A Premiership 'New Signing' XV ahead of 2018/19
The coming Premiership season looks set to be a competitive one, with almost all the teams in the division bringing in a wealth of talent who will hope to make an instant impact.
Connor Whittick has been looking at players joining the Premiership from abroad, and assessed what they will bring to their new clubs:
1 Zurab Zhvania (Wasps)
While he’s not the first Georgian prop to play in the Premiership, Zhvania was picked up from Stade Francais where he made a name for himself with dynamic carrying and solid scrum work (he is Georgian, after all). The scrum hasn’t always been Wasps’ strongest asset in recent times, and Zhvania should help rectify this.
2 Franco Marais (Gloucester)
Replacing the departing Richard Hibbard will not be an easy task, but Marais is respected in South Africa and represented their ‘A’ side against the French Barbarians last year.
3 Ruan Dreyer (Gloucester)
A favourite of Ruan Ackermann’s, the tighthead has the big task of replacing John Afoa, so eyes will be on the Kingsholm forward to assert himself at scrumtime.
4 Michael Fatialofa (Worcester)
Played nearly every minute of every match in Hurricanes’ 2016 Super Rugby season, but suffered from a leg infection that kept him out of the game for nearly a year. Will hope to regain his Super Rugby form.
Continue reading below…
5 Franco Mostert (Gloucester)
Easily capable of playing lock and flanker, Mostert is a hard-working South African international who is likely to have a huge role at Gloucester, where he will be reunited with former boss Johan Ackermann. A very big signing for Gloucester and one that reflects how ambitious they are for the coming season.
6 Connor Collett (Newcastle)
Known in New Zealand for his strong defensive game, which pundits have compared him to England World Cup winner Joe Worsley. English qualified and a similar signing to that of Gary Graham last year, who proved to be a huge addition to Newcastle’s back row.
7 Jaco Kriel (Gloucester)
Injury has kept Kriel from seeing too much game time this season, but when fit he is undoubtedly one of the most competent flankers in World Rugby. Equally strong in the loose and the tight, and with an immense engine, Kriel will hope to impress this season so that he will regain his place in the South African setup.
8 Brad Shields (Wasps)
A controversial England selection against South Africa, the Hurricanes captain has won many plaudits in New Zealand, and was a key member of Hurricanes’ Super Rugby winning side in 2016 alongside Fatialofa. Could play a big part in England’s World Cup, with Eddie Jones reportedly a big fan.
9 Nic Stirzaker (Bristol Bears)
Saracens fans may remember this English-qualified scrum half from a brief spell at the Allianz last season. Been an important member of the Rebels squad for the last six seasons, and will be battling with Harry Randall to be Bristol’s first choice nine.
10 Lima Sopoaga (Wasps)
One of the highest profile signings going into the new season, Wasps beat off competition from numerous French sides to secure the signing of Sopoaga, who has been one of the most consistent fly halves in Super Rugby for years. Wasps fans will expect a lot from the man replacing Danny Cipriani, but there are not many tens in World Rugby more up for the job.
11 Andrew Kellaway (Northampton Saints)
The Aussie back broke a record by scoring ten tries in the 2014 IRB Junior World Cup, and joins Northampton Saints alongside another Waratahs winger, Taqele Naiyaravoro. Equally confident on the wings or at fifteen, Kellaway’s age and ability mean he could have an extremely long and successful career at the Midlands side.
12 Rohan Janse Van Rensburg (Sale Sharks)
Like Stirzaker, RJVR had a spell in the Premiership last year where he impressed at Sale, earning himself a long-term contract for the seasons ahead. Two seasons ago the centre was regarded as one of the most talented players in World Rugby, with his immense physicality and pace his most significant assets, but his form has not been the same since a string of injuries. If he can regain his 2016 Super Rugby form he will have a huge role in a new-look Sale backline.
13 Francois Venter (Worcester Warriors)
Another South African international heading to the Premiership, Venter is a dependable and solid player who follows his former coach Rory Duncan to Sixways Stadium, where he will likely partner Ben Te’o in the centres.
14 Alex Cuthbert (Exeter Chiefs)
Cuthbert hasn’t exactly had the best of luck with his recent performances for Cardiff and Wales, but has copped an unfair amount of stick from rugby supporters and pundits. When firing the large winger can be unstoppable, and if any Prem coach is going to get the best out of him it is Rob Baxter. A very intriguing signing and one that could have huge dividends for the Devonians.
15 Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears)
Rumoured to be one of the highest paid players in World Rugby, this will be Piutau’s second spell in the Premiership, where he will reunite with his brother Siale. The former All Black was the former Pro 12’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2017, and is well known in rugby circles for his explosive turn of pace and footwork.
Which of these signings do you think will have the biggest impact in the Gallagher Premiership next season?
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments