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The Six Nations may be just around the corner but that’s not stopping brand new rugby transfer rumours from springing up all the time! Here are 6 of the best from the past couple of weeks…
Reports are emerging in South Africa that Dragons fly-half Tinus de Beer is in talks to return home and play for URC team the Bulls as a back-up to Handre Pollard. De Beer is in his 3rd season playing in Wales and has proved a hit since arriving. Cardiff actually had to fight hard with the WRU to bring him to Wales in the first place and he was invaluable to them in his first season, starting all but 1 game. Many in the capital believe it was a mistake to let him go to the Dragons this season and he has made their starting jersey his own since heading up the M4 to Newport. If he were to leave, it would be a big blow for the region.
De Beer has played for the Bulls before, in the Super Rugby era. However, he hyper-competitive environment in Pretoria meant he had to be satisfied with playing most of his rugby for Pumas and Griquas fin the Currie Cup. Naturally, if he were to return there, he would be second choice behind Springbok legend Handre Pollard. However, with Pollard likely to miss several games per season due to international call-ups and squad rotation on URC away games, de Beer would probably see significant game-time. The Bulls currently have somewhat of a vacuum behind Pollard, having moved fullback Willie Le Roux there on multiple occasions, so a move for De Beer would probably suit all parties.
Rating: 5/10 – still just rumours but makes a lot of sense.
Reports in France indicate current Leinster tight-head Rabah Slimani is to leave Dublin and play for Toulon in the TOP 14. The 36 year old, 59 times capped prop has played 29 games in just 1 and a half seasons for Leinster so far and was part of a trio of blockbuster signings last season along with RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett.
If reports are accurate, Toulon will be his 3rd club in the French top flight having previously made 93 appearances for Stade Francais and 149 appearances for Clermont. The move would raise questions about who at Toulon might be making way to accommodate him; it was at one point rumoured Englishman Kyle Sinckler could be heading home, but it is now thought he will stay.
Rating: 9/10 – credible sources say it’s done.
This one was thrown out last month by Jim Hamilton on The Rugby Pod. He suggested that Willis harbours ambitions to play for Ireland and that a move to Munster might be in the works to facilitate that. This would represent the TOP 14 player of the season switching allegiances from England, a national side he gave up playing for to stay at French juggernauts Toulouse. This move was later emulated by Willis’ brother Tom, who gave up playing for England to sign for Bordeaux.
The likelihood of this move is all tied to Jack’s current Toulouse contract. It is thought that he recently signed an extension to stay in France right up until 2029, although rumours are that there is a break clause that allows him to move away to make himself eligible to play at the 2027 World Cup. Willis becomes eligible to play for Ireland this year, which lends credence to the rumour, however all reports of the break clause say the it specifies an English PREM team, with no mention of Ireland.
Rating: 3/10 – feels fanciful, why would Toulouse accept such a clause? Why would Willis prefer a move to Ireland over returning to England?
This is a fun one. A couple of weeks ago, reports surfaced in France that 37-year-old All Blacks legend Aaron Smith could be a target for French high-fliers Section Paloise (or ‘Pau’ to you and me). Pau are having a fantastic domestic season, currently sitting 2nd in the league after 16 rounds. They are waving goodbye to long-term scrum-half Dan Robson at the end of this season when he returns to Gloucester in the PREM, so are in the market for an experienced replacement.
Smith has been playing in Japan for Toyota Verblitz since the 2023 World Cup, scoring 10 tries in 37 games for the team. At his age you would think he would be considering retirement, but the Japanese league has built a reputation for prolonging careers, with many players returning from there in better condition than when they arrived. The question is, would Smith fancy the slog of a full TOP 14 season?
Rating: 5/10 – We love it and we feel we deserve it… but would be a huge surprise.
Sticking with world cup winning number 9s moving to France from Japan, winning Springbok Faf de Klerk is said to be in advanced talks to join Perpignan. Contrary to Pau, Perpignan have been having an awful season and look set for yet another relegation play-off at the end of the season, despite the theoretical strength of their squad. Performances have picked up of late, with a shock win over Toulouse moving them clear of the automatic relegation spot, but one feels it is already too late for them to climb any higher than 13th.
Faf has recently dropped out of the Springbok squad and has only managed 1 game in Japan this season, leaving the field in the first half for his team Canon Eagles in game one of the season back in December. He has played just 34 games for the side since arriving in 2022, over half of those coming in his first season. It has long been reported he will head to Europe for next season, with Perpignan being the club who appear to be chasing him the hardest.
Rating: 7/10 – a move to France has long been rumoured, this one makes sense.
The plight of Paolo Garbisi at Toulon is one this series has been tracking for some time. It has been clear since the start of this season that the TOP 14 giants were deeply unhappy with his form and were seeking a replacement. A quick glance at the stats reveals their reasoning, with new signing Tomas Albornoz already outperforming his Italian teammate. It was already rumoured in Italy that Garbisi could be heading back to Benetton in the URC.
Now, rumours are that he could be heading back to his former club, Montpellier. MHR are having a very strong season, having won all their Challenge Cup pool games and being 4th in the league. For his part, Garbisi always said he never wanted to leave Montpellier in the first place and that the club informed him he was being sent to Toulon mid season with no warning. However, whilst Garbisi may be favouring a return, the likelihood of it is surely harmed by the fact they have only just signed Scotland fly-half Adam Hastings.
Rating: 4/10 - Garbisi will surely leave Toulon, but to where?