Directors of rugby around the Gallagher Premiership continue to 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 jobs as well with clubs. Here are all rugby transfer rumours and gossip, confirmed moves, retirements and contract renewals....
Scrum-half on trial at Exeter Chiefs
Former Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Joe Snow is back at the club as a trialist looking to earn a spot in the Devon side's squad ahead of next season report The Rugby Paper.
Chiefs parted company with Jack Maunder at the end of last season but still have Stu Townsend, Sam Maunder and Will Becconsall to cover number nine, however director of rugby Rob Baxter appears open to adding to depth to his half-backs.
Snow, 24, has made eight appearances for the Chiefs but spent last season playing for Championship outfit Coventry.
Former Wasps prop joins Ealing
Ealing Trailfinders have confirmed the signing of powerful tighthead prop Biyi Alo following a stint at French Top 14 side Racing 92.
The frontrower left England following the collapse of Wasps and went on to represent Racing for the remainder of the past season. Before heading over the channel, Alo made over 45 appearances for Wasps.
Gloucester sign five London Irish players
Gloucester Rugby have utilised their insider knowledge of London Irish, having added attack coach James Lightfoot-Brown from the Exiles earlier this summer, to snap up five young London Irish players.
Following the Exilies going into administration earlier this month, Gloucester have signed scrum-half Caolan Englefield, lock/backrow Ben Donnell and winger Michael Dykes to their senior squad with exciting fly-half Rory Taylor and powerful tight-head prop, Afolabi Fasogban joining the club's academy squad.
Bath Rugby centre signs for Championship club
South African centre Jordan Venter has switched Bath Rugby for Championship side Bedford Blues after the youngster was released from the Premiership sides's academy earlier this month.
Venter only joined Bath from Edinburgh in December 2021 but found game time hard to come by, playing just four games in the Premiership Rugby Cup during the 2022/23 campaign after making his debut against Bristol Bears, with injury also curtailing the 21-year-old's opportunities. He finished the season on loan at National One side Taunton Titans.
Bristol Bears add to second-row resources with former London Irish lock
Bristol Bears have signed second-row Josh Caulfield with immediate effect, the club have confirmed
The 26-year-old former London Irish lock represented England at under-18 and under-20 level and has previous experience in the Premiership with both Exeter Chiefs and Wasps and has now put pen to paper at his hometown club. The versatile forward, who can operate in the engine room and as a blindside flanker, also made 105 appearances in the Championship for Cornish Pirates and will join up with the squad for pre-season.
Released Gloucester Rugby prop picked up by Championship club
Tighthead prop Bryan O’Connor will ply his trade for Championship club Bedford Blues next season after the Irishman was released by Gloucester Rugby at the end of the 2022/23 season.
O'Conor joined the Cherry and Whites senior academy in 2021 and went on to make 11 appearances for the club, including a Premiership and European debut.
Departing Bristol Bears star Henry Purdy exploring MLR move
Bristol Bears versatile back Henry Purdy is exploring the possibility of going on ‘an adventure somewhere’ in his next step in professional rugby.
Purdy, 29, said: “At the moment I haven’t got anything concrete. My agent is working in the background. Obviously with a few clubs going into liquidation and now Irish as well the player market is a bit flooded and with the salary cap going down as well, it is not an ideal player market.
“I hopefully have a few irons in the fire, potentially America with the MLR, potentially France.”
Bath Rugby star Jonathan Joseph linked with French move
Former England international centre Jonathan Joseph has been linked with a move to the French ProD2 despite still having another season left on his current contract with Bath Rugby.
Joseph was linked with a move to France to join Toulon in 2021 but the deal broke down late in the day, however now respected French newspaper Midi Olympique report he could head to Agen as part of big plans by former Biarritz Olympique president Jean-Baptiste Aldigé who is set to take control of Agen with a vision of bringing his own ‘Galacticos’ to the club.
Giant Argentina winger arrives at Saracens
Argentina international winger Lucio Cinti has signed for Saraccens ahead of next season after two years with London Irish.
The 23-year-old, who has 11 caps for his country can play in the centre or across the back three, and at 6ft 3” he he will bring significant size to North London.
He has 11 caps for his country, and is also a Sevens specialist which saw him win a Bronze Medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Bristol Bears star Sam Jeffries' new club confirmed
Bristol Bears flanker Sam Jeffries has been unveiled today as the latest signing of the Japanese Rugby League One club Suntory Sungoliath Tokyo.
Jeffries, 30, was on the verge of signing a contract extension with Bristol Bears but late in the day 'a life-changing' offer came in from overseas which he accepted. Jeffries left the club having made 61 first-team appearances over seven seasons at Ashton Gate.
London Irish hooker makes short move to Ealing
Trailfinders have confirmed the signing of Mike Willemse.
Willemse is a South African hooker who joins having played most recently in the Gallagher Premiership for London Irish where he made 15 appearances since signing in 2021.
In his first campaign with the Exiles he featured heavily, including playing in all six of their games during the Exile’s run to the 2022 Premiership Cup final.
England international centre arrives at Quins to replace leaving Joe Marchant
Harlequins confirm the signing of London Irish and England centre Will Joseph.
The 20-year-old, part of England’s World Cup training squad, has joined the Club following London Irish’s suspension from the Gallagher Premiership.
The London Irish Academy graduate, who joined the Exiles at the age of 13 and was capped for England U18, made his Premiership and European debut in 2020/21, before earning selection in the England U20 squad for the 2022 Six Nations.
Joseph achieved selection in several England camps throughout 2022, before making his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane. Following another impressive campaign for London Irish this season, Joseph was named in Steve Borthwick's England World Cup training squad.
Saints centre signs new contract
Centre Joel Matavesi has signed a new contract to remain at Northampton Saints the club have confirmed.
The 28-year-old has made seven appearances in Black, Green and Gold since initially arriving in Northampton on a short-term deal in 2022.
Originally a part of Exeter Chiefs’ Academy, alongside older brothers Josh and current Saints hooker Sam, Matavesi spent time at hometown club Cambourne, Welsh outfit Ospreys, and Cornish side Redruth before breaking into the Gallagher Premiership at Newcastle Falcons in 2017.
Matavesi was named a permanent part of Saints’ squad after a successful trial period ahead of the 2022/23 season, and now the centre is delighted to be extending his stay in Northampton.
