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Fissler Confidential: Bears' fight to keep LRZ, England star on the move
By Neil Fissler
Bristol Bears may have opened contract talks over an extension, but they are facing some serious competition from the Top 14 if they want to retain the services of Wales superstar Louis Rees-Zammit next season.
Rees-Zammit, 24, who rejected a three-year deal worth £600k a season from Newcastle Red Bulls in a gamble that backfired after R360 postponed their kick-off until 2028, is believed to be picking up around £220k at the Bears.
The 2021 Grand Slam winner, who has scored three tries in six games after a spell in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars, has fielded several serious enquiries from across the Channel.
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England full-back George Furbank has agreed a deal to join Harlequins when his Northampton Saints contract ends next summer, but it’s a move that isn’t being motivated by money.
Fissler Confidential understands that Furbank, 29, who holds one of the £150k enhanced EPS contracts, wanted to stay at Franklins Gardens, but because of his age and injury record, Saints only offered a one-year deal.
Quins swooped and offered a two-year contract as well as a modest increase on what are believed to be £250k a year wages to reflect the increased cost of living in one of the most expensive areas of the capital.
Leicester Tigers have held talks with Wales fly-half Dan Edwards as they step up their search for a long-term successor to James O’Connor, who is yet to decide if he wants to continue playing for the club next season.
O’Connor, who turns 36 next July, is expected to make up his mind in the New Year, and the Tigers don’t want to be caught cold again have spoken to Edwards about leaving the Ospreys at the end of the season.
The 22-year-old from Port Talbot has emerged as Wales’s first-choice fly-half against Japan in July, and then starting all four of the autumn internationals could follow Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan across the English border.
The Bulls could make changes to their coaching staff if they fail to put in an improved performance against the Sharks in Durban when they return to action in the United Rugby Championship this weekend.
Whispers coming out of South Africa are that they are under huge pressure to come away from their visit to Kings Park without a point, after winning only three of eight games since Johan Ackermann.
It is understood that a reshuffle of the staff is being mooted if the Pretoria outfit fails to win, having been URC Grand Finalists last season.
Saracens are growing increasingly confident that Nick Tompkins will follow club legend Jamie George and sign a contract extension to stay with the North London club next season.
The Men in Black who have signed Wales and Lions scrum-half Tomas Williams have been speaking to inside centre Tompkins, 30, who hails from Sidcup, Kent and has scored three tries in eight games this season.
They are also set for more talks with England and Lions star Elliot Daly, who has spoken to Sale Sharks but has not agreed to join them, and loose head Rhys Carre, who was left in limbo when a potential move to R360 fell through.
Newcastle Red Bulls are set to suffer a double blow in the transfer market with Trevor Davison staying at Northampton Saints, and it looks likely that Australian winger James Ramm will be following him.
The Red Bulls made a big push to re-sign England-capped tighthead Davison, 33, who made 93 appearances for them before moving to Franklins Gardens, but has agreed a two-year deal with the Saints.
Fissler Confidential broke the news last week that Ramm had also spoken to the Kingston Park-based club, but the indications are that he is edging towards staying in the East Midlands unless something dramatic happens.
La Rochelle are on the lookout for an outside centre and made enquiries about potentially signing the Bath and England star Max Ojomoh, who made his Test debut against the USA in the summer.
But their interest is understood to have cooled when they discovered that Ojomoh, 25, who can also play at inside centre, wing or fly-half, has another year to go on his contract.
Ojomoh, 25, the son of former England star Steve, who played in three of Bath’s Cup Final successes last season, has attracted plenty of interest from the Gallagher PREM in the past, but has stayed loyal to the Rec outfit.
Les Kiss’ right-hand man, Jonathan Fisher, is poised to follow his boss into the International arena next summer, according to reports in the Australian media.
According to the Roar, breakdown specialist Fisher, who moved with Kiss from London Irish to the Queensland Reds, is being lined up for a job with the Wallabies when Kiss takes over the national team reigns.
Fisher, 37, who had two spells with the Exiles and also played for Bedford Blues, Northampton Saints, Bristol, England Saxons and was a member of the England under-20 squad that reached the 2008 Junior World Cup Final.
Veteran Kiwi coach John Plumtree is a shock name being linked with the director of rugby job at Gloucester, according to some sources in South Africa.
Plumtree, 60, has travelled the world since launching his coaching career with Swansea in 1997 and left his job with the Sharks following their Champions Cup game with Toulouse two weeks ago.
He was due to leave the club at the end of the season, but it was brought forward, leaving him free to make a quick return to the game if the right offer comes along.
Championship leaders Ealing Trailfinders have once again raided United Rugby Championship giants Munster to take Mark Donnelly on a short-term loan.
The 24-year-old tighthead will take the well-trodden path from Munster to West London and will start against Cambridge on the replacements this weekend.
The former Ireland under-20 international has made 15 appearances for Munster but hasn’t played in the URC or the Champions Cup yet this season.
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