Fissler Confidential: PREM spenders to miss out on All Black wannabe

This week, Pat Lam celebrated the ninth anniversary of his arrival at Bristol Bears and dismissed all suggestions that his job is at risk, with two years left to run on his contract, as the club is set to miss out on a top-four finish.

When Fissler Confidential probed him in the build-up to Friday night’s visit to Ashton Gate if he was still the best man to lead the Bears, he snapped “Yes” but refused to explain why.

“I don’t need to explain, I’m here to talk about Bath. I have been around a long time, and my life and identity doesn’t revolve around what people say, so I enjoy my summer every year,” he said.

Newcastle Red Bulls look to be facing a losing battle to save their deal to sign Hurricanes winger Fehi Fineanganofo, who has enjoyed a stunning Super Rugby campaign that has seen him score 16 tries in 12 games.

There are whispers from New Zealand growing stronger every week that Fineanganofo, who has scored hat-tricks against the Highlanders, the Reds and the Brumbies, wants to preserve his World Cup dream and stay in New Zealand.

The Red Bulls are now looking to see who is available for a move to the North-East and could move for James Lowe if he doesn’t stay at Leinster when his contract runs out this summer.

Former England Under-20 international Junior Kpoku is close to agreeing a three-year deal to make his loan move to Toulon a permanent arrangement from the start of next season.

Kpoku, who has another year left on his Racing 92 contract, has been told he is surplus to requirements, and the Parisians will be financially compensated to release him from his contractual obligations.

He was close to a move to Sale Sharks earlier this year and has made 11 appearances for Toulon, including coming off the bench in a defeat to his parent club a fortnight ago, and talks are expected to be wrapped up before the end of the season.

Argentinian back-row Santiago Grondona looks set to make a return to his former club Pau after it was announced he will be leaving Bristol Bears when his contract runs out at the end of next month.

Grondona, 27, who has been capped 27 times by his country, has scored six tries in 31 appearances for the Bears after he was signed from Pau three years ago, and he is now set to make the return trip this summer.

He made eight appearances, scoring two tries, after signing a three-month deal with La Section in February 2023, but was released ahead of the arrival of Sam Whitelock following the Rugby World Cup.

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson is set to have a chat with cross-code star Regan Grace about returning to the club for pre-season after another Achilles tendon injury cut short his stay at the club earlier this year.
Sanderson told Fissler Confidential this week that Grace initially told him that he was finished with sport after a horrific run of injuries but that he hopes he will change his mind.

“I’m hoping that because he’s such a good player and such a good lad, he’d have another go here. If he wants to come back in pre-season, then we’ll have that discussion then,” said Sanderson.

Gloucester are still to find a scrum coach to replace England World Cup winner Trevor Woodman, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, and it would appear they are looking for a much-needed tighthead prop first.

Cherry and Whites boss George Skivington was sent back to the drawing board after first choice Scotland and Glasgow Warriors star Jamie Bhatti opted to join rivals Bath next season.

They are now waiting to see how much money they have left to spend after recruiting a player and will decide whether the coaching position will be full- or part-time.

Harvey Biljon, who led Jersey Reds to a Champ title and is rated as one of the best coaches outside of the Gallagher PREM, is staying with Rotherham Titans after turning down a move to Yorkshire rivals Doncaster.

Biljon, who moved to Rotherham in October 2023 as a part-time consultant director of rugby, was wanted by Doncaster director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan to join the coaching staff at Castle Park.

But Fissler Confidential sources have indicated that Biljon will be staying with the Titans, who have just been crowned National League One champions with 111 points ahead of Blackheath and Plymouth Albion in a thrilling title race.

The Ospreys are set to try to sign former Wallabies captain Liam Wright after failing with a move for Bordeaux-Begles blindside Lachlan Swinton, who has agreed to sign for Perpignan later this summer.

The Ospreys were keen on former Australian international Swinton, who has signed a two-year contract with the Blood and Golds, and now they will have a go at signing Wright.

Wright, 28, who can also play on the openside, has been without a club since leaving the Reds last year after a shoulder injury restricted him to just two games last season, but the Ospreys are ready to offer him a way back into the game.