Transfer news, rumours, speculation, insinuations, and outright transfer slanders - Season 2025/26

[Adam_P]

Fin Smith has been nailed down on a multi year contract at Saints - really excellent news! Got some other key men to similarly get pen to paper this season - its going to be interesting managing all the pay rises.

[Puja]

Fin Smith has been nailed down on a multi year contract at Saints - really excellent news! Got some other key men to similarly get pen to paper this season - its going to be interesting managing all the pay rises.

Was hoping there was truth to the rumour Tigers were going to poach him, but realistically it's the best decision for him to stay at the club where he's blossomed.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

According to Rapport, Thomas du Toit will rejoin the Sharks instead of taking up a lucrative contract with French giants Bordeaux when his current deal with English Premiership champions Bath comes to an end this season.

[FKAS]

According to Rapport, Thomas du Toit will rejoin the Sharks instead of taking up a lucrative contract with French giants Bordeaux when his current deal with English Premiership champions Bath comes to an end this season.

Bruce Craig can't convince him to stay longer in the West Country? He's a cracking prop so he'll have a lot of offers but maybe home is calling.

[Which Tyler]

"Family Reasons"
From what I'm hearing (dodgy reliability) he's already rejected big money at Bordeaux (like 3-4 times as much as he's on at Bath); and is weighing up staying put, versus returning home. We wouldn't be able to pay him market rate either (Russell has that Marquee spot tied up).
When you've got kids, distance to relatives often starts feeling way more important. I've no idea if there are any other familial reasons going on.


From a Bath perspective, we were always going to lose a big name this year (probably 2, maybe 3) - and almost certain to lose either TdT or Stuart at THP - no-one can afford to pay those 2 their value from the cap without massively skewing the squad balance. Both are worth far more now than when they last signed.

[Which Tyler]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... gvp25kx9eo

Bringing in Blackett strikes me as a very good move.

https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2025/ ... hing-role/


2+2=?

Gleeson joins coaching team at Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is delighted to announce the appointment of Martin Gleeson as the club’s new Backs and Attack Coach with immediate effect

[FKAS]

Mathias Moroni allegedly set to join Bristol as injury cover. 34 year old left Brive at the end of last season.

[jimKRFC]

Kylie Sinckler rumored to be coming back to England. Bath favourites to sign him as an academy player.

[FKAS]

Kylie Sinckler rumored to be coming back to England. Bath favourites to sign him as an academy player.

That's one way of replacing Thomas du Toit.

Loosehead probably more of an issue than tighthead for them next season.

[Which Tyler]

TBH, don't need to replace That on the tight head side, as you say, it's the lose head that could do with strengthening.

The "Bath are favourites" is just a Bristolian joke.

If Bath are looking for any big signings for next year, it's most likely to be at 8 or lock. We may well lose both Barbeary and Coetzee, whilst TWillis and CCS are (potentially) on the market, and Bath and JvG have made multiple attempts to get Snyman across before (and we've only 3 specialist locks).
On #8s it also looks like DDP is going to be leaving Sale; so there could be a lot of movement in this one position.

[FKAS]

George Ford signs a three year deal with Sale. Good news for both parties that. Borthwick will be happy he'll be in England for a while as well, great in camp mentor as well as a player.

Which, what makes you think both Barbeary and Coetzee could be off at the end of the season?

[Which Tyler]

Vibes and a bunch of 2+2s

Basically, looking at who is (or is thought to be) off-contract this summer, what the rest of the squad balance looks like, and who's rumoured to be available.

Up front, VanWyk, Dunn, Stuart and TdT are all off contract this summer.
TdT is known to be heading back home.
Stuart is a must-keep
Dunn will extend
FvW will probably extend, but shorter contracts.
We've better depth at THP than LHP, so I'd look for someone to challene Obano for the starting shirt, and trust Griffin & Sela to continue developing.

At lock, Roux is going for 1-year contracts, and I'd expect him to go for another; but that still leaves us with just 3 specialists - if Snyman is available and interested, I'm sure we'll make another move for him.

In the backrow, Barbeary, Hill, Underill & Staddon are all off-contract, Coeztee is thought to be on a 1+1.
Hil is a must-keep, Staddon is an academy graduate and likely to extend.
Underhill is great, but with age and injuries, will be a decision to be made on value-for-money (He'll want to stay in England until post-RWC though) - s expect a 1 or 1+1 contract to be worked out.
Barbeary is a great character, but is still more potential than fulfilled (he admits to lacking a work-ethic); Coetzee just doesn't convince against fresh legs - they work well together, but if a TWillis or CCS is actually on the market, then either would be an upgrade on having both AB and JC. Of course, if neither are actually available, then we may be better off sticking. Also, of course,if the rumour that Coetzee is 1+1 is wrong, and it's a full 2-year deal, then he's off the table for discussion anyway. At #8, we've also got Reid, Bayliss and Green who can step in - we don't NEED Barbs OR Coetzee, and having both feels OTT.


As I'm doing this anyway, here goes the rest...
The backs are much more stable, especially with Ben, Finn and Ollie having already extended.

Will Butt is the only centre we think might be out of contract (aside from CHarris) - we'll want to keep him, but he'll want more gametime; I think it's only a matter of time until either he or Redpath leaves us.

Sam Harris and TdG at FB are both out of contract - Sam should be brilliant, but has lost 2 vital seasons of development through injury - I could see him staying, or going. DeGlanville... should be a club legend, and could well win his battle with Carreras for the shirt - or be rotated enough to keep happy, he certainly deserves to be starting somewhere, and IMO in the conversation for England squads - his future probably depends on how this season pans out for him.

[Which Tyler]

Dian Bleuler signs for Gloucester with immediate effect, Saffer LHP

[fivepointer]

Glos struggling badly at lhp. Val R-R knees are an issue. Dont know how much rugby hes got left in him. Great pity. He was an international class prop when fit.

[jimKRFC]

Toby Fricker re-re-signs on a short term deal for his third stint at the club.

Tom Jordan gets a 4 week ban as well.

[twitchy]

[Mikey Brown]

Just the thumbnail for that article makes me scared for his knees.

I guess he’d be a good fit for Sale, but do they have some magical answer to keeping him fit that Leicester haven’t been managing?

[FKAS]

He's got a nerve issue in his shoulder at the minute, not currently a knee issue that's keeping him out. He does have to manage an ongoing knee issue though.

I'd be surprised if he left but not surprised his agent is having a chat with some interested parties. I'm sure Tigers will be trying to keep the cost down by pointing out his injury issues whilst the agent will be trying to big up the salary value by pointing out he's in high demand elsewhere.

Sale have lost some big units from their pack I'm recent times with Weise, JL du Preez, Hill, Le Roux Roets, Beaumont etc moving on. Rumours Dan du Preez will also be off. Not surprised they want some physicality to come in. A big lock and a number 8 are probably high on Sanderson's wishlist for next season.

[Captainhaircut]

I am right in thinking then that Martin, CCS, Willis and Kpoku are out of contract this summer then? Plus Sinckler and Davison in the front row?

Potential for Red Bulls to make quite a splash on a pack- they must have loads of salary cap room.

[FKAS]

I am right in thinking then that Martin, CCS, Willis and Kpoku are out of contract this summer then? Plus Sinckler and Davison in the front row?

Potential for Red Bulls to make quite a splash on a pack- they must have loads of salary cap room.

Good call, Red Bull could quickly acquire a very physical pack. Desperately need to upgrade at halfback though, particularly at 10. Ford and Fin are off the market already though.

[Puja]

He's got a nerve issue in his shoulder at the minute, not currently a knee issue that's keeping him out. He does have to manage an ongoing knee issue though.

I'd be surprised if he left but not surprised his agent is having a chat with some interested parties. I'm sure Tigers will be trying to keep the cost down by pointing out his injury issues whilst the agent will be trying to big up the salary value by pointing out he's in high demand elsewhere.

Sale have lost some big units from their pack I'm recent times with Weise, JL du Preez, Hill, Le Roux Roets, Beaumont etc moving on. Rumours Dan du Preez will also be off. Not surprised they want some physicality to come in. A big lock and a number 8 are probably high on Sanderson's wishlist for next season.

I'd be fuming if he left us, considering we will have been paying his wages for nearly three calendar years by the end of this injury, for the return of just 15 appearances for Leicester (most of which were about getting him game time so he could prove he was fit to earn 20 caps for England in that timespan). I'd like to hope that, as long as we're not being actively shitty to him and paying way under market value, he'll stick with us.

Hopefully it's as you say, agent trying to get the whip-hand in contract negotiations by leaking stories about interest from other clubs.

Puja

[FKAS]

He's got a nerve issue in his shoulder at the minute, not currently a knee issue that's keeping him out. He does have to manage an ongoing knee issue though.

I'd be surprised if he left but not surprised his agent is having a chat with some interested parties. I'm sure Tigers will be trying to keep the cost down by pointing out his injury issues whilst the agent will be trying to big up the salary value by pointing out he's in high demand elsewhere.

Sale have lost some big units from their pack I'm recent times with Weise, JL du Preez, Hill, Le Roux Roets, Beaumont etc moving on. Rumours Dan du Preez will also be off. Not surprised they want some physicality to come in. A big lock and a number 8 are probably high on Sanderson's wishlist for next season.

I'd be fuming if he left us, considering we will have been paying his wages for nearly three calendar years by the end of this injury, for the return of just 15 appearances for Leicester (most of which were about getting him game time so he could prove he was fit to earn 20 caps for England in that timespan). I'd like to hope that, as long as we're not being actively shitty to him and paying way under market value, he'll stick with us.

Hopefully it's as you say, agent trying to get the whip-hand in contract negotiations by leaking stories about interest from other clubs.

Puja

Wouldn't put it past Sanderson to be trying to stir things up a bit and create a bit of friction he can take advantage of.

[Which Tyler]

Potential for Red Bulls to make quite a splash on a pack- they must have loads of salary cap room.

Surely they've got the entirety of the salary cap spare - do they have any players contracted beyond this year?

[Puja]

Potential for Red Bulls to make quite a splash on a pack- they must have loads of salary cap room.

Surely they've got the entirety of the salary cap spare - do they have any players contracted beyond this year?

Tom Christie signed a two year deal, I believe. Not sure anyone else is.

Weird, weird situation. The players that are there on 1 year contracts are aware that they are caretakers and, while there'll be a few with ambitions of playing well enough to earn another contract, if this run of losses continues, then they're going to lose heart and start mentally checking out before the end of the season, especially since there isn't a coach for next year to impress and Dickens doesn't have the gravitas or experience to lay down the law. Could end up with some truly embarrassing performances at the tail end of the season, and what message is that sending out to new recruits - we've made a colossal cock-up of our first year, but come join us for year two where we're starting entirely from scratch and will have a pre-season where barely anyone knows anyone before we start. Who's going to be first to sign onto that?

Puja

[FKAS]

Problem for Newcastle currently is that this is their coaching line up;

Head Coach: Alan Dickens
Forwards Coach: Micky Ward
Skills Coach: Lee Dickson
Lineout Coach: Scott MacLeod

No one potentially coming in is looking at that and being impressed. Townsend as a consultant might help a bit. First and foremost if I were them I'd be looking to hire a good quality RL defence coach, give them an aggressive edge. There's also the option then to go after some RL guys if the RL defence coach is someone with a good reputation (Kev Sinfield would be ideal as would Steve MacNamara if his unspecified role at Warrington doesn't work, Paul Wellens might want a new start as well).

A high profile RL name might also help tempt in some RL talent. Someone like Dom Young who's had a rocky last year over there could be tempted back to the North of England. If his brother can be talked into joining him then that would be some serious size, speed and physicality to the backline.

Davison and Robbie Smith to be poached back from Saints and then throw some money at every big unit from the England squad or around the squad. CCS, Martin, Willis etc.

Finally Belleau, best backup 10 in the league and on a 1 year contract currently. Newcastle would be foolish not to drop a 2+1 year deal in front of him for next season. He'd be their best 10 in many years.

Obviously demoting Dickens back down and employing a more recognised head coach or DoR would help as well.