Fissler Extra: All Black headed to Europe, Red Bulls coaching ticket takes shape

Treviso head coach Calum MacRae has been linked with a return to Newcastle Red Bulls to link up with Dan McFarland, who is widely expected to move to the North-East at the end of the season.

MacRae has worked with the United Rugby Championship side since June 2022, when he was appointed defence coach, before taking over as head coach from ex-Italy lock Marco Bortolami last summer.

Ex-Border Reivers and Edinburgh centre MacRae, who worked at the then Falcons from 2011 to 2014 after being appointed by Alan Tait, still has two and a half years to run on his deal but is attracting interest from the Red Bulls.

Veteran former All Black scrum-half Aaron Smith, who celebrated his 37th birthday in November, could be heading to France next season to join Top 14 high-flyers Pau.

Smith, who was a member of the All Blacks squad that won the 2015 Rugby World Cup, has been playing for Japan Rugby League One outfit Toyota Verblitz since leaving the Highlanders two years ago.

But Midi Olympique and Rugby Scope across the channel are both reporting that Pau, who are second in the Top 14 table, six points behind Toulouse, want Smith to replace Dan Robson, who has joined Gloucester.

Pumas tight-head Sampie Swiegers, who is out of contract in October, has held talks with Leicester Tigers about a shock move to the Gallagher PREM later in the year.

Swiegers, 27, was surprisingly invited by Rassie Erasmus to take part in a Springbok alignment camp in 2024, the first after they retained the Rugby World Cup in France, despite being relatively unknown.

The North-West University Eagles 2023 FNB Varsity Cup title captain is now waiting to hear whether the Tigers will press ahead with the deal and offer him a contract.

Spain fly-half Lucien Richardis, who was born in France and holds dual nationality, looks set to be sent on a season-long loan by Toulouse to gain much-needed first-team experience.

The 20-year-old, who played for Spain against Ireland A and England A, is very highly rated by Toulouse and Spain, who see him as their best back-line talent.

Richardis, who made his Top 14 debut against Perpignan in June, has made one first-team appearance this season in the 49-7 win over whipping boys Montauban in November.

Stade Francais are set to announce that former France fly-half Louis Carbonel will be staying at the club until 2029 after penning a two-year extension to his current contract.

Carbonel, 26, has only missed two Top 14 games this season, helping Stade into third place in the table, ten points behind leaders Toulouse.

L’Equipe have reported that the ex-Toulon and Montpellier star, who was already under contract until 2027, has agreed to stay at the club for another two years.

Former Wales outside centre Tyler Morgan is set to be released from his Biarritz Olympique contract to drop into France’s third tier to join Nissa Rugby, who are bidding for a return to the Pro D2.

Morgan, who has won five Test caps, played for the Dragons and Ospreys before moving to France four years ago, and was due to be under contract until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old is expected to link up with the Côte d’Azur outfit in two weeks, on February 4, and follows hot on the heels of the arrival of former Saracens star Joël Kpoku.

Agen are expected to have a clear-out at the end of the season, with one-cap England scrum-half Jack Maunder set to end his two-year stay at the Stade Armandie.

Maunder, 28, who helped Exeter Chiefs win a Champions Cup and Premiership double in 2020, had a spell with Melbourne Rebels before moving to France.

Former Newcastle Falcons lock Evan Olmstead is also likely to leave, with whispers that the Canadian international could be heading to the United States to play in the MLR next season.

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam is tipping lock Joe Owen to win full international honours after he committed his future to the club by signing a new contract.

Lam says that Owen, 24, who can also operate in the back row and was capped by England A this season, is more than capable of making the step up into Steve Borthwick’s senior squad.

“We firmly believe he has the potential to continue developing towards full international honours if he maintains this level of application,” said Lam.