Fissler Confidential: The unlikely rumour affecting URC and Prem finalists

Johan van Graan has been linked with a return to the Bulls, but there is very little chance of it happening, according to Fissler Confidential sources in South Africa.

Pretoria-born Van Graan, 45, began working with the Bulls when he was 16 before stints on the Springboks coaching staff and then Munster, before arriving in Bath three years ago. A return to his hometown side is considered very problematic.

Chiefly, Van Graan – among the leading candidates to eventually replace Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus – is under contract at Bath until 2030, and buying him out of it would be too costly. Jake White is also under contract until 2027.

Racing 92 have slapped a €500,000 (£425,000) price tag on the head of England under-20 lock Junior Kpoku to try and put off clubs wanting to bring him back to the Premiership.

Sale Sharks have been sniffing around the youngest of three rugby-playing brothers, and there was even talk of an enhanced RFU deal for Kpoku, 19, who has played 19 times for Racing 92.

However, the Parisians appear to be in no mood to do business, hence the hefty fee placed on the head of a player contracted until 2027, who qualifies for Les Bleus on residency grounds next year.

Aurillac are in advanced talks with former Connacht winger Ben O’Donnell about a two-year deal to get his career back on track after struggling to get a game since moving to the ACT Brumbies.

The former Australian Sevens star made seven appearances for Connacht, ten for Hawke’s Bay in the NPC—scoring four tries—and nine for the Brumbies, with five tries.

Aurillac, who finished 15th in the Pro D2 table this season, with only Nice below them, are keen to bolster their firepower and believe that taking O’Donnell to the Stade Jean Alric will help them do just that.

Ealing Trailfinders are the latest club to speak to Bath fly-half Orlando Bailey as they step up their attempts to sign a top-class playmaker for next season.

Dorchester-born Bailey, 23, who was called up into Eddie Jones’s 2022 Six Nations squad only to suffer a hamstring injury, was linked with a move to Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers before they signed Billy Searle.

But a deal for Bailey, who has played 101 times for Bath, isn’t by any means certain, as they would have to meet his wage demands—which could be beyond even the deepest pockets in the Championship.

Langi Gleeson, who is moving to Montpellier next season, rejected the chance to play in the Premiership before putting pen to paper with the former Top 14 champions.

The Wallaby No.8, who has scored seven tries for the Waratahs this season, opted for a two-year deal with Montpellier as a replacement for Sam Simmonds, who is heading to Lyon.

Ironically, Simmonds’s former club, Exeter Chiefs, and Champions Cup finalists Northampton Saints were the two unlucky sides to miss out on signing the 23-year-old when he decided to pin his colours to Montpellier’s mast.

Agen have opted to replace Leicester Tigers-bound Billy Searle with another English playmaker, Craig Willis, who helped guide Ealing Trailfinders to another Championship title.

Former Newcastle Falcons star Willis, 30, who can also play at inside centre or fullback, has scored 426 points in 57 appearances for Ealing but will now continue his career in the French second division.

He has agreed to a two-year deal with Agen, who endured a difficult season—losing 18 of their 30 games and finishing 14th in the 16-team Pro D2 table.

Mayco Vivas, one of 19 players to leave Gloucester at the end of last season, has joined Pro D2 outfit Oyonnax on a two-year deal until 2027.
Vivas, 27, who was a member of the first Argentina team to beat the All Blacks on New Zealand soil, made ten appearances for the Cherry and Whites last season but hasn’t played since the end of January.

He started his career with 23 appearances for the Jaguares and played 30 times for the West Country outfit. His last Pumas appearance came in the win over Australia at the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López in September.

Doncaster Knights have been shopping in the French third tier for a familiar face as they plan another assault on the Championship title next season.

The Knights have done a deal that will see Bourg-en-Bresse outside centre Joe Margetts, 28, return to the club where he spent three seasons before moving to France last summer.

Margetts, who started his career with Hartpury in the BUCS Super Rugby league, scored three tries in 19 appearances for Bourg-en-Bresse but has jumped at the chance of rejoining the Knights.

Worcester Warriors have emerged as surprise favourites to land Northampton Saints winger Tom Seabrook, whose departure from Franklin’s Gardens has already been confirmed.

Seabrook, who also plays at inside and outside centre, had been heavily linked with a move across the East Midlands to join Premiership finalists Leicester Tigers but now looks set for Sixways.

The former England under-20 international started his career with Gloucester before moving to Franklin’s Gardens two years ago.