Fissler Confidential: Bundee Aki to leave Irish rugby behind?

Ireland and Lions inside centre Bundee Aki, who is out of contract with Connacht at the end of the season, is weighing up a move to the Gallagher PREM to continue his career next season.

Aki, 35, has missed Ireland’s first three games in the Six Nations after being banned for “verbal abuse and disrespect” towards match officials in a United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster in January.

He has made 158 appearances for Connacht but is weighing up his options, with Newcastle Red Bulls desperate for a marquee signing, while Leicester Tigers and Saracens are both on the lookout for an inside centre.

Leicester Tigers are poised to win the battle to land La Rochelle tighthead Joel Sclavi when his contract with the Top 14 outfit runs out at the end of the season.

The Argentine international Sclavi, 31, who has spent most of his career in France with Pau, Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente and now La Rochelle, has struggled to hold down a regular place in Ronan O’Gara’s side this season.

The Tigers are in advanced discussions to beat off a bid from Gloucester to land Sclavi, who was a member of the La Rochelle squad that won the Champions Cup in 2022.

Ospreys fly-half Jack Walsh could be on the move to Japan Rugby League One next season, despite qualifying for Wales on residency grounds shortly before the World Cup next year.

Ex-Australia Under-18s and Sevens ace Walsh moved to the Ospreys in 2022 after spending two seasons with Exeter Chiefs, who had a look at him before Christmas, but an offer failed to materialise.

Fissler Confidential sources have now indicated that Walsh, who hails from Jacksonville, Florida and came through the NSW Waratahs system, has been speaking to clubs in Japan about a move there next season.

Pro D2 leaders Vannes are poised to tell former England and Lions loosehead Mako Vunipola that they will not be offering him a contract when his current deal runs out at the end of the season.

Vunipola, who is tipped to move into coaching when he hangs up his boots, has spent the last two seasons playing in Brittany after a highly successful career with Saracens and is now weighing up his options.

Reports from France suggest that it’s widely anticipated he will retire but could look for one more season either across the Channel or by returning to the Gallagher PREM.

Fred Tuilagi could return to the Gallagher PREM next season after several eye-catching performances for Bedford Blues in the Champ Rugby this season.

The 28-year-old No.8, who is the son of Freddie and nephew of Manu, has scored three tries in 17 games for the Blues this season, and scouts from PREM clubs have been paying close attention.

Tuilagi is attracting interest from his former club, Leicester Tigers, where he played seven times in the Anglo-Welsh and Prem Cups, as well as from Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints.

Northampton Saints are close to winning their tug-of-war with the Scottish Rugby Union to sign highly rated former Scotland under-20 international back row Josh Taylor from Champ leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

Saints, who have already bought South African loosehead Lefty Zigiriadis from the West London side, are set to hand over another six-figure cheque after winning their tussle for Taylor.

Taylor, 23, who stands at 6ft 5in, can play anywhere in the back row, has even played at lock and has scored five tries in 14 appearances for the runaway Champ leaders so far this season.

Warren Gatland, who was in Wales last weekend for the defeat to Scotland, was then in the stands for Portugal’s Rugby Europe Championship win over Romania on Sunday evening.

RugbyPass reported last week that Gatland was a shock name to become Harlequins boss next season, but the move fell through when they failed to agree on terms.

He was then invited to watch Portugal’s 44-7 win at the Estadio Nacional Jamor and has made no secret of his desire to have another crack at coaching if the right offer comes along.

Alan Dickens is determined to put himself in the shop window as he looks for his next job after being told his Newcastle Red Bulls contract isn’t being renewed.

Dickens has been in charge at Kingston Park since Steve Diamond left earlier in the season and says that he would have liked to have stayed at the club, but knew what was coming and is auditioning for his next job.

“I want to stay in the game. Hopefully, I will find something before the end of the season. Otherwise, I will have to look at other options. I’ll stay true to myself and not throw my dummy out of the pram,” he told RugbyPass.

Champ Rugby is set for a cash injection and will end its long search for a headline sponsor within the next few weeks, according to Nottingham chairman Alistair Bow.

The success of a streaming deal with Clubber TV, who are showing all matches this season, appears to have helped them find a backer that has been missing since Greene King ended their agreement five years ago.

“In the next few weeks, we should be able to confirm who the new league sponsor will be for next season,” he wrote in his programme notes recently.