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.
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.
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.
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
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments