Counting down the top 15 signings in Europe this summer
As ever in a Rugby World Cup year, the northern hemisphere purse strings have been loosened, as the top clubs in Europe chase the best talent in the southern hemisphere at the beginning of a new cycle.
With the money in Japanese rugby rising, competition has increased for players’ signature, although that hasn’t stopped the elite of the Top 14, Gallagher Premiership and Guinness PRO14 from recruiting their fair share of superstar talent this summer.
With all the European clubs now back in preseason for the 2019/20 season, we countdown the top 15 signings of the year, as we look at who could have the most positive impact on their new club.
- Nehe Milner-Skudder to Toulon
The former Hurricanes man sneaks in as a bit of a wildcard, having struggled to regain top form over the last couple of seasons. He has had his fair share of injury issues during that period, but the sun-soaked Côte d’Azur has proven to be a good tonic in the past for injury-plagued players.
If he can get back to 70% or 80% of where he was when he was starring for the All Blacks at the last Rugby World Cup, Milner-Skudder could be just the kind of versatile back three player to help fire Toulon back towards the summit of the Top 14.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6aV_wP5g1M
- Gareth Anscombe to Ospreys
Unfortunately for the Ospreys, they will lose Anscombe during international windows, but to add a player of the calibre of the 28-year-old, especially when the region looked as though it might not even exist this season, cannot be ignored.
The New Zealand-born back will improve the starting XV in Swansea and if the Ospreys can position themselves to make a run at the PRO14 playoffs, he could be the difference in the tightly contested games that will follow. The abundance of options in the Ospreys’ stock of centres just found their new best friend.
- Nathan Hughes to Bristol Bears
This move raised a lot of eyebrows when it was announced, not least so for the reported £500k salary that Hughes will earn in the south-west of England. That said, with Hughes now looking as though he is not involved with Eddie Jones’ Rugby World Cup and, presumably, post-RWC plans, Bristol could be about to get a lot more bang for their buck.
When Hughes was at his best for Wasps, prior to his England call-up, his potent carrying and offloading threat lit up the Premiership week after week. He certainly suits Bristol’s looser and faster style and if there’s more gas in the tank because he’s not away with England for training camps and internationals, the risk/reward on the move for Bristol suddenly looks a lot more positive.
- Elliot Daly to Saracens
A player of Daly’s class arguably deserves to be higher up this list, although it is not as if Saracens were short of options before his arrival. Marcelo Bosch has now moved on after six very successful seasons at the club, but with Nick Tompkins and Alex Lozowoski shining of late and Dom Morris and Rotimi Segun on hand in the senior academy, Saracens weren’t in dire need of an outside centre.
There’s little doubt, however, that Daly does improve Saracens’ regular starting XV and he will give them pace, finishing ability and a booming boot at the position. Should Lozowski or Tompkins be in a particularly rich vein of form, too, Daly could also make up an all-British and Irish Lions back three at the club with Liam Williams and Sean Maitland.
- Waisake Naholo to London Irish
The big question coming into the new season is will Irish be able to get the ball into Naholo’s hands in the right positions and at the right times for him to have the impact he is clearly capable of? Working in Naholo’s favour is his ability to create opportunities for himself, with the wing boasting the physical skills to win his fair share of one-on-ones.
Irish will be hoping that Naholo can bring a steady supply of tries in their battle against relegation this season and there are few more proven performers at wing on the move this summer than the former Highlanders. Irish have embraced star power ahead of their return to the Premiership and Naholo headlines that group of new arrivals.
- Stuart Hogg to Exeter Chiefs
A similar story to Daly here, with Hogg having replaced the effervescent Santiago Cordero at Exeter. Rob Baxter likely believes that Hogg can be the difference in the crunch games in Europe and against Saracens, although he will be available less than the Argentinean due to Six Nations commitments and doesn’t cover the wing to the same degree that Cordero did.
That said, Hogg is among the most exciting players in world rugby and he is clearly a good addition for Exeter. His spot at 10th solely comes because of what the club had to give up in order to sign him, even if he should prove a reasonable upgrade as a pure full-back.
- Hanro Liebenberg to Leicester Tigers
Liebenberg’s addition begins the rebuild of the Leicester pack, adding a physical edge to the group that has seemed to have diminished in recent seasons. A blindside or a number eight, the South African should start in the loose forwards from day one.
A former South African U20 captain, Liebenberg can consider himself unlucky not to have picked up a Springbok cap yet, although at 23 years of age, he still has time on his side. A ruptured small intestine suffered in a tackle held back Liebenberg momentarily when he came out of the U20s, but he has since become one of the most consistent players for the Bulls at Super Rugby level.
- Owen Franks to Northampton Saints
Anytime you sign an All Black with over 100 international caps to his name, chances are you are probably improving your team. Saints now not only have a tighthead prop with bundles of experience and plenty of ability, they also have the perfect mentor for the up and coming Ehren Painter.
Franks’ arrival should go a long way towards tidying up the scrum penalties that were an issue for Saints last season and, as an integral member of the Crusaders for the last 10 years, is going to bring a winning mentality to the project that Chris Boyd is building in the East Midlands.
- Jack McGrath to Ulster
It was a tough situation for McGrath at Leinster, where a dip in form and injury lost him his starting spot and Cian Healy’s exceptional return to prominence limited the opportunities for McGrath to do likewise. If he can get back to close to his best in Belfast, then Ulster will have made one of the signings of the season.
It’s no secret that the province has struggled to produce talent in the front row in recent years at the same clip that they have done elsewhere on the pitch, so McGrath should provide a timely boost to their set-piece and give them a leader up front, with Rory Best set to retire after the RWC.
- Pablo Matera to Stade Français
Matera has thrived since joining the Jaguares in Super Rugby, playing at a consistently high level not only for the franchise, but also for the Argentinean national team. His development since leaving Leicester in 2015 has been remarkable and if he takes to life in France, Stade will have found themselves a difference-maker.
The Argentine’s partnership with Sekou Macalou in the Stade back row could be one of the most impressive combinations in European rugby next season, with Matera’s work rate and contact area skills the perfect complement to the dynamic ability in the loose that Macalou offers.
- Handré Pollard to Montpellier
Montpellier spent big on Aaron Cruden to be their franchise fly-half and although the Kiwi will stay with the club until after the RWC as a medical joker, it has not been the match for player or club that either would have wanted when he joined from the Chiefs in 2017.
Pollard will be helped with the transition by plenty of familiar faces, with former club teammate Jan Serfontein and international colleague François Steyn both on the books at Montpellier, as well as fellow South Africans Johan Goosen, Bismarck du Plessis and Wiaan Liebenberg, among others. If Pollard can assimilate Xavier Garbajosa’s game plan quickly after the RWC, Montpellier have the firepower to go far this season.
- Jordan Taufua to Leicester Tigers
The interesting thing about Taufua’s arrival at Welford Road is how will Leicester and Geordan Murphy use him? Whether he’s the prominent carrier given freedom in the loose that he was when he broke through at the Crusaders in Kieran Read’s absence, or the work horse that then played alongside and allowed Read to do what he does best, he’s a big upgrade in the Tigers back row.
Between Taufua and Liebenberg, Leicester have added two of the most impactful players on the move this summer and if Guy Thompson can maintain his form from last season, Tigers could have a very formidable back row as they aim to bounce back up the table.
- Lood de Jager to Sale Sharks
There is a raft of South Africans arriving in Salford this summer, not to mention England back row Mark Wilson, but de Jager could be the pick of the bunch. Not only is he an international calibre player, he crucially fills what has been a problem position for Sale in recent seasons and that is the second row.
Reliable as a jumper at the lineout, a strong tackler and carrier who can win the contest on the gain-line and a player who has the technical skill to operate in a more ambitious attack, de Jager seems to tick every box that Sale were looking for in a new lock.
- Santiago Cordero to Bordeaux
The arrival of Cordero won’t necessarily patch the holes in Bordeaux’s defence, but his potency in attack certainly won’t hinder them from winning more end-to-end shootouts. Whether deployed at full-back or on the wing, Cordero will light up Bordeaux’s back three and the Top 14 this season, with the Argentine one of the most effective players in the Premiership over the past 11 months.
He will provide a very contrasting threat to Eto Nabuli and if he is working in tandem with Geoffrey Cros, Bordeaux will have two electric counter-attackers that are a threat to score from anywhere on the pitch. Exeter’s loss will almost certainly prove to be Bordeaux’s gain this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkTs0r8a5eU
- Eben Etzebeth to Toulon
Etzebeth might not be the all-round lock that de Jager is and he might not have the immediate on-field impact that the likes of Cordero and Pollard do at their respective clubs, but he is a leader. He is a tone-setter and that is exactly what Toulon need, as they continue to struggle in their rebuild.
As a centrepiece for that rebuild, you couldn’t ask for a much better foundation than the one Etzebeth will provide, not to mention the fear factor that he will bring back to the Toulon pack. If he can emulate the impact his countrymen Juan Smith, Joe van Niekerk and Bakkies Botha had at the club, he will swiftly become a fan favourite.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments