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Where are they headed? Seven of the Premiership's biggest unresolved transfer sagas
As the season moves on, the number of new signings around the Gallagher Premiership being announced is only going to increase.
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We have already seen a few big-name additions, with Exeter Chiefs wrapping up a deal for Stuart Hogg to join the club after the Rugby World Cup, Nathan Hughes heading to Bristol Bears and Northampton Saints managing to get the signature of versatile Hurricanes back Matt Proctor.
A number of players will be leaving the competition, too, with Christopher Tolofua’s move to Toulon and Santiago Cordero’s departure for Bordeaux among those already confirmed.
We’ve rounded up some of the biggest names to be coming off contract this season in the competition and assessed their likely destinations for the 2019/20 season.
Continue reading below…
Watch: The Rugby Pod discuss some of the big signings that could be made this season in the Premiership.
At the same time Wasps announced Hughes’ departure for Bristol, they also confirmed that South African full-back le Roux would be leaving the club, too. His exit has been rumoured for a while now, with the Springbok back in favour under Rassie Erasmus and potentially looking at moves away from England with the upcoming RWC.
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He has been linked with franchises back in South Africa, but the leading interest at the moment seems to be coming from Japan, despite uncertainty over the 2019/20 Top League season due to the presence of the RWC in the country. The Wasps man spent two seasons with the Canon Eagles, who are now being coached by Allister Coetzee, whilst Jake White, who leads Toyota Verblitz, is also believed to be in the mix.
Likely destination: Toyota Verblitz
One of the more up-in-the-air transfer sagas of the season, with Joseph coveted by Bristol, Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers and his own club Bath. Bath seem confident they can keep him, with the club having recently issued him a new contract offer, per SomersetLive, but the external interest in him is significant.
Saints have held talks with the centre, but their interest may be limited due to arrival of Proctor, as well as the impressive performances of the 19-year-old Fraser Dingwall, who has quickly risen to 65 on the RPI, already making him the 11th highest ranked outside centre in the Premiership. To bring them both in, unless Chris Boyd sees Proctor somewhere other than 13, seems extravagant. Leicester’s interest will hinge on the future of Manu Tuilagi and this could be another signing that Bristol are in the box-seat to complete.
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Likely destination: Bristol Bears or Bath
Manu Tuilagi, Leicester Tigers
Speaking of Tuilagi, the England centre is in the final year of his current deal at Tigers and the Leicester management now have a tricky decision to make over his future. A fit Tuilagi is worth every penny of the money they have paid him over the last few years, but his struggle to stay fit during that period would understandably make the club nervous about handing out another big deal his way.
If he leaves and stays fit, they will look like they have made an error, but equally, if he stays and continues to battle injury problems, they will look just as bad. Premiership interest is limited given the mix of salary expectations and injury issues, but there are multiple teams in France believed to be keen to take a flier on the 27-year-old. One of the more prominent whispers is that Toulon are particularly keen to bring Tuilagi in, with Mathieu Bastareaud likely to head off for a stint in Japan.
Likely destination: Leicester Tigers or Toulon
Waves were sent around the Premiership when Worcester pulled off the coup of signing Te’o from Leinster back in 2016, but unfortunately for the Warriors it has not turned out as successfully as they would have liked. His ability for Leinster and the reported £500k salary had Worcester fans excited about the potential of their team with Te’o at the heart of it, but injuries and international duties have limited the centre to just 28 appearances for the club to date.
The England international turns 32 later this month and realistically his prospects in the England side beyond the RWC look limited. Similar to Tuilagi, the wages and injury history have put off some Premiership clubs, but there is interest from both France and Japan for the former rugby league man’s services.
Likely destination: France
Elliot Daly, Wasps
Daly actually has another season of his current contract to serve with Wasps, but that has not stopped the speculation that he is off to Saracens this season. He is another high-profile member of the current exodus from Wasps that seems to be going on.
Given that multiple RugbyPass sources have confirmed it, as well as the scope with which it has been reported in other outlets, it suggests it is just a matter of when, not if, Daly makes the move south to Saracens and joins a back line already boasting Alex Goode, Liam Williams and Owen Farrell.
Likely destination: Saracens
Rhys Priestland, Bath
Bath have already confirmed that the 50-cap Welshman will be leaving at the end of the season, with the club keen to reshape their playing squad over the coming seasons. The fly-half has shown that he is still a very adept operator at the Premiership level, however, and is unlikely to be short of suitors.
RugbyPass understand that there is interest in the 31-year-old from England and France, whilst he could certainly still add something to the playing squads of the Welsh regions, should he want to return to his homeland for one final stint.
Likely destination: France
One of the more surprising transfer stories of this season is that former England U20 captain Clifford could leave Quins. Yet, that is looking increasing likely to happen, as the Twickenham-based club look set to clear out a number of relatively high earners on their roster, with Luke Wallace, Charlie Walker and Dave Ward among the others likely bound for new clubs.
Clifford has been in talks with Exeter and whilst there was some speculation that they would struggle to fit him in under the salary cap, there is growing talk that the interest is genuine and that the versatile back rower could become the latest flanker to try and revitalise their career at Sandy Park.
Likely destination: Exeter Chiefs
Watch: Rugby World Cup city guide: Oita
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks 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.
10 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.
24 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.
10 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.
17 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 comments