Ross Byrne's shock early exit from Gloucester nearing completion

Perpignan are closing in on a deal to sign former Ireland fly-half Ross Byrne and end his nightmare stay, with Gallagher Prem strugglers Gloucester last summer, only 12 months into a three-year deal.

Byrne is in advanced talks with the Blood and Golds, who want a new playmaker, with Benjamín Urdapilleta set to retire at the end of the season and Italian international Tommaso Allan joining Zebre Parma.

The former Ireland international, a member of Ireland’s 2023 Grand Slam-winning side, would reunite with his former Leinster team-mate Luke McGrath, who it has already been announced is joining the club in July.

Perpignan, who were linked with several players before signing McGrath, have gone through the same in their search for another fly-half after Wallaby international Tom Lynagh decided against a move and signed a contract extension with the ARU and the Queensland Reds.

They have also had extensive talks with Toulon’s Italian international, Paolo Garbisi, who has another year left on his contract but is surplus to requirements on the Côte d’Azur.

It appears that Garbisi has turned down the Catalans, who will face a play-off to retain their top-flight status next season, and is determined to see out his contract with Toulon.

Perpignan will be hoping that nothing goes wrong with their bid to sign Byrne, 31, a target for the Sharks, who had been keen to sign him and take him back to the United Rugby Championship, a title he won five times with Leinster.

Byrne has made 15 appearances for Gloucester, but it soon became obvious that he didn’t fit into their style of play and hasn’t featured in any squads since the PREM Rugby Cup win over Sale Sharks in February, despite being fit.

He has now fallen behind Charlie Atkinson in George Skivington’s pecking order following his successful switch from full-back, and a move to Perpignan would offer him the chance of reviving his career.