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No UK return for ex-England and Lions centre Jonathan Joseph

Jonathan Joseph of the Lions reacts during the match between the Hurricanes and the British & Irish Lions at Westpac Stadium on June 27, 2017 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Former England international Jonathan Joseph is close to extending his stay with the historical club French Biarritz Olympique, ending speculations about his future, remaining with the Pro D2 side until June 2026.

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Joseph will see a substantial salary increase with the contract renewal, as local rugby outlet Sud Ouest revealed.

Joseph’s senior pro career started with the London Irish setup, becoming a stalwart for the Middlesex club. He earned his first cap for England on a tour to South Africa in 2012, starting in the last two fixtures.

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The 20-min red card explained by referee Karl Dickson

Referee Karl Dickson explains the 20-min red card system that is in place during the Autumn Nations Series.

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The 20-min red card explained by referee Karl Dickson

Referee Karl Dickson explains the 20-min red card system that is in place during the Autumn Nations Series.

In 2013 the centre moved to Bath where he enjoyed a lengthy career, dotting down 32 tries in 162 games.

After ten years at The Rec, Joseph departed for France in 2023, joining Biarritz Olympique. In his first season abroad, the centre only played in 14 out of 30 games, scoring one try, but played an important role in keeping his new club from being relegated.

Although the current season didn’t start how Joseph intended (only four games of a possible ten), Biarritz Olympique has won six of their ten fixtures, a total reversal of how things went last season.

The 55-cap English international has featured in more than a couple of LNR Team of the Week, and his experience is vastly appreciated at the club, being one of the many reasons why the club made several contract adjustments to convince the centre to stay.

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Joseph is the latest player to recommit his future with the Basque club, as former Scotland number-eight Cornell du Preez has also extended his stay until 2026.

Biarritz has endured difficult times in the last couple of years, and it seems that the five-time Top 14 champions are back on course, with rumours of new signings coming from the Top 14.

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JW 6 hours ago
New report details source of Ardie Savea's All Blacks frustrations

Yeah it’s hard to be critical of Razor but of choices in his first year of the loosies he constantly played Ardie at 8. It would seem that was always the plan and that Hoskins was surplas to requirements (7, with Dalton then Cane, as was fairly happy with but understand the calls to drop Cane for his last test, along with TJ, and 6 was shared around nicely I thought) and he didn’t have the alround game of Ardie to simply overtake him at 8 (and use Ardie elsewhere). Of course he did that exact thing next year, too late for HS. Then last year 7 was fine if though the same problem was brought about by using Ardie (always leaves a component of a back three missing) there so often stopping Dalton from getting opportunities. At 6 Parker just had one or two too many games for me but 8 was shuffled around nicely, even if I don’t know why Lakai was thought to be the key there.

Of course a lot of rotation was brought about by, you guesed it, injury, still. Now to be fair to Razor, in reality we have no idea if he had to manage Ardie this way, based on NZRs desires with his contract (we have seen them move heaven and earth to retain him), and if he benched him often whether that would have caused him to leave or not. Or even that Hoskins would have accepted a jersey unless it was with a single digit on it, and a regular pick, as he had had to work his way back to the team without a big bump in his contract (of loosing AB selection early on) of other people his standing, so he also might have still put his family and therefor more over the jersey.



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