30 player contracts expiring in 2021
The financial hit that many clubs have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant there have been widespread salary cuts across the game. In light of that, there have been mass contract renewals, largely in the Gallagher Premiership, where over 30 players in some cases have signed new deals at one club.
But there are still some players that have slipped through the net, and the 2020/21 season will be the final year of their contracts. Of course, there is still plenty of time for new deals to be struck, but there will inevitably be movements come the end.
This coming season is particularly interesting as the British and Irish Lions will tour South Africa at the end of it. That will be a huge incentive for players to stay in their native countries in order to remain in contention for Warren Gatland’s squad.
So these are some player contracts that are set to run out in 2021:
Alun Wyn Jones
The Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones is 34-years-old now (35 on Saturday) but has surely set his sights on his fourth Lions tour. He signed a deal with the Welsh Rugby Union and the Ospreys in July 2019 to run to June 2021.
Scott Williams
Wales and Ospreys centre Scott Williams signed his current deal in November 2017, but hasn’t played a Test since August 2019.
Jonathan Sexton
Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton, like Wales captain Jones, is another who is likely shaping his future around the Lions next year, where he will be 36.
Cian Healy
Ireland and Leinster’s loosehead Cian Healy signed a new deal with the Irish Rugby Football Union in May 2019 until 2021, where he will be 33.
Tadhg Furlong
Leinster tighthead Tadhg Furlong signed a bumper new deal with the IRFU in 2017, and it seems very unlikely that he would move elsewhere.
Iain Henderson
Ulster captain Iain Henderson is pivotal for club and country, but there is still not a lot of clarity regarding his future.
Ultan Dillane
A peripheral member of the Ireland squad, the 26-year-old Ultan Dillane will want to still push for more Test caps.
Hamish Watson
A hugely influential figure for Scotland and Edinburgh, fans will want to keep hold of flanker Hamish Watson.
Jamie Ritchie
Jamie Ritchie is another member of the Edinburgh back row whose contract is running out.
Leone Nakarawa
Fiji’s Leone Nakarawa is enjoying his second stint with Glasgow, having arrived in January 2020 from Racing 92, and signed a new one-year deal in June.
Huw Jones
Scotland centre Huw Jones signed a new deal with Glasgow in December 2018, rejecting offers from the Gallagher Premiership.
Manu Tuilagi
England’s Manu Tuilagi may have only just arrived at Sale Sharks from Leicester Tigers, but it was only a one-year deal.
Anthony Watson
Bath will surely do everything to prevent losing England and Lions back Anthony Watson as he nears the end of a two-year contract.
Zach Mercer
Two-cap England international Zach Mercer is entering his final season at Bath, who will want to keep hold of the 23-year-old.
Danny Care
Former England scrum-half Danny Care will be 34 when his contract with Harlequins expires. As his career winds down, he will be assessing his options.
Duncan Taylor
Scotland centre Duncan Taylor signed a contract extension in 2018 with Saracens, and is set to spend this coming season in the Championship.
Beno Obano
Bath’s Beno Obama signed a three-year deal in May 2018, and there will be plenty of interest in the loosehead across England.
CJ Stander
Having signed a new deal in December 2017, Munster’s CJ Stander is entering the final year of his contract at Thomond Park.
Peter O’Mahony
Munster and Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony will be 31 on Thursday, and while he still could make the World Cup in 2023, the Lions will also be at the forefront of his mind.
Rhys Priestland
Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland signed a new two-year deal April 2019, and with only 50 caps, he is no longer in contention for Wales.
Things you don't want to run into:
Rhys Priestland and Sam Underhill ? pic.twitter.com/01x36zcMTA
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 6, 2019
Matt Banahan
Former England winger Matt Banahan made the switch from Bath to Gloucester in 2018, signing a three-year contract.
Virimi Vakatawa
France centre Virimi Vakatawa’s future is up in the air, and he has already attracted interest from Premiership clubs.
Sergio Parisse
The Italy legend Sergio Parisse signed a one-year contract extension with Toulon in June after an impressive first season, which may see him to the end of his career.
Simon Zebo
Although Simon Zebo enters his final year with Racing 92, he has hinted during his time in Paris of a potential return to Munster.
Jerome Kaino
The dual World Cup winner Jerome Kaino has a year left on his deal with Toulouse, by which time he will be 38.
Viliame Mata
Like Edinburgh back row teammates Watson and Ritchie, No8 Vilame Mata also has a year left of his time at Murrayfield.
Adam Hastings
The incumbent Scotland and Glasgow Warriors fly-half Adam Hastings signed a deal in December 2018, but that is drawing to a close.
Pieter-Steph du Toit
World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit signed a new deal with Western Province in May that will keep him in South Africa at least until the Lions tour.
Keith Earls
Having signed a new deal in October 2018, Munster and Ireland winger Keith Earls will be 33 when his contract expires next year, and may be eyeing up lucrative deals towards the end of his career.
Jack Carty
With so much uncertainty regarding some of Ireland’s players, Jack Carty is yet to sign a new deal with Connacht, and could fill a space elsewhere.
Gregor Townsend
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend extended his contract in 2018 to 2021, but it could well be extended again to the World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments