The biggest transfers in rugby union history
While football is embroiled in one of the biggest transfer sagas in its history concerning the future of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, this is an opportunity to look back at some of rugby’s biggest ever deals. While the game may not have had deals struck for hundreds of millions, that does not mean that there have not been some landmark moves in the 25-year professional history of rugby union.
Big moves abroad are more common now than they once were, shown most clearly after the 2019 Rugby World Cup where southern hemisphere players flocked to France, England and Japan, but there have always been marquee signings in all leagues.
So here are some of the biggest transfers in rugby union history:
Dan Carter – Crusaders to Perpignan
While Dan Carter’s move to Racing 92 in 2015 was huge in itself, and groundbreaking in terms of his salary, that was at the end of his All Blacks career. However, when Perpignan signed him in 2008 from the Crusaders, they were getting prime Carter in his pomp. A ruptured Achilles slashed through the fly-half’s six month stay in the south of France, but they still won the Top 14.
Jonah Lomu – Cardiff Blues
Any transfer involving arguably the most famous player to ever play rugby union is going to be huge, but Jonah Lomu’s move to the Cardiff Blues in 2005 signalled the return of an icon after a titanic battle with a kidney disorder, in which he had had a kidney transplant. His time in the Welsh capital was not as glittering as the rest of his career, but that does not diminish how huge the signing was in the first place.
Michael Lynagh – Benneton Treviso to Saracens
Saracens got the ball rolling in the professional era with the signing of Michael Lynagh and Philippe Sella in 1996, and Rugby World Cup winning captain Francois Pienaar followed a year later.
Sam Burgess – South Sydney Rabbitohs to Bath
Bath’s signing of Sam Burgess from the NRL’s South Sydney Rabbitohs fresh from a Grand Final triumph in 2014 shook both codes in Australia and England as a superstar of the game was crossing codes. His fallout and return to league was equally as notorious.
Jonny Wilkinson – Newcastle Falcons to Toulon
When the free-spending Toulon were starting to build their empire in the late 2000s, the signing of Jonny Wilkinson from Newcastle Falcons was one of the first signs that they meant serious business, and they went from strength to strength.
Christian Cullen – Hurricanes to Munster
Munster snapped up the All Blacks’ leading try scorer (since broken) Christian Cullen in 2003 from the Hurricanes when the fullback was only 27, taking advantage of his fall out with then head coach John Mitchell.
Zinzan Brooke – Blues to Harlequins
Another star name that moved to England during the early stages of professionalism, Zinzan Brooke joined Harlequins after his All Blacks career finished in 1997.
Beauden Barrett – Hurricanes to Blues
New Zealand rugby saw one of its biggest domestic switches ever in 2019, when Beauden Barrett decided not to move abroad, rather move from the Hurricanes to the Blues after the World Cup.
Julian Savea- Hurricanes to Toulon
A dip in form in 2017 and an exile from the All Blacks saw Julian Savea swiftly move abroad in 2018, with Toulon swooping for the winger. However, his relationship with owner Mourad Boudjellal was not always amicable.
Jason Robinson – Wigan Warriors to Sale Sharks
After a glittering career with Wigan Warriors in rugby league, Jason Robinson made the switch to Sale Sharks in 2000 and his collection of silverware only grew as the years passed. He had played briefly for Bath in 1996, but his signing by Sale would prove a permanent move to rugby union.
Sonny Bill Williams – Canterbury Bulldogs to Toulon
Every one of Sonny Bill Williams’ many transfers throughout his career have been monumental, but his shock exit from the NRL’s Canterbury Bulldogs sent shockwaves through the game of league. Although relatively unknown in rugby union, he joined Toulon in 2008 in what was the beginning of his journey in the fifteen man code.
George Gregan – Brumbies to Suntory Sungoliath
Though a move to Japan is now commonplace in the game, particularly for southern hemisphere players, George Gregan was one of the pioneers to make the move in 2008 when he joined Suntory Sungoliath, as was his longtime teammate Stephen Larkham, who joined the Ricoh Black Rams.
Danny Cipriani – Wasps to Melbourne Rebels
In 2010, after a chequered start to his career, the precocious 22-year-old Danny Cipriani signed for the Melbourne Rebels having left Wasps, and therefore made himself ineligible to play for England. This was one of the most high profile switches from northern the southern hemisphere the game has ever seen.
Johnny Sexton – Leinster to Racing 92
Ireland and Leinster fly-half Johnny Sexton signed a big-money deal to join the Top 14’s Racing 92 in 2013, which caught many in Ireland by surprise.
Charles Piutau – Ulster to Bristol Bears
After being crowned the Pro12 player of the year in 2017 while with Ulster, former All Black Charles Piutau signed for Championship outfit Bristol Bears for the 2018/19 season on a record-breaking salary. Since then, the Bears have added other star names such as Semi Radradra recently.
Lewis Moody – Leicester Tigers to Bath
Midway through the 2010 Six Nations, it was revealed that England captain Lewis Moody was ending his time with Leicester Tigers after 14 seasons and 217 appearances in order to join their long-standing rivals Bath, which does not get much bigger in English rugby.
Carlos Spencer – Blues to Northampton Saints
Few players have attracted as much attention in their careers as the pyrotechnical Carlos Spencer, so his move to the Northampton Saints in 2005 from the Blues obviously was well documented, and he didn’t disappoint at Franklin’s Gardens.
John Smit – Sharks to ASM Clermont Auvergne
Fresh from lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 2007, Springboks skipper John Smit made the move from the Sharks to ASM Clermont Auvergne, although it was a stay that did not last long.
Doug Howlett – Blues to Munster
After signing the All Blacks’ top try scorer in Cullen at the beginning of the decade, Munster added the man who broke his record in black, Doug Howlett, five years later. The winger won the Heineken Cup only months after joining, and would finish his career at Thomond Park.
Bryan Habana – Bulls to Stormers
Former World Rugby player of the year Bryan Habana relocated from the Bulls to the Stormers in 2010 having already won two Super Rugby titles in his career. This remains one of South Africa’s most famous domestic transfers.
George North – Ospreys to Northampton Saints
In April 2013, Northampton Saints announced the signing of George North from the Ospreys ahead of the 2013/14 season. This was not only a considerable signing for the Saints, but sparked a mass exodus of Welsh players.
Joey Carbery – Leinster to Munster
Though Joey Carbery is not necessarily a household name in world rugby, a move from Leinster to Munster is always significant, and his switch in 2018 was one of the most notable between the two provinces.
Manu Tuilagi – Leicester Tigers to Sale Sharks
Following a contract breakdown this year, England’s Manu Tuilagi brought an end to his eleven year Leicester Tigers career, switching allegiance to Sale Sharks, and the impact will be seen over the coming weeks.
Waisike Naholo – Highlanders to London Irish
When RugbyPass first broke the news that All Black winger Waisike Naholo was headed to London Irish, nobody quite believed it. In 2019 then Championship based club were Premiership bound and just at the beginning of notable spending spree. Naholo was maybe the biggest name to sign, a deal only rivalled by the capture of Sean O’Brien from Leinster a few weeks previously.
Honourable mentions:
Serge Betsen- Biarritz to Wasps
Louis Picamoles- Northampton Saints to Montpellier
George Ford- Leicester Tigers to Bath
Nick Evans- Blues to Harlequins
George Smith- Brumbies to Toulon
Matt Giteau- Brumbies to Toulon
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
23 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
28 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
5 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
28 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
4 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
28 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
22 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to comments