It is crunch time is recruitment talks around the northern hemisphere as directors of rugby up and down the land look to get their squads in place ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Here are all the latest transfer rumours, confirmed moves and contract renewals from around the Gallagher Premiership.
Third England international forward heading for the exit at Sandy Park
Exeter Chiefs are set to lose a third England international to French Top 14 side Montpellier in the summer following reports that first-choice tighthead prop Harry Williams has signed a deal across the Channel.
Montpellier have already confirmed deals for Exeter duo Sam Simmonds and Luke Cowan-Dickie, and their pack will be marshalled by current England forwards coach Richard Cockerill next season, with Englishmen Henry Thomas and Elliott Stooke also currently at the club.
Now, The Rugby Paper reports 19-cap England international prop Williams has signed a deal with the French club after months of rumours.
Leicester Tigers lining up world class shortlist of coaching replacements
Leicester Tigers have compiled a list of some of the top coaches in the world to be the long term replacement for Steve Borthwick who left Welford Road in December to become England head coach.
Tigers' Interim head coach Richard Wigglesworth and head of S&C Aled Walters will both depart in the summer to link up with the national side under Borthwick.
Reports South African boss Rassie Erasmus was on the shortlist at Leicester appear to be wide of the mark but other names linked to the position by multiple publications are Argentina coach Michael Cheika, Ulster’s Dan McFarland, and Wallabies assistant coach Dan McKellar.
Former Bristol Bears centre being chased by Lyon and Toulouse
Lyon are looking to break the bank to strengthen their squad next season and according to the latest reports the French Top 14 club are looking to reform Bristol's centre partnership of Semi Radradra and Antoine Frisch.
The signature of Fijian Radradra has already been confirmed but now The Rugby Paper report Lyon are chasing French qualified Frisch, 26, who only joined Munster on a three-year deal in the summer.
Both Toulouse and Lyon are reported to be willing to buy Frisch out of his contract with Munster.
Meanwhile Lyon have also been linked with a move to land Welsh star full-back Liam Williams.
Newcastle Falcons line up former Saracens lock
Former Wasps second row Tim Cardall is heading back to the Premiership next season according to The Rugby Paper at the conclusion of his contract with Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels.
Cardall, 26, is reported to be on the verge of agreeing a deal with Newcastle Falcons to be able to return to the UK having found himself jobless after the financial collapse of Wasps earlier this season.
Saracens snap up scrum-half Simpson
Former Worcester Warriors scrum-half Gareth Simpson has signed a two-year deal with Saracens following his commitments with Super Rugby Pacific side the Western Force this season.
Simpson, 25, had a brief spell on loan at Saracens in November following Worcester's collapse and will return in the summer.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: “Gareth made a brilliant impact during his first spell here and we are delighted that he is returning to us.
"He showed his quality both on and off the pitch and we believe he will have a great impact on the group.”
Semi Radradra's Bristol exit confirmed
French Top 14 side Lyon have officially confirmed the signing of Bristol Bears' star centre Semi Radradra.
Radradra, 30, is currently one of two marquee players at Bristol but has signed a two year deal with Lyon starting on July 1, 2023.
Former rugby league convert Radradra is familiar with French top flight rugby having previously played for RC Toulon then Union Bordeaux-Bègles before joining the Bears in the summer of 2020, immediately helping the club to win the European Challenge Cup.
Saracens prop to make United Rugby Championship switch
Former Wasps prop Robin 'Bomber' Hislop will join Edinburgh Rugby next season after completing the current campaign at Saracens.
Hislop, who has previously had a stint in Edinburgh will head back to his home country following the climax of the Gallagher Premiership season.
England international second row to join Toulon
Northampton Saints have confirmed David Ribbans will depart the club at the end of the 2022/23 season with the second row expected to join Toulon.
The 27-year-old lock has pulled on the Black, Green and Gold jersey 115 times to date, starting 98 matches for Northampton and scoring 17 tries so far.
Ribbans made the switch to Saints from South African outfit Western Province in January 2017, and helped Northampton reach the semi-finals of the Gallagher Premiership and win the Premiership Rugby Cup in former Director of Rugby Chris Boyd’s first season at the helm.
He kicked on in 2019/20 when he was named Players’ Player of the Season by his Saints peers, and made it a double success the following campaign, as he claimed both the Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Season gongs.
He reached a significant milestone while helping Saints reach the Premiership semi-finals once more in the 2021/22 season, making his 100th appearance for the Club against Wasps during which he won the man-of-the-match award.
And after several inclusions in England training squads, international honours finally followed for Ribbans last November, when he earned three caps for the Red Rose in the Autumn Internationals against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Bristol Bears sign Fijian international centre
Pat Lam believes new centre signing Kalaveti Ravouvou has an even higher ceiling to reach and his arrival at Bristol Bears in the summer will help the Fijian international centre achieve it.
Ravouvou will join the Bears from Fijian Drua ahead of 2023/24 campaign having been a breakout star in last seasons' Super Rugby Pacific campaign. The 24-year-old Fijian centre all made his international debut, featuring in the Pacific Nations Cup in the summer and during the Autumn International Series, scoring against Ireland in Dublin.
Scottish lock leaves Gloucester with immediate effect
Gloucester Rugby second row Andrew Davidson has left the Premiership club with immediate effect to join RFU Championship side Ealing Trailfinders.
Former Scotland U20s lock Davidson came through the ranks of Glasgow Warriors before signing with Gallagher Premiership side Newcastle Falcons in 2016. After an impressive string of performances, Davidson returned north of the border in 2019 with Glasgow, before signing with Edinburgh for two seasons.
In 2021, the 6ft 7in lock joined the Cherry and Whites and made 30 appearances for the club during the past 18 months.
Hot-stepping wing sensation commits to Falcons
Flying winger Adam Radwan has pledged his future to Newcastle Falcons, with the prolific try-scorer signing a new three-year deal.
Radwan has captivated Falcons fans with 46 tries in 86 appearances, including a number of electrifying solo scores and gravity-defying finishes.
Newcastle Falcons head coach Dave Walder said: "Adam is an incredible attacking threat who gets supporters out of their seat, and he’s pure box office when he gets the ball.
"He is continuing to work hard at all aspects of his game, and the passion he has for Newcastle Falcons is infectious.
"Our supporters absolutely love him, and you can understand why when you see some of the tries he has scored. He must be a defender’s nightmare, and it’s great news for the club that he has committed his long-term future to us."
Powerful Bristol centre wanted by Sharks
Bristol Bears centre Sam Bedlow is being chased by his former club the Sale Sharks, according to the latest reports.
Inside centre has been something of a trouble position for the Bears since former Tonga captain Siale Piutau left the club in the summer of 2021 for Japan, following his departure 27-year-old Bedlow has established himself as director of rugby Pat Lam’s regular first-choice option in the 12 jersey.
The Rugby Paper reports Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson is keen on bringing Bedlow, where his brother Joe currently plays, back to the AJ Bell Stadium ahead of the 2023/24 se
Joe Cokanasiga commits to Bath
Giant England international Joe Cokanasiga winger has committed his future to Bath Rugby by signing a contract extension at The Rec despite serious competition for his services from his former club London Irish.
The 25-year-old has been in fine form this season, scoring four tries in nine Gallagher Premiership matches to date, and joins internationals Tom Dunn, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill, Cameron Redpath and Ben Spencer in extending his time at The Rec, with midseason signings Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence also locked in beyond this campaign.
Argentina international inks new deal at Exiles
Lucio Cinti has signed a new contract with London Irish, the Premiership club have confirmed.
The 22-year-old back has committed his future to Declan Kidney’s team at the Hazelwood Centre this week to continue his time as an Exile.
Cinti, one of five capped Argentina internationals in the current senior squad at Irish, made west London his home midway through the 2021/22 season alongside compatriot Juan Martín González.
Earning 13 senior international caps so far, Cinti has shown his value to at Club level in the course of his two seasons with Irish, equally adept in midfield as well as across the outside back three positions.
He has since made 27 appearances for Irish and has also scored six tries, including a brace against Newcastle Falcons this term and a maiden score in the Heineken Champions Cup against Montpellier Hérault.
Backrower the latest to re-sign at Quins
Harlequins have confirmed Tom Lawday has signed a contract extension with the London club.
A versatile back row, who primarily plays at flanker, Lawday first arrived at Harlequins in 2019 ahead of the 19/20 season, joining from Gallagher Premiership rivals Exeter Chiefs; the team he would go on to help Harlequins defeat to lift the 2020/21 league title.
Representing Quins on 71 occasions to date, the Dorchester-born forward is a product of the BUCS and England Students system. Lawday is a former BUCS Player of the Season and claimed the most tries in the 2016/17 BUCS Super Rugby campaign with Exeter University.
Prior to his move into the senior side with Exeter, Lawday spent two years as a teenager playing rugby in New Zealand to hone the skills of his trade, going on to play Championship Rugby with the Cornish Pirates whilst on loan.
The 29-year-old made his Harlequins debut in September 2019 against Exeter and has gone on to score five tries to date.
