Blindside - rugby transfers - news, interviews, opinion

Blindside – rugby transfers

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Blindside – rugby transfers news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Henry Arundell lines up England return

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Henry Arundell, one of rugby’s most exciting talents, is poised to join Bath next season from Stuart Lancaster’s Racing 92, opening the […]

Alfie Petch on the move

22 December 2024 0 comments

Gloucester prop Alfie Petch has signed a short-term loan deal at Cornish Pirates. The 24-year-old played for the Pirates during 2022-23 before signing for Northampton. […]

Japan will be latest destination for Richie Gray

13 October 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Scotland lock Richie Gray will link up with World Cup winners Pieter-Steph du Toit and Aaron Smith when his move to Japanese […]

Pirates move for prop Andrews

2 June 2024 0 comments

Cornish Pirates have signed Coventry prop Ollie Andrews. The 24-year-old spent two years at Coventry having come through Exeter’s academy. “We expect Ollie to be […]

Flanagan: We want to keep Leon

2 June 2024 0 comments

Dragons hope Wales tighthead Leon Brown will sign a new contract. Injury-hit Brown, 27, last played in the Six Nations opening game against Scotland in […]

Scarlets swoop for Aussie lock

2 June 2024 0 comments

Scarlets have signed Australian lock Max Douglas from Japanese side Yokohama Canon Eagles. Douglas, 24, who is 6ft 7in and 112kg, played for the Waratahs […]

Hurricanes fly-half to replace Burns at Ulster

26 May 2024 0 comments

Ulster are set to make their second signing for next season with Hurricanes‘ fly-half Aidan Morgan to join the province. The New Zealander, who is […]

Lam so keen to keep hold of Vakatawa

19 May 2024 0 comments

Pat Lam wants Virimi Vakatawa to extend his stay at Ashton Gate and is in talks with the France centre over a new deal. Vakatawa […]

Vunipola trio to depart Saracens

14 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens players Billy, Mako and Manu Vunipola are to leave the North London club at the end of the current campaign. The trio have amassed […]

Saracens turn their sights on May

14 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens are in talks with England and Gloucester winger Jonny May, below, about a move this summer. Saracens had also spoken to Bath’s Joe Cokanasiga, […]

Another year for O’Mahony

14 April 2024 0 comments

Ireland skipper Peter O’Mahony has signed a new one-year contract at Munster after speculation he was set to retire. The 34-year-old has won two league […]

Offiah Jnr ready to make mark at Bath

14 April 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Tyler Offiah is setting himself up for life on and off the field as the England U18s winger prepares […]

Porter set for Aussie return

14 April 2024 0 comments

England centre Guy Porter looks set to return to Australia this summer with the view to representing the Wallabies. Porter, who won his sixth England […]

England could be an option for Green

7 April 2024 0 comments

Harlequins full-back Tyrone Green will qualify for England in 2025 and while he still harbours hopes of playing for South Africa he is open to […]

Care set to stay at Quins

7 April 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Veteran scrum-half Danny Care is set to snub lucrative offers from France and sign a contract extension at Harlequins. Care has received […]

Montpellier lead chase for Munster ace Frisch

7 April 2024 0 comments

Montpellier are leading the chase for Munster centre Antoine Frisch, who has declared his allegiance to France over Ireland. Born in Fontainebleau, France, Frisch qualifies […]

Kitshoff set for return to Stormers

7 April 2024 0 comments

After weeks of speculation South Africa’s two-time World Cup winning prop Steven Kitshoff has decided to leave Ulster at the end of his first season […]

Slade: I’m happy to stay a Chief

31 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By MARK STEVENS Henry Slade is set to reject the advances of clubs on the other side of the English Channel and […]

Fearn’s in line to boost Knights

31 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Darren Fearn is thought to be Doncaster Knights’ first-choice as new forwards coach as the Championship club continue to reshape their coaching […]

Wallaby star Izaia signs for Tigers

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE LEICESTER have signed Australia centre Izaia Perese for the 2024-25 season on a ‘multi-year’ deal from Sydney-based Waratahs. The 26-yearold former rugby […]

Georgian challenge

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE RUGBY Europe champions Georgia have challenged Wales to a match this autumn in what would be dubbed a ‘Six Nations playoff ’. […]

Cardiff hope to win Grady tug-of-war

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By SIMON THOMAS The future location of Mason Grady is one of the biggest talking points in Welsh rugby – in more […]

Munster move in for Ulster ace Burns

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BILLY Burns will swap Ulster for Munster in the summer to replace Joey Carbery who is off to France. The 29-yearold, above, […]

Jantjies to give back

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE FORMER Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies, below, has taken up a coaching role with youth rugby programme Rugga Schools in Johannesburg as he […]

NFL sides look set to take punt on Mallinder

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Harry Mallinder’s dream of winning an NFL contract has moved a step closer after the former England U20 captain made it through […]

Vermeulen open to England offer

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By GRANT SHUB Jacques Vermeulen, who is eligible for England having been in the UK since 2019, has dreamed of playing for […]

Aussies battling to keep Petaia

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Australian utility back Jordan Petaia is being chased by the country’s leading rugby league clubs. Reds flyer Petaia is out of contract […]

Quins nab Lamositele

10 March 2024 0 comments

Harlequins look to have signed tighthead prop Titi Lamositele, below, to replace the Castres-bound Will Collier. Lamositele, 29, spent five years at Saracens before joining […]

McNicholl goes home

10 March 2024 0 comments

Wales back Johnny McNicholl has rejoined Crusaders for the remainder of the season after leaving Scarlets to return to New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, who has […]

Carre back at Saracens

10 March 2024 0 comments

Saracens have re-signed Wales loosehead Rhys Carre from Cardiff. The 26-year-old previously played for Saracens in 2019-20, moving back to Cardiff after one season. He […]

Baxter turns his attention to top Ealing pair

10 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE – EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE Having already snapped up Coventry’s star centre Will Rigg in a mid-season swoop, Exeter are going back […]

French setting sights on Tuilagi

10 March 2024 0 comments

Perpignan and Montpellier are chasing the signature of England centre Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi would join up with his nephew Posolo Tuilagi at Perpignan and represent […]

Andre’s heading home

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Andre Esterhuizen will leave Harlequins at the end of the 2023/24 season and return to South Africa for family reasons. The Springboks […]

McNicholl on his way

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales wing Johnny McNicholl has left the Scarlets with immediate effect to take up a playing opportunity in New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, […]

Nowell extends deal to stay at La Rochelle

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By MARK STEVENS Jack Nowell’s French connection is set to go on for a few more years yet, after the Cornishman this […]

Tonkin gets the call to join Ealing

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By JON NEWCOMBE Ealing Trailfinders have moved quickly to find a new forwards coach following the news that Cornel van Zyl has […]

Lynagh leaves Quins for Benetton

12 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE – updated from Sunday’s (11/02/24) TRP Harlequins have confirmed wing Louis Lynagh will join URC side Benetton next season. The 23-year-old son […]

Ludlam has his sights set on Toulon

11 February 2024 0 comments

ENGLAND flanker Lewis Ludlam will leave Northampton at the end of the season, with Toulon understood to be his destination. The 28-year-old Saints captain, who […]

Bath keen to attract Grady

11 February 2024 0 comments

Bath have emerged as the leading contenders to sign Wales wing Mason Grady, below, when his Cardiff contract expires this summer. Saracens, Sale and Exeter […]

Exeter prop on way to Glasgow

11 February 2024 0 comments

Exeter tighthead Patrick Schickerling, 25, is set to join Glasgow Warriors on a multi-year contract. Schickerling’s commitment comes on the heels of contract extensions for […]

Scotland prop Rory signs with Warriors

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Scotland and Lions loosehead Rory Sutherland is returning to Scotland at the end of the season after signing a […]

Kennedy wanted in France

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Top 14 giants LA Rochelle and Racing 92 are both eyeing up a move for Saracens recruitment guru Nick […]

Marchant will see out deal at Stade

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Stade Francais are expecting former England centre Joe Marchant, who only moved to the French capital after the World […]

Gloucester might be planning on May exit

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington is still hunting two wingers and a fly-half as he looks to revamp […]

Lozowski set to get Sarries keys at No.10

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens are set to roll the dice and gamble on Alex Lozowski playing fly-half next season to replace Racing […]

Erasmus ready to move for Flannery

4 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER HARLEQUINS are braced for Rassie Erasmus to make an official approach for their defence coach Jerry Flannery. Flannery was […]