Fissler Confidential: Tommy Freeman becomes PREM's highest paid wing

England star Tommy Freeman has signed a new two-year deal with Northampton Saints, which is alleged to make him the best-paid winger in the Gallagher PREM.

Freeman, who also plays outside centre, scored in the Prem final win over Exeter and is a target for Great Britain, who are planning a crack at Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028, and is in the final year of his current deal.

Meanwhile, Saints have won the race to sign former Harlequins loosehead Jordan Els, who became a free agent when his contract at the Twickenham Stoop ran out at the end of last month.

Rebel competition R360 has begun sounding out agents around the globe, saying it is on track to launch in 2028, the year after the World Cup in Australia.

R360 announced last November it was putting off its launch until 2028 and has started to enquire about players who will be out of contract in June 2027, but it seems that contracts offered won’t be as lucrative as were originally being offered.

Sources have said they’re working from a new, smaller investment which they hope will see them through until they can attract larger investment, most likely after their first season.

Saracens recruitment guru Nick Kennedy is reported to be on a three-man shortlist drawn up by Top 14 outfit La Rochelle to become their new sporting director after Robert Mohr departed the club after 17 seasons.

Midi Olympique reported that former England lock Kennedy is battling for the job alongside Yann Kergourlay, the sporting director at Pro D2 outfit Colomiers, and Montpellier recruitment chief Damien Bruno.

Fissler Confidential sources believe, however, that it would take a lot for Kennedy to leave the North London club, where the former London Irish director of rugby has worked since November 2018.

Harlequins are in the market for an injury dispensation signing to replace skipper Alex Dombrandt, who could miss most of next season after damaging knee ligaments playing for England A at the end of last season.

No. 8 Dombrandt needed an operation to repair the damage to his anterior cruciate ligament that he suffered playing in the non-Test summer warm-up, and Quins are looking to see who is available to replace him.

They have already been looking at the freed Newcastle Red Bulls duo, Max Clark and Tim Cardall, but are set to dip into the transfer market once again to get cover for Dombrandt.

Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling faces losing a third member of his coaching staff in a matter of months, with Alex Davies being touted as a leading candidate to join Steve Tandy’s Wales coaching team.

The Tigers saw Peter Hewat and Brett Deacon leave the club at the end of last season, and now Davies could follow them out of the Welford Road exit door after the WRU advertised for a kicking coach, scrum coach and attacking skills coach.

Tandy is looking for a permanent kicking coach after Leigh Halfpenny became full-time at Cardiff, while Davies, who has worked with England Women, could hold off Wales legend James Hook for the job ahead of the Nations Championship this autumn.

Cricket legend Lord Botham, the finest all-rounder this country has produced, has hit out at questions he gets at games about why his grandson, Cardiff flanker James, plays for Wales.

Lord Botham used a new podcast with fellow knight of the realm Sir Bill Beaumont, Beefy & Beaumont ‘Old Boys New Balls!’, renewing a partnership that first started when they were captains on BBC TV’s A Question of Sport between 1988 and 1996, to discuss the subject.

“I looked at this guy and said, ‘Well first and foremost, he was born in Cardiff. That’s not a bad start’. I said he came down, he went through the academy. He only ever wanted to play for Wales. I wish people would understand that a bit more. I just don’t get it,” he said.

Scotland outside centre Huw Jones has launched a charm offensive after moving to Toulon and says he is stepping up his efforts to learn the language.

Jones told Midi Olympique that he already had a basic understanding from his schoolboy days but has been on an intensive course since arriving on the Côte d’Azur to start his new contract.

“It is essential to integrate and a mark of respect. For a few weeks now, I have already intensified classes with a teacher. Now we’re walking around town, and I’m talking to people. This is essential,” he said.

Cronulla Sharks boss Craig Fitzgibbon has revealed his successful strategy to lure former France star Frédéric Michalak to the NRL outfit for a second spell after catching wind he was out of contract with Racing 92.

Michalak worked with the Sharks four years ago and travelled to Australia earlier this month, and Fitzgibbon has told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph that he was relentless to get his man.

“I harassed Freddie a lot. I texted him several days in a row, I called him, I texted him again. In my head, he is the one I wanted. And I, when I have an intention, I do everything to make it come true,” he said.

Benetton Rugby have confirmed that Italy lock Riccardo Favretto, who was due to be under contract until 2028, has signed a new contract to keep him in Treviso until June 2030.

Favretto, 24, who also plays at blindside flanker and No. 8, has made 83 appearances since he moved to Wayne Pivac’s side from Mogliano Veneto Rugby six years ago.

He has also been capped 16 times by Italy, making five appearances in the Six Nations and starting the recent Nations Championship defeat at the hands of the Wallabies.