Fissler Confidential: Club set to swap Bok for Bok in key position

Grant Williams, who is heading to Japan when his contract with the Sharks ends this summer, could replace another Springboks scrum-half, Faf de Klerk, at Yokohama Canon Eagles.

Williams, 29, who has spent the last eight years with the Durban-based United Rugby Championship outfit, has told them that he will not be extending his contract when it ends in June.

He has been in Japan in the last fortnight, where it is believed he was putting the finishing touches on a move with the Canon Eagles, one of the clubs that were interested in signing him.

La Rochelle tighthead Joel Sclavi could be heading to the Gallagher Prem when his contract with the Top 14 outfit runs out at the end of the season after struggling to hold down a regular place in Ronan O’Gara’s side this season.

The Argentina international, 31, who has also played at loosehead, was born in Mar del Plata and weighs in at 21st 8lb, has spent most of his career across the Channel playing for Pau, Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente and La Rochelle.

A member of the La Rochelle squad that won the Champions Cup in 2022, he has held talks with several clubs, including Gloucester and Leicester Tigers, both keen to strengthen their front-row resources next season.

Western Force boss Simon Cron has confirmed that Northampton Saints winger James Ramm is heading to Perth when his contract with the former Gallagher Prem champions runs out at the end of the season.

Ramm had spoken to Newcastle Red Bulls and Exeter Chiefs about a move this summer and was close to staying at Franklin’s Gardens, but will be heading home, according to Cron, who told The West Australian:

“He’s an Australian boy through and through, wanting to come home, reached out through a number of the players in our squad, and it’s nice to have those guys reaching out and wanting to come back in.”

Former England and Lions prop Mako Vunipola is weighing up his future, with his contract with Pro D2 leaders Vannes running out later this year.

The loosehead, who celebrated his 35th birthday in January, won three European titles and four Premiership crowns with Saracens before heading to Vannes in July 2024 after 13 years in North London.

He has rolled back the years with 32 appearances in the Top 14 and the Challenge Cup and now, in the Pro D2, has set his sights on a career in coaching and could join the Tonga coaching set-up at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Newcastle Red Bulls are poised to make another swoop on Sale Sharks, with winger Obi Ene set to follow James Harper and Raffi Quirke to Kingston Park this summer.

The Leeds-born former England under-20 international, who was an Accounting and Finance student at Newcastle University Business School before joining the Sharks, has agreed a two-year deal with the Red Bulls.

Ene, who has scored seven tries in 13 games for the Sharks and attracted interest from Exeter Chiefs, France and Wigan Warriors, who wanted him to switch codes, will become the Red Bulls’ 18th new signing ahead of next season.

Zebra scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia is attracting interest from several Top 14 clubs who are interested in signing him when his contract runs out this summer.

Argentina international Garcia, 26, who has won 18 Test caps, has only played three times for the United Rugby Championship side this season but isn’t short of admirers among French scouts.

He should be able to take his pick from the likes of Bordeaux, Perpignan, Pau, Racing 92 and La Rochelle, who are all looking to recruit a scrum-half for next season.

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admits that he wants to get former England under-21 fly-half Ben Coen a loan in the Championship to further his development, but it’s been hard fitting it in around his studies at Exeter University.

Coen, 21, has made nine appearances for the Chiefs this season, with seven coming off the bench, and Baxter told RugbyPass that he ideally wants to find him a loan for the closing months of the season.

“We have tried to get a loan for periods of time, but it’s been difficult due to his studies, so anywhere where travel and staying away are involved is difficult, but he will either play for his Uni, or we will get him at a loan club,” he said.

Runaway Champ leaders Ealing Trailfinders are poised to pocket two huge six-figure release fees for highly rated prospects, former Scotland under-20 internationals back row Josh Taylor and outside centre Geordie Gwynn.

Taylor is at the centre of a transfer tussle between Northampton Saints, who have already bought South African loosehead Lefty Zigiriadis from them this season, and the Scottish Rugby Union.

Gwynn, who has scored five tries in 13 games for Ealing this season, is poised to move north of the border, while dynamic Saints back row Fyn Brown was seen in West London with Ealing recruitment chief Alex Shaw.

Injury-hit Harlequins have been shopping in rugby’s bargain basement to sign props Joe Jones and Alessandro Heaney on short-term contracts after Ethan Clarke and Jamie Miller sustained injuries in the Prem Rugby Cup.

Experienced Welsh tighthead Jones, 30, who has also played for Perpignan, Sale Sharks, the Scarlets and Coventry, joins from Champ side Doncaster Knights on a deal until the end of the season.

Quins, who have also recalled tighthead Luke Yendle from the Dragons, have signed loosehead Heaney, 23, from Cornish Pirates on a short deal before he returns to the United States in March to join Anthem Rugby Charlotte.

Saracens have announced that prop forwards Phil Brantingham and Vilikesa Nairau are staying at the club next season after extending their deals with the North London outfit.

Fissler Confidential reported in December that former Newcastle Falcons loosehead Brantingham, who was capped by England A against Ireland last year, had put pen to paper on a new deal with the club.

We understand that Sarries have been looking at the transfer market for tighthead props who are available for a move this summer as they look to further strengthen their front row.