Fissler Confidential: Major deal tabled for All Blacks star

Bayonne have offered a deal to All Blacks back-rower and Chiefs skipper Luke Jacobson to move to the Top 14 when his deal runs out late next year after the World Cup in Australia.

Jacobson, 29, who won his 30th All Blacks cap in the Nations Championship win over Ireland this summer, will miss the second phase of the competition with an elbow injury, has made over 100 appearances for the Chiefs and is now weighing up his options.

He watched Bayonne’s recent defeat to Lyon and is also known to be on the shopping list of Top 14 rivals Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92 after his details crossed their recruitment teams’ desks.

Sale Sharks are set to switch their focus to signing an English-qualified scrum-half after failing in a bid to lure Springbok international Embrose Papier back to the North West after he opted to extend his contract with the United Rugby Championship franchise.

The Sharks have been looking to bring in another scrum-half despite signing Xavier Roe from the Chiefs after they lost Raffi Quirke to Gallagher PREM rivals Newcastle Red Bulls when his contract ran out at the end of last season.

Papier, 29, who has eight Springbok caps, is currently on the sidelines with an ankle injury and has extended his contract by 12 months until June 2028, leaving the Sharks to see who is available for a move next summer.

Gloucester are likely to extend Arthur Clark’s contract to keep him out of the clutches of admiring clubs in France that have been taking a look at him following his impressive showing against Bordeaux in the Champions Cup.

The Oxford-born lock, who won an England cap against the USA Eagles in July 2025, scored a try in the 36-36 draw with the back-to-back European champions last month and extended his contract seven months earlier, just days after receiving his first international call-up from Steve Borthwick.

Clark’s father, Barry, represented the Cherry and Whites during the 1980s, and his performance against Les Girondins has seen a couple of clubs across the Channel sit up and take notice.

Toulouse, who are hunting a seventh Top 14 crown in nine years, are on the trail of Bristol Bears star Kalaveti Ravouvou, who has yet to play a game for the Gallagher PREM club this season because of injury.

The Fijian suffered a ligament injury while playing for Fiji against Canada at the Pacific Nations Cup in Japan in September, and Toulouse have been keeping close tabs on him for the last couple of years but could now step up their interest, according to Midi Olympique.

Ravouvou, 28, who can play on both wings and in either centre position, started his career with Namosi Rugby and then Fijian Drua before moving to the West Country three years ago.

Former Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba looks set to depart Exeter Chiefs when his contract runs out at the end of the season, and his name has been doing the rounds among South African United Rugby Championship clubs.

Dweba, 31, hasn’t made an appearance for the Chiefs this season after becoming Rob Baxter’s fifth-choice hooker behind Jack Yeandle, Max Norey, Julian Heaven and Louie Gulley and last played in last season’s PREM Final defeat against Northampton Saints at Twickenham.

The six-cap Springbok, who played for the Cheetahs and Stormers, could decide to try his luck in France again, where he had a stint at Bordeaux, in the hope of attracting interest from a Pro D2 club.

Wales back-rower Taine Basham is attracting interest from across the Severn Bridge after catching the eye of Gallagher PREM clubs, with his Cardiff contract running out at the end of the season.

The Western Mail has reported that Basham, who has been recalled to Steve Tandy’s squad, is a target for Saracens and Bristol Bears, while the Dragons are also interested in taking him back to Rodney Parade.

Meanwhile, Saracens are understood to be closing in on a new contract for inside centre Olly Hartley, who scored four tries in 18 appearances for the club last season but is sidelined with an arm injury suffered at Leicester Tigers in the opening game of the PREM season.

Bristol Bears lock Josh Caulfield, who has battled back from a long-term knee injury suffered while playing for Ealing Trailfinders, has told Fissler Confidential that he would like to end his career at the club he supported as a boy.

Caulfield, 29, who also plays in the back row, has made four appearances for the Bears this season and has played for Exeter Chiefs, Cornish Pirates, Wasps and London Irish. He is keen to stay with the Bears for as long as they want him.

“The vision is that I want to stay here and probably finish my career here, but obviously you never know what happens, but I’d like to stay here until the end,” he said.