Jason Robinson – did pretty well, if you recall.

Schalk Burger – Saracens
Just when you think you can’t dislike a club more, they sign Schalk Burger. However, his talent and ability cannot be denied and as one Burger (Jacques) leaves, another better one comes in the door.  I’m still mystified as to how a bloke who looks so much like Ron Howard can be this good at rugby.

Kurtley Beale – Wasps
Injury means he won’t be available for the first few months, and then the question will be where is he going to play? Regardless of his eventual position, he will make the team better.  His talent is comparable to Quade Cooper, only he doesn’t confuse the hell out of his team to the same degree. Wasps have also signed Danny Cipriani and Kyle Eastmond to add to Frank Halai and England starlet Elliot Daly, so it is reasonable to suggest that they will be the team to watch behind the scrum this coming season.

Ben Te’o – Worcester Warriors
The former league man was player of the year at Leinster, and Worcester were so keen on his talents they have made him one of the best paid players in the Premiership.  One theory is that 2015-16 was his high water mark – ‘Peak Te’o – and Worcester have spent all their money on a player who will be found out among the Premierships more effective defences.  Another theory he is a big lump of bustling, offloading class that will only get better as he beds into the England squad. Watch this space.