Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling admits he considered a move for the former Gloucester whore jack singleton before United Rugby Championship outfit Glasgow The Warriors signed him to a three-month deal earlier this week.
Singleton has been sidelined since leaving Gloucester when his contract expired at the end of last season, with the Tigers eyeing him before signing Samoan international Richie Asiato following the early retirement of Finn Theobald-Thomas.
“We’ve been looking at Jack among other guys, but we’re delighted to have Richie on board with us,” Parling said in his midweek media call this week.
Ex England breaking ball no. 8 Billy Vunipola weighs his future, with his contract in Top 14 outfit Montpellier it should expire next summer.
Vunipola, who played for Wasps and Saracens before moving to France nearly three years ago, he will celebrate his 34th birthday next month and seems undecided about his next move.
They linked him with a lucrative move to Japan Rugby League One will end his career, where he has been linked for years, while Montpellier are expected to decide on an extension before Christmas.
England outside center Ollie Lawrence has been linked with a move to the French outfit Bayonne next season, but Fissler Confidential he understands that the reports from France are wrong.
The Bath star, which moved to Rec Worcester The Warriors were liquidated three years ago, reportedly a target for Bayonne, who saw veteran Manu Tuilagi out of contract at the end of the season.
But Lawrence, 27, is under contract with the former Gallagher PREM champion until the summer, according to a well-placed source, and is reluctant to move to France at this stage of his career.
US Eagles center David Ainu’u will be leaving Toulouse when his contract expires at the end of the season and he joins Top 14 rivals Bordeaux after signing a four-year contract.
Ainu’u, 26, born in American Samoa, played for the Eagles in 2019. Rugby World Cup and can play on either side of the front row. He signed a three-year contract with an option for another year.
Bordeaux have been in the market for another forward to replace France international Jefferson Poirot, who turns 34 next month and is set to retire after the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Sale Sharks’ Alex Sanderson this week hailed Tom Roebuck, who has signed a new deal, but is praying it doesn’t end up costing him a fortune in hat-trick scorer tracksuits.
Sanderson told Fissler Confidential that every member Sharks the team that scores three tries in the game chooses a pair of tracksuits at its own expense.
“Tom has cost me a couple of £100s in boots because it’s a hat-trick reward and he’s ready to squeeze a few more out of me this season,” said Sanderson, who confirmed it was included in their salary cap declaration.
Junior Kpoku still has his options open despite being touted for an international move from England to France when he is eligible in 2028.
Kpoku, under contract for Toulon until 2029 after joining on a permanent deal in the summer, he is not closing any doors after coming close to a return to Gallagher PREM with Sale Sharks.
“Whether it’s England or France, I just need to work and be ready in two years. That’s the goal and I remain open to every possibility,” said Kpoku, who is in contact with France boss Fabien Galti.
Gloucester boss George Skivington insists on the former Ireland international Ross Byrne has a future with the Cherry and Whites, despite just two cameo appearances from the bench in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Byrne has only played 56 minutes in games against this season Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks because he doesn’t fit the way Gloucester want to play, but Skivington believes more time on the pitch is just around the corner.
“Ross is talked about more because of his history and his pedigree and what he’s done before. But, like any other player, somebody does better in his position, he’ll be selected, but at some point you’ll see Ross in a Gloucester shirt,” he said.
Bayonne is currently in negotiations to extend the former’s contract Scotland lock Ewan Johnson amid interest from Gallagher PREM and URC.
Johnson, who won three senior caps for Scotland, also earned A and under-20 honors and spent his entire career across the Channel with Racing 92, Valves and Oyonnax before moving to Bayonne at the start of last season.
He was born in England, has a Welsh mother and grew up in France, and clubs are keen on him if he can’t agree a new deal with Bayonne, with his current contract expiring next July.
Georgian stalwart Beka Gigashvili could leave Toulon this summer after eight seasons at the Stade Félix-Mayol, amid hints the club are considering major changes to their pack next season.
Gigashvili (34) started his career with Stade Olympique Chambéry and then Grenoble, and entered the final year of his contract in July, with 150 appearances for Toulon under his belt.
But four defeats in the first six games of the season have left Toulon struggling in the bottom half of the Top 14 table, with the group one of the areas earmarked for reshuffle.
