Transfer deals continue to go through around the Gallagher Premiership as directors of rugby look to strengthen their squads and fill in any gaps in depth ahead of the 2023/24 season.
London Irish players continue to find jobs following the club's suspension from the Gallagher Premiership and there are plenty of other players on the move or looking for new clubs. Here are all rugby transfer rumours and gossip, confirmed moves, retirements and contract renewals....
Former Bath Rugby star back in English rugby after Japan stint
Camborne RFC, who play in National 2 - the fourth tier of English rugby, have signed former Fijian international back Josh Matavesi.
Cornish raised Matavesi started his rugby journey at Camborne RFC but has since gone on to run out for some of the biggest clubs in the northern hemisphere, playing for Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Ospreys, Newcastle, Bath Rugby and most recently the Toyota Shuttles in Japan
17 years after starting his rugby career at Camborne, 32-year-old Matavesi returns. Director of rugby Steve Larkins said: "To have Josh sign for Camborne RFC is a major coup for us as he will bring so much in terms of physicality and flair on the pitch but also a wealth of experience off it where he is an amazing role model for young aspiring players in our community."
Exeter Chiefs linked with move for Sale Sharks lock
Former Sale Sharks lock Matt Postlethwaite is on trial with Exeter Chiefs reports The Rugby Paper.
The 27-year-old second row has joined pre-season training at the Devon club hoping to earn a contract ahead of next season after leaving beaten Premiership finalists Sale in June having made just five appearances for the Northern club during the 2022/23 campaign.
Postlethwaite joined the Sharks Academy from the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy after playing his formative rugby at Ilkley Rugby Club.
Bath sign young London Irish prop
Johann van Graan has bolstered Bath Rugby's frontrow depth by signing former London Irish prop Mikey Summerfield ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The club have confirmed the 20-year-old prop has already arrived at Farleigh House to begin pre-season training having found himself looking for a new club at the start of the summer after London Irish went under.
Bath head of rugby van Graan said: “Mikey is a promising young talent and we are looking forward to see him in Blue, Black & White in the coming season.
"He brings power to our front row and he has the ability to play both sides of the scrum.”
Exeter Chiefs scrum-half to become a Rebel
Former Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Jack Maunder has signed for Super Rugby Pacific side the Melbourne Rebels according to reports Down Under.
Maunder, 26, was released by Gallagher Premiership side Exeter at the end of the 2022/23 season after 13 years at the Devon side having made 141 appearances for the club. Now Maunder, who earned a solitary England cap back in 2017 against Argentina in Santa Fe, has signed for Melbourne Rebels on a one-year deal report Australian publication The Roar.
London Irish prop makes United Rugby Championship switch
30-cap Italian international prop Danilo Fischetti has returned to United Rugby Championship side Zebre Parma following London Irish's collapse.
Fischetti, 25, only moved to Irish last summer having spent four seasons with Zebre.
Harlequins second row joins Biaaritz
Former Harlequins lock Charlie Matthews, who was released by the premiership club at the end of the season, has become the latest Premiership player to sign for French ProD2 side Biarritz.
The Quins academy graduate, who re-joined Harlequins in August following two years in Japan, appeared eight times for the club in 2022/23 to take his club tally to 172 matches. The 6ft 7’ forward also played for Wasps and represented England at Saxons and age-group level.
Ealing Trailfinders sign another London Irish hooker
Ealing Trailfinders have re-signed hooker Matt Cornish after he was left looking for work following the demise of London Irish.
The Trailfinders stalwart has returned home to the club where he played four seasons, racking up 88 appearances.
In 2020 Cornish made the move to the Premiership with the Exiles and made 47 appearances for them.
Scotland great Stuart Hogg retires
Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg has announced his retirement from rugby union with immediate effect.
Hogg had previously revealed plans to end his career after the World Cup in France later this year after announcing the end of his club career with Exeter Chiefs despite having a year left on his contract.
But the 31-year-old has decided to call time “knowing that I have given my body and heart to rugby”.
Hogg tweeted: “It is difficult where to start, but with great sadness and an enormous amount of pride I am announcing my immediate retirement from playing rugby.
“I fought with everything I had to make the Rugby World Cup, but this time my body has not been able to do the things I wanted and needed it to do.
“We knew this day would come eventually. I just never thought it would be this soon."
Montpellier snap up Newcastle Falcons prop
French Top 14 side Montpellier have confirmed the signing of Samoan international prop Logovi'i Mulipola until October 2023 as a World Cup joker.
Prop Mulipola has spent the last ten years playing in the Gallagher Premiership after signing for Leicester Tigers in 2011 before then joining Newcastle Falcons in 2020.
Montpellier director of rugby Philippe Saint-André : "We are happy to welcome Logovi'i to Montpellier Hérault Rugby. He is a prop of experience and is versatile, being able to play just as well on the right as on the left of the scrum.
Alun Wyn Jones joins Toulon
Former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has confirmed he is not hanging up his boots just yet but having been linked with a potential move to the Gallagher Premiership the 37-year-old has instead signed for European giants Toulon as a World Cup joker.
Test rugby's most-capped player announced his retirement from international rugby earlier this summer, ending any hopes of reaching a fifth World Cup with Wales in September having played 158 times for his country and a further 12 Tests for the British and Irish Lions.
Jones had also signaled his time at Welsh URC club Ospreys had come to an end having spent his entire career in. Swansea Across the Severn Bridge, Premiership sides Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby were reported to be interested in acquiring his services for the 2023/24 season with both sides looking slightly short of options in the engine room, especially the Cherry and Whites who this week have been linked with former second-row club captain Tom Savage.
Cowan-Dickie confirmed as a Shark
Star England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie says he is confident his new club Sale Sharks can go one better next season and claim the Premiership title after officially ending a 17-year association with Exeter Chiefs to sign for last season’s beaten finalists.
The 30-year-old, who played 165 times for the Chiefs and scored 41 tries after coming through the club’s academy, will join up with Alex Sanderson’s squad immediately after a neck/shoulder injury ruled him out of the upcoming World Cup. Discussing his move, Cowan-Dickie said: “I’ve been at the same club for 13 years and I felt it was time for a change. This is the perfect move for me and I can’t wait to get started."
