Fissler Confidential: Esterhuizen's return to SA, Exeter sweat on Slade
Andre Esterhuizen appears to be advancing towards a return to South Africa where the Sharks have emerged as favourites to beat the Stormers to his highly prized signature after a week of toing and froing.
Gallagher Premiership high-flyers Harlequins are holding out for a £500,000 transfer fee for the Rugby World Cup-winning centre, who still has another left to run on his contract at The Twickenham Stoop.
RugbyPass understands from southern hemisphere sources both sides have been locked in talks with Quins in an attempt to get them to reduce their asking price for Esterhuizen, but it’s the Sharks who are close to doing a deal.
Steve Diamond has started his rebuilding project at Premiership basement dwellers Newcastle Falcons by reuniting with former Worcester Warriors winger Alex Hearle to make him his first signing since taking over at Kingston Park.
Hearle moved to Kingsholm in October 2022 along with Sixways teammates Seb Atkinson and Finn Theobald-Thomas after the Warriors went out of business. He has played seven games for Gloucester this season, scoring one try.
The 25-year-old, who hails from Shrewsbury, scored nine tries in 37 appearances during his time with the Warriors and has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Falcons.
Magnus Bradbury is said to be unhappy with Bristol Bears’ offer of a new contract and could return to his former club Edinburgh at the end of the season.
Glasgow-born Bradbury, 28, moved to Ashton Gate in 2002 after making 117 appearances and scoring 15 tries for Edinburgh and has played No8, lock and blindside flanker since linking up with Pat Lam’s side.
The Scotland international, who has won 19 caps and scored three tries, was called into Scotland’s 2019 World Cup squad as injury cover for Jamie Ritchie. He has played 16 games and scored six tries at No8 for the Bears this season.
Sale Sharks will lose long-serving outside centre Sam James when his contract runs out at the end of the season. He is set to move to either the Pro D2 in France or to a United Rugby Championship side in Italy.
Manchester-born James, 29, who was educated at Wilmslow High School, is closing in on 240 appearances for the Sharks after playing 20 games for Alex Sanderson’s side this season.
James, who went on the England Saxons’ tour of South Africa eight years ago and was taken by Eddie Jones on his 2017 summer tour of Argentina, has also played for Sale at fly-half and on the wing.
Rob Baxter says that the former Premiership and European champions Exeter Chiefs are still waiting to hear if England star Henry Slade is staying at Sandy Park when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
Plymouth-born Slade, who is 31 next month, has had a meeting with Stade Francais about a potential switch to the Top 14 next summer but is reluctant to cross the English Channel while he is a member of Steve Borthwick’s England squad.
“That [Slade’s future] is still being debated as we speak. He will be one we let everyone know about as soon as we get everything figured out exactly what is happening there,” said Baxter.
Wales back row Taine Basham, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is at the centre of a tug-of-war between the Dragons and Premiership champions Saracens, who are keen for him to cross the Severn Bridge this summer.
The Dragons want to keep the Pontypool-born openside flanker, who has also operated at No8 and is closing in on 100 appearances for the region, but they are having to operate under a £4.5million salary cap next season.
Basham, 24, won his 17th cap for Wales against England last weekend and would be ineligible for Warren Gatland’s squad if he moves to Saracens because he is short of the required 25 caps.
Regan Grace has signed a three-month contract with Bath as he continues to rebuild his career after an achilles injury that has kept him on the sidelines since August 2022.
Former Super League star Grace, 27, who scored 88 tries in 143 appearances for St Helens, is still waiting to play his first union game after being released by Racing 92 without playing a game.
He has been training with Bath, who want to take a close look at him in friendly games when West Country rivals Gloucester visit The Rec on March 9 and then when Leinster visit a week later.
Cardiff, who on Friday announced they have signed Ben Donnell from Gloucester (as revealed in Fissler Confidential), have been in South Africa in the last week.
Boss Matt Sherratt, who is looking to step up his recruitment for next season, has already signed Bristol and Wales international Callum Sheedy but is now believed to be switching his search towards the centres.
Stormers midfielder Wandisile Simelane, 25, has been mentioned as a possible target, but he only arrived at the Cape Town Stadium a month ago, two years after being first linked with a move to the franchise.
Gloucester will continue their clear-out this summer after telling former Ireland U20s and England Saxons hooker George McGuigan that he is free to leave the club when his contract ends.
McGuigan, 30, who had two spells with Newcastle on either side of a stint with Leicester Tigers, was called up by ex-England boss Jones for a training camp in June 2022 but was never capped at senior level.
The Cherry and Whites, who have released Donnell, Micky Young and Louis Rees-Zammit in the last month, are also poised to lose Adam Hastings to Glasgow Warriors.
Comments on RugbyPass
Unfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to comments