Fissler Confidential: Wade to follow LRZ? Savea's monster-deal rumour

Christian Wade’s brief spell in Super League with Wigan Warriors looks to be coming to an end, with strong suggestions that he is looking for another Premiership Rugby club to play for in the forthcoming season.

Sources close to the Warriors have hinted that salary cap constraints will force him to return to Premiership Rugby, especially as he hasn’t featured for the last month following a defeat to Hull despite scoring two tries in two games.

Former Wasps, Racing 92 and Gloucester flyer Wade, who is the second-highest try-scorer in Premiership history with 93 – eight behind Chris Ashton – has predictably been linked with Newcastle Red Bulls, which we cannot verify.

Springbok hooker Marnus van der Merwe is being targeted for a return to South Africa from United Rugby Championship rivals the Scarlets when his contract with the region runs out next summer.

Nelspruit-born Van der Merwe, 28, scored two tries against Georgia on his international debut in July and has been named on the bench for the opening Rugby Championship match with Australia this weekend.

He has scored two tries in 23 games for the Scarlets, but the Sharks are believed to be exploring the transfer market to see who might be available if they need to replace Bongi Mbonambi, and Van der Merwe interests them.

Former Racing 92 loosehead Eddy Ben Arous, who has been without a club since his contract ended on July 1, could celebrate his 35th birthday this week with a move to arch-rivals Stade Français.

Ben Arous, who won 19 Test caps and made 259 appearances for Racing, had looked set for a move to Major League Rugby with the New Orleans Gold, but they have announced they aren’t competing next season.

His name had been circulated to Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs without any initial success, but Stade are on the lookout for a medical joker, and Ben Arous could be offered the chance to remain in the French capital for next season.

Ilona Maher, who counts nearly nine million followers on social media, is keeping her options open for her career following the Women’s Rugby World Cup, but admits the WWE has approached her.

Maher, 29, told BBC Sport that she is also considering the WWE as a route into acting, but isn’t closing the door on continuing her rugby career when her stint with the United States ends.

“We’ll see. The world is open, but I do see myself coming back to rugby. I’ve been approached before by the WWE. I should think about it, there is great money in it. I would love to get into the acting space and the scripted space.”

Saracens pulled off a transfer coup this week when they won the race to land highly rated Samoan prospect Totoa Auvaa from the Laulii Lions.

The 20-year-old lock, who also plays in the back row, has already captained Samoa A and U20, joining his national captain Theo McFarland in North London.

Auvaa, who is 6ft 6in and 125kg and has played representative-level basketball and volleyball, will start his Premiership Rugby career in the Saracens Senior Academy and is tipped to have a huge future in the game.

Kangaroos and Sydney Roosters enforcer Angus Crichton, who is out of contract in 2026, could switch codes, with his CV circulating among rugby union clubs.

It’s not the first time that Crichton, 29, who was a highly rated union schoolboy star, has been linked with a cross-code switch throughout his time with South Sydney and the Roosters, but it has never materialised.

Clubs in the URC, Top 14, and Premiership Rugby have been sent his details, as it seems unlikely he will join another NRL club if the Roosters decide to let him leave. However, he is free to open talks at the start of November.

All Blacks star Ardie Savea is already being touted for a move, even though he is under contract to Moana Pasifika and NZ Rugby until the end of 2027.

Savea, 31, is reported Down Under to be a leading target for R360, who are said to be willing to make him the highest-paid player in rugby history, surpassing the deals earned by Dan Carter and Matt Giteau while playing in Japan.

The Daily Telegraph in Sydney reports that they want to make him a marquee signing following the 2027 World Cup, which is being held in Australia.

Highly rated Saracens fly-half Louie Johnson has emerged as a potential target for rival Premiership Rugby clubs following the return to North London of club legend Owen Farrell from a stint in France with Racing 92.

Johnson moved to the former Premiership and European champions from Newcastle Falcons before Farrell’s departure to the Top 14 was announced and made six appearances for Sarries in all competitions last season.

He also had a stint in the Championship with Ampthill and has caught the eye of several clubs who will keep tabs on his progress and could add him to their wanted lists.

Japan U20 international lock Harry Willard is joining Japan Rugby League One outfit Kubota Spears after graduating from Durham University with a law degree.

The excellent X account RugbyJP has said that the former Yorkshire under-15 captain, who has an English father and Japanese mother, has arrived in Japan for pre-season training.

Willard, who was educated at the prestigious Harrogate Grammar School, can also play flanker, made three appearances at the 2023 Junior World Cup, stands at 6ft 3in and weighs 17st 5lb.

Worcester Warriors have announced that the East Stand at Sixways will now be named the Cecil Duckworth Stand, honouring the man whose vision brought professional rugby to Worcester.

Businessman Duckworth, who died in November 2020 at the age of 83, founded Worcester Bosch and pumped millions into the club between 1997 and 2015, when he stepped down as chairman to become club president.

“By naming this stand after Cecil, we can pay tribute to a man and a family whose influence is woven into the fabric of Worcester Warriors,” said executive chairman Christopher Holland.

Update: Corrected Racing 92 to R360 following a subbing error.