Fissler Confidential: No clarity on Ireland star's future, Kiwi PREM-bound

Leinster boss Leo Cullen is keen for Ireland and Lions winger James Lowe, who is out of contract at the end of the season, to sort out his future with the IRFU.

The New Zealand-born star, who has only scored one try for the province this season, is currently battling a groin injury and has been linked with a move to the Gallagher PREM, and Cullen admits that progress has been slow.

“I would love to say all business has been concluded, but this year has just been a little bit slower for whatever reason. I would prefer if they were just done, but there’s just a little bit of uncertainty there still,” he said.

Former England and Lions winger Jack Nowell is staying at La Rochelle next season despite being offered the chance of a move to Top 14 rival Stade Français this summer.

Nowell, 32, who won the Gallagher PREM and Champions Cup double while at Exeter Chiefs, linked up with Ronan O’Gara’s side on the Bay of Biscay three years ago and has scored 16 tries in 62 appearances.

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He is under contract to Les Maritimes until the end of next season and will be seeing out his deal despite having a meeting in the French capital, while it is thought Newcastle Red Bulls owners also have an eye on him.

Newcastle Red Bulls have already made 19 signings ahead of next season, and it is understood that they are still in the market for more, with an offer out for an unnamed New Zealand-based centre.

The Red Bulls have been very active in the New Zealand market, signing Hurricanes loosehead Pouri Rakete-Stones and winger Fehi Fineanganofo, Blues No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu and Kiwi back Max Hicks from Perpignan.

Meanwhile, it appears that they are poised to make several loan signings to see them through until the end of the season, with Hawick prop Nicky Little on the bench for this weekend’s trip to Northampton Saints.

Exeter Chiefs have moved to sign Leicester Tigers’ former England lock Harry Wells when his contract at Welford Road runs out at the end of the season.

Peterborough-born Wells, 32, who won his only England cap against Canada in July 2021, was a member of the Tigers side that beat the Chiefs in the PREM Rugby Cup final in the East Midlands last weekend.

A regular in the Tigers’ side this season, he has made over 220 appearances for them and is the second lock moving to Devon after Rob Baxter signed Harry Wilson from Gallagher PREM rivals Saracens.

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson says that he is closing in on signing a scrum-half to replace England international Raffi Quirke, who is heading to Newcastle Red Bulls next season.

The Sharks, who failed with a bid to sign England and Lions star Alex Mitchell earlier in the season, have been linked with several players, including Nathan Doak, before he opted to stay in Belfast, but could now have found their man.

“It’s a pivotal position that touches the ball the most, don’t they? Maybe outside of fly-half. But we are still in negotiations and are getting close to a good player,” Sanderson told RugbyPass earlier this week.

Clermont Auvergne have been busy plundering the Super Rugby Pacific, making former New Zealand under-20 international Etene Nanaï-Seturo their third signing from the tournament.

ASM have already secured AJ Lam, who can play on the wing or outside and inside centre, from the Blues, while Western Force lock Darcy Swain is also moving to the Top 14.

Nanaï-Seturo, 26, is another player who played for the All Blacks XV in the autumn, who is making his way back to Europe when his contract runs out at the end of the year.

Chiefs scrum-half Xavier Roe, who toured the United Kingdom with All Blacks XV in the autumn, is being tipped for a move to the Gallagher PREM next season.

It is understood that Saracens have had more than a passing interest in him previously, but they have already signed Tom James and Tomos Williams for next season.

Roe, 27, who plays for Waikato in the NPC, has played 51 times in the Super Rugby Pacific for the Chiefs, who have just signed up All Blacks scrum-half Cortez Ratima until the end of the 2028 season.

Pat Lam has said he won’t make a late move in the transfer market to replace injured locks Pedro Rubiolo and Joe Batley, and that he doesn’t want someone who will just hold a tackle bag in training.

Rubiolo is set to miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury, while Batley will spend at least another six weeks on the sidelines after an operation on a thumb injury, but Lam won’t be pressing the panic button.

“I’ve always said, you’re always looking, but you know, the number one thing, if you’re going to bring someone in, they’ve got to add value. We don’t need someone to come and hold a tackle bag, just in case,” he told RugbyPass.

Vannes and Brive are set to compete for Georgia lock Giorgi Javakhia, who is expected to become surplus to requirements at Toulon despite only signing in November.

Tbilisi-born Javakhia, 29, who has spent almost his entire career in the Pro D2 with Aurillac and Grenoble, was part of the Georgia team that suffered a shock defeat to Portugal in last weekend’s Rugby Europe Cup final.

He has made six appearances for Toulon, who are keen to get another lock before confirming his departure and allowing his two suitors to make their moves.

Ealing Trailfinders have been shopping in the Gallagher PREM to strengthen their squad for next season by making a move for Bristol Bears loosehead Sam Grahamslaw on a two-year contract.

Grahamslaw, who started his career with Leicester Tigers, has made 11 appearances for the Bears this season, starting the PREM Rugby Cup clashes with Gloucester when he scored a try and Bath.

The former Scotland under-20 international, who was born in Paris, counts Edinburgh and Jersey Reds among his former clubs, and joins James Dun (Harlequins) and Sam Wolstenholme (Exeter Chiefs) in leaving Ashton Gate this summer.