Fissler Extra: The Paddy Jackson rumour that may have legs

Paddy Jackson gave a rare interview when he was interviewed pitchside before Lyon’s Challenge Cup defeat to treble-chasing Bath in Cardiff on Friday evening.

The former Ireland fly-half missed the game as he continues to recover from a shoulder operation, sustained on only his second appearance of the season against Perpignan in October.

Jackson, 33, who has done almost no media in the last seven years, is under contract until 2026 but RugbyPass understands he has attracted Premiership interest this year from at least one club. He surprisingly received a neutral reception from the crowd.

Dan Lancaster has again been linked with a move to Glasgow Warriors when his contract with Top 14 outfit Racing 92 runs out at the end of the season.

Warriors assistant coach Pete Murchie attempted to shut down the rumours of a move to Scotstoun for Lancaster, who qualifies for Scotland through his Dumfries-born grandmother, when we broke the story in April.

Former Racing president Laurent Travers, who is taking over at Bayonne next season, has also been linked, but a Fissler Confidential snitch says the rumours resurfaced again over the weekend.

Kevin Sorrell’s departure from Saracens, when his contract ends at the conclusion of the season, is likely to mean that the retiring Alex Goode will join the coaching staff.

Sarries boss Mark McCall admitted last month that he wanted to keep Goode at the club in some capacity, and we believe he will hang up his boots and transition into a coaching role.

It’s not the only change to McCall’s staff, as it has already been announced that Phil Morrow will be joining England as head of team performance when Saracens’ Premiership campaign ends.

Leicester Tigers are close to securing a Premiership return for former Wasps, Bristol Bears and Worcester Warriors fly-half Billy Searle, who has been released by Pro D2 side Agen.

Searle scored 117 points in 22 games for Agen this season and is set to become the second fly-half to arrive at Welford Road this summer, following the return of Charlie Titcombe after two years with the Scarlets.

The Tigers are losing Handré Pollard, who is signing for the Bulls, and Jamie Shillcock is joining Brive. They have been keen on landing Searle, who had a release clause in his contract.

Western Province have offered former England Under-20 lock Alex Groves a one-year contract, and he will join them for the Currie Cup next month.

Groves, who has been playing for Caldy in the Championship, was offered the deal after impressing during a two-week trial but still needs to pass a medical for it to proceed.

The 24-year-old underwent seven hours of open-heart surgery in February 2024, and news of the offer comes two weeks after Cornal Hendricks died from a heart attack.

Former England winger Denny Solomona is taking his first steps into coaching after being named player-head coach of Orrell for next season.

Cross-code ace Solomona, 31, who broke records in Super League during his time with Castleford Tigers, will combine the dual role with running a plumbing and heating business.

He had largely disappeared from view in recent years and, at one point, turned out for level-five outfit Rossendale following a stint in his native New Zealand.

Soyaux-Angoulême No.8 Alex Masibaka, who was on the radar of Gregor Townsend and on the verge of a Scotland cap after being called up ahead of the 2025 Six Nations, is re-joining Montpellier.

Masibaka qualifies for Scotland through his Paisley-born mother and has made 41 appearances in two seasons for Soyaux-Angoulême after a previous stint with Montpellier.

The former Western Reds starlet returns to Montpellier on an enhanced contract to fill the vacancy left by Nicolas Martins’ departure for Colomiers.