It might be the rugby 'off season' but with more than 100 Premiership players out of contract and directors of rugby still looking to fill holes in their squads there are plenty of deals being done around the league ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Here are all the latest transfer rumours, contract renewals and confirmed moves.
Cipriani waiting on late offer
Former England international fly-half Danny Cipriani's rumoured move to the MLR to link up with the Dallas Jackals is now in doubt according to the latest reports.
Cipriani left Bath this month after 14 months at the club and was widely reported to be heading State side in what would likely be the final playing move of his career, with one eye on coaching after he hangs up his boots.
But The Rugby Paper report this week that the deal with the Jackals, where he would meet up with former mentor Brian Ashton, is not over the line yet and he is waiting on an offer from Japan before commiting.
Pair of Pumas to leave Welford Road
Another member of Leicester Tigers' title-winning squad of 2021/22 has said goodbye to the club.
On the same day Matias Moroni was confirmed as a Newcastle Falcons player next season, fellow Argentinian Juan Pablo Socino announced his one-year stay at Mattioli Woods Welford Road was at an end.
The 34-year-old former Newcastle Falcons back joined Tigers last summer and made his debut off the bench in last October's 13-12 victory over another of his former clubs, Saracens.
Four-times capped Argentina international Socino would make nine more appearances, including a start at inside centre against in the Heineken Champions Cup away in Connacht. His last three appearances came in the Premiership Rugby Cup when he was surrounded by young emerging Tigers of the future.
Bristol Bears snap up 'best free agent on the market
Bristol Bears have confirmed the signing of versatile forward Morgan Eames from French Pro D2 side Béziers.
The English-qualified 27-year-old, who can operate in the second row and back row, has also represented Championship sides Nottingham and Doncaster Knights.
Standing at 6ft 7in and weighing in at 126kg, Eames scored two tries in 17 appearances for Béziers during the 2021/22 season.
Despite having spent the majority of his career playing in the second division of England and France, rugby analyst Sam Learner took to social media to share his excitement over the signing.
The Performance Analysis Podcast co-host and Rugby World contributor wrote: "Probably the player on that Free Agent list I was most excited to see play week in week out. This is a proper signing from Bristol. I also know there was some other interest from clubs as well."
London Irish secure Exeter Chiefs centre
Like many other clubs around the Gallagher Premiership, London Irish have turned to the BUCS Super Rugby league to recruit their next star of the future and hav snapped up Exeter University centre Tom Hitchcock.
Playing his part in the BUCS Super Rugby side’s second-place finish this season with four tries, Hitchcock will join Declan Kidney’s men ahead of the forthcoming pre-season schedule.
The combative midfielder opened the scoring in the 2021/22 BUCS Super Rugby National Championship final as the West Country outfit triumphed over Durham University for their first win in six years, finishing 14-13 at Sixways Stadium.
A stellar season for Hitchcock also saw him make his first appearance for Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup, as Rob Baxter’s men emerged 31-29 victors.
Hitchcock said: “I was fortunate enough to have a first taste of professional rugby this year with Exeter Chiefs and I feel that London Irish is the perfect place to continue my growth in the game.
“The club is in a really encouraging place and did really well last season, and I can only hope to play my part in doing the same next year.”
Exeter Chiefs targetting centre signing as a matter of urgency
Centre Ollie Devoto has undergone surgery on his troublesome hip that will rule him out for the start of the 2022/23 season, leaving a giant hole in the Exeter Chiefs squad.
Two cap England international Devoto, 28, was a big miss for Exeter during the previous season as the club finish seventh in the Gallagher Premiership.
Devoto has been a key starter in the Chiefs midfield in recent years as the club have been one of the dominant forces in northern hemisphere club rugby, but the inside centre played just seven Premiership games this season due to his hip problem with his last appearance coming on New Year’s day in the victory over Bristol Bears.
As such, Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter is on the search for an additional centre signing according to The Rugby Paper who report Devoto has undergone the same hip operation as former British and Irish Lions flanker Sean O’Brien and former world number one tennis player Andy Murray which allows surgeons to replace the hip joint without cutting through key muscles.
Tigers star makes Falcons switch
Gallagher Premiership winner Matias Moroni has signed for Newcastle Falcons, with the Argentina centre agreeing a two-year deal to move to Kingston Park.
A regular with newly-crowned Premiership champions Leicester Tigers, Moroni started at Twickenham during Saturday’s dramatic final victory over Saracens on Saturday.
Also playing in the Super Rugby final with Jaguares, Moroni has been capped 57 times by Argentina, scoring ten international tries, and is part of the Pumas squad which will host Scotland in a three-test series next month.
Bristol Bears pair head to Jersey
Bristol Bears have agreed to send homegrown duo James Dun and Charlie Powell to Championship side Jersey Reds on season-long loan deals, the club have confirmed:
Former England U20 forward Dun, now 22, who can play in the back row and second row, has made 13 appearances for the Bears, while utility back Powell, 22, has featured 17 times.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for James and Charlie to gain regular game time in a competitive environment and under the tutelage of a hugely experienced coach in Harvey Biljon.
“We’re happy to support this chance for them at a great club, and I’ll remain in regular dialogue with them throughout their time there.”
Harlequins prop makes Championship switch
Championship side Doncaster Knights have confirmed the signing of tighthead prop Mak Wilson ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Mak arrives from Premiership side Harlequins where he made 5 appearances for the established top-flight side since joining in July 2020.
Discussing Mak’s signing, head coach Steve Boden said: “We’re delighted to get Mak Wilson on board with us. He’s a young prop who has shown he’s got a good scrummaging ability for a player of such a young age.
“We’re looking to further develop Mak’s game around the field and see where he can take his rugby as an ambitious young player – all of this means he fits in to what we look for at Doncaster Knights.”
Connacht sign Bristol Bears' emotional leader
Bristol Bears' fan favourite Joe Joyce will leave Bristol Bears at the end of the 2022/23 season to join Irish United Rugby Championship province Connacht, the club have confirmed.
The Bristolian, who is widely and warmly often referred to as 'The King of Southmeade' - the area he is from in the city, will move on from the club after more than eleven years having made 151 appearances since graduating through the Academy.
Joyce, 28, has strong family ties in Ireland and previously played U20s international rugby for the country and has signed a three-year deal with Connacht. Bristol Live understand move has been announced a year early at the request of Joyce to avoid any speculation or rumours around his future building during the upcoming season.
Exiles add seven to highly successful academy
The London Irish have confirmed seven new signings to add to the club's Senior Academy roster ahead of the new 2022/23 season.
Oran Murphy, Afolabi Fasogbon, Jarleth Gleeson, Ollie Allan, Oliver Stirling, Connor Cross and Jake Shortland will be welcomed into the Senior Academy set-up this summer.
Murphy and Fasogbon are the Exiles’ two new front-row forwards, both of which are props, who have developed at Sunbury-based Bishop Wand School in recent years with the lattermost of whom joining Irish at under-15 level.
Murphy has been selected in the Ireland under-18 Schools squad as an Irish qualified player, whilst Fasogbon has been capped for England at under-18 level, making his first international involvement against Italy at Millfield School last August.
Gleeson, of City of London Freemans School, is the sole second-row forward addition who has additionally achieved international honours with Ireland’s under-18s squad.
Allan, a fellow under-18s international who made his England debut alongside teammate and fellow graduate Fasogbon last year, is Irish’s new scrum-half inclusion of Bishop Wand School.
Scotland under-18 international Stirling, a back-row forward, has advanced from the Harrow School in west London, whose alumni detail Henry Arundell.
London Irish also welcome two new exciting centres in Cross and Shortland, the former being the third of the group to be capped for England under-18s.
Cross joins from the nearby Hampton School and Shortland follows in the footsteps of previous inductee Mikey Summerfield from Hartpury College in Gloucester.
Eden heads to Italy
Released Bristol Bears fly-half Tiff Eden has been officially unveiled as a Zebre player.
The 27-year-old stand-off has signed a one-year deal with the option of a second at the Italian United Rugby Championship side.
Eden said: "I am very happy to move to Parma and to join the Zebre. The United Rugby Championship is a very high-level competition and I firmly believe that this year, as a club, we will be able to stand up for ourselves. Taking on a new experience, in a new team, in a new culture and in a new tournament will be a great personal challenge. I can not wait to start.”
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