Rugby transfers: Springbok snubs Top 14 giants, Sale target moves, Du Preez’s decision and the coaching roundabout
It’s officially rugby’s silly season as the transfer news and rumour mill ramps up with teams making moves ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
We bring you the latest news with several Springboks reportedly on the market while the coaching roundabout gathers pace.
So without further ado, here are our picks of the top stories.
Springbok headlines PREM strugglers’ shortlist
We start with a big one, as it looks as if Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks lock Jean Kleyn won’t be heading to the Top 14 after all, but to a West Country PREM Rugby club instead.
Reports in November stated that the Munster second-rower, whose contract expires at the end of the season, was at the centre of a tug-of-war between Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles. However, a more recent report by the Daily Mail, states that Gloucester Rugby have won the race for his services.
The 32-year-old lock joined Munster back in 2016 from the Stormers and has been a consistent performer for the side ever since, eventually leading to five Test caps for Ireland in 2019. He switched international allegiances back to South Africa four years later and featured off the bench in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final victory against the All Blacks.
According to the report, he has agreed to join the Cherry and White next season after the club failed in their attempts to lure Saracens and Samoa forward Theo McFarland to Kingsholm; he has opted for a move to La Rochelle instead.
It is also noted that the likes of Franco Mostert, Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel have been offered to PREM Rugby clubs with impending changes to the Japan Rugby League One competition’s regulations regarding foreign players. De Klerk has been mooted for a return to Salford to join Sale Sharks.
Steven Kitshoff: Sharks ‘result the best’ we saw as Stormers learn ‘hard lesson’
Sale Sharks target joins Toulon
On the topic of the Manchester club, it is being reported by Midi Olympique that highly-rated forward Junior Kpoku has joined French giants RC Toulon.
Sale Sharks have made no secret of their interest in the England-born forward, who becomes JIFF at the end of the season, and were making funds available to buy him out of his contract at Racing 92.
However, he has featured just five times for the Parisian club this season and will bolster Toulon’s stocks until the end of the 2025/26 campaign at least. The report adds that it is not yet clear whether Kpoku will remain at RC Toulon through to the 2026/27 season or not.
Coaching changes
Staying with Toulon and the French giants will bid farewell to Azzurri legend Sergio Parisse, Midi Olympique confirms.
The publication reported in December that the Italian Rugby Federation were in talks with the legendary number eight over a possible role in Gonzalo Quesada’s coaching team and now states that the move will be completed at the end of the season. It adds that Toulon have already begun the process of finding his successor.
There is bound to be a host of coaching changes next season. The Sharks are continuing their search for John Plumtree’s permanent successor, with JP Pietersen still a possible option, depending on how well he oversees the remainder of the current campaign.
Meanwhile, Gloucester are looking to ease the pressure on director of rugby George Skivington by doing a restructuring of the coaching staff and have lined up ex-Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill, who was recently relieved of his duties with Georgia. That is according to the Daily Mail, who also namecheck Bath’s head of recruitment Rob Burgess for a potential management role too.
That report adds that Mike Brown and Nick Easter have offered their help to their former club, Harlequins, who have endured a tough season. The CVs of Blues head coach Vern Cotter and Kobe Kobelco Steelers boss Dave Rennie are reportedly circulating too.
Transfer news: Mike Brown back to Harlequins, Adam Hastings to France and Newcastle add Northampton star
Dan du Preez to stay in the PREM?
Moving on to Bath and RugbyPass reports that the Johann van Graan-coached club has successfully snapped up the services of Sale’s Dan du Preez.
The back-rower had been linked with a move back to Durban before Bath intervened. Du Preez had been lined up as a replacement for Siya Kolisi, who will be joining the Stormers next season.
The report adds that Bath prop Francois van Wyk will likely join Stuart Lancaster’s Connacht next season, adding to the West Country side’s tighthead prop woes with Thomas du Toit’s move to the Sharks confirmed.
Propping about
There is plenty of front-row movement on the cards according to the Daily Mail, who report that Sale have landed the signature of Welsh tighthead Tomas Francis, who will return to the United Kingdom from French club Province.
While Du Toit is leaving Bath, it is reported that Will Stuart will extend his contract at Bath, while England prop Alec Hepburn is also on the market, but he is understood to be in line for a move from the Scarlets to Edinburgh.
Additionally, Perpignan’s Giorgi Tetrashvili is in talks with Leicester to replace Nicky Smith, while Montpellier’s Nika Abuladze is looking at a return to Exeter.
Ex-All Blacks coach produces ‘worst losing sequence’ in a decade, World Cup-winners struggle while Springbok and Wallaby continue rampage
Spending the Red Bull money
Newcastle Red Bulls have not completed their transfer business ahead of next season despite already announcing the signings of Josh Hodge, Rusi Tuima, Hoskins Sotutu, and Franco Molina.
The Mail suggests that James O’Connor could make the move to Newcastle if he is not offered a contract extension at Leicester Tigers and no suitors from Australia come forward.
He could potentially link up with England scrum-half Raffi Quirke with RugbyPass stating that the Red Bulls have emerged as favourites to land the Sale Sharks number nine’s signature.
The publication also lists Will Rigg, James Pater, Will Haydon Wood, George Turner, and Pouri Rakete-Stones as potential targets.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
READ MORE: Springboks great: Bulls ‘defence optional’ as pressure builds on Johan Ackermann, performances are ‘not good enough’
