Fissler Confidential: Bath's Barbeary battle, Vunipola eyes PREM return

Alfie Barbeary, who is out of contract with treble winners Bath at the end of the season, is at the centre of a tug-of-war between clubs on both sides of the English Channel.

Barbeary’s form in the Champions Cup, winning Player of the Match in both Round 3 and Round 4 and earning a nomination for the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy, hasn’t gone unnoticed in France, where there is serious interest.

While big-spending Sale Sharks are looking to replace Rec-bound Dan du Preez, he could extend his contract with Bath, who are very keen to keep him.

England outside centre Henry Slade has agreed a new deal to remain with Exeter Chiefs beyond the end of his current contract, which runs out at the end of June.

Slade, who has been instrumental in the Chiefs’ revival this season, was linked with the proposed breakaway competition R360 last summer and is set to become a father for a third time, so he wants to stay in Devon.

Meanwhile, Chiefs lock Lewis Pearson has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal, while Olly Woodburn, who is closing in on 200 appearances for the club, is likely to stay after being granted a testimonial.

Kyle Sinckler won’t be returning to the Gallagher PREM next season and instead will be seeing out the final year of his contract with French giants Toulon, whom he joined from Bristol Bears in 2024.

The former Harlequins and Bears tighthead, capped 69 times by England and seven by the Lions, had been linked with a move back across the Channel in time to resume his international career for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

But Toulon boss Pierre Mignoni has slammed the door shut and has even hinted that an extension could be on the cards.

“Everything is clear with him, there’s no debate. He’ll stay here, at least for next season,” he said.

Manu Vunipola could return to the Gallagher PREM when his contract with Japan Rugby League One outfit Mie Honda Heat is set to expire later this year.

Auckland-born Vunipola, 25, a former England under-20 international, is a cousin of former England internationals Mako and Billy, who were team-mates at Saracens before he moved to Japan and they left for France.

He has been on the losing side in each of the four games he has started this season and admits it was tough after moving to Japan at the start of last season. He is weighing up his options ahead of his next move.

Worcester Warriors No.8 Khalik Kareem, who has been an ever-present in the Championship this season, could be on his way back to the Gallagher PREM this summer.

Kareem, 21, was signed from Bath, where his first-team experience was limited to a seven-minute cameo in a PREM Cup game against Northampton Saints, but he has caught the eye for the reformed Warriors this season.

He has impressed that much, with three tries in his 13 games, that Pat Lam is a fan and Bristol Bears are the favourites to keep him in the West Country, but Sale Sharks have also made him an offer.

Former Scotland coach Vern Cotter is believed to have thrown his hat in the ring to be the next boss of Gallagher PREM strugglers Harlequins, who have lost seven of their nine league games this season.

Cotter’s CV has been floating around clubs for the last few months, along with Kobe Steelers head coach Dave Rennie, who is approaching the end of his contract in Japan but is a strong contender for the vacant All Blacks job.

It has also been reported that Quins are interested in speaking to Scott Robertson, who became only the second coach, after Wayne Smith, to leave the All Blacks job between World Cup tournaments.

Zac Lomax is in a state of limbo, with Parramatta Eels set to take him to court to stop him from joining another NRL club after he held talks with Melbourne Storm, but a move to rugby union now appears to be off the table.

The Eels will argue that Lomax, who plans to counter with a restraint of trade claim, violated the terms of his release, which includes a clause stating that he cannot join another NRL club until 2029, when he spoke to the Storm.

Lomax, who spent three days training with the Western Force before Christmas, was less than impressed with their formal offer of between £177,000 and £200,000 a year, while Angus Crichton’s signing may completely end his hopes.

Vincent Koch is set to leave the Sharks at the end of the season and is potentially looking at a return to the Gallagher PREM, where he spent six years with Saracens.

Koch, who will be 36 in March, was part of the Springbok squad that won the World Cup in 2019 and then retained it in France four years later, but the Sharks have signed Thomas du Toit from Bath for next season.

Koch, who played 100 times for Saracens and has won 63 Test caps for the Springboks, is hoping for a last hurrah with one of the clubs looking to strengthen their squad with a tighthead next season.

Former England under-20 international lock Joel Kpoku has dropped into the French Third Division to join big-spending Nice just days after walking out on Section Paloise.

The ex-Saracens ace, who stands at 6’5 and weighs 126kg, left Pau with 18 months left to run on his contract after only playing five times this season and is pitched straight into a promotion battle at the top of the Nationale table.

Nissa are bidding to make a quick return to the Pro D2 and are top of the third tier with 59 points, level with Massy, a point clear of Albi, with Narbonne just three points behind in fourth place.

Pro D2 leaders Vannes have confirmed that Filipo Nakosi, the brother of Fiji legend Josua Tuisova, has been released from his contract with immediate effect.

The Fijian winger, 33, who started his career in France with Agen before moving on to Toulon and Castres, moved to Brittany in 2024 but has found crossing the whitewash a problem.

Nakosi’s only try in 17 appearances came against Stade Français, and he has only played 28 minutes this season, with cameos against Nevers and Grenoble back in November, and has been out in the cold ever since.