Jalibert is top of the ‘wanted’ list again

Never mind that the words ‘Stade Toulousain’ have only just been meticulously punched into the plaque on the Bouclier de Brennus to mark them forever more as 2023/24 Top 14 champions.

Never mind that the ink is barely dry on one or two contracts for next season – or that promoted Vannes have until this Tuesday to formally close the book on their roster for their first season in the French top flight.

Never mind, either, that all French clubs will soon be able to recruit a couple of out-of-contract – and, therefore, technically unemployed – players as ‘additional signings’ in the weeks to come to bolster their squads for the rapidly approaching new season.

Most of the above is last season’s news, for all that the final in Marseille was little more than a week ago, and Top 14 players are mainly on holiday. Except for those who are with the various international squads this summer. Or prepping for the Olympic Games in Paris.

The transfer market for the Top 14’s 2025/26 campaign – and the ProD2’s come to that – opened last Monday. That was when players who have entered the last year of their current contracts – officially – become fair game.

And there are more than a few interesting names in French rugby, right now, who have less than a year of their current deals remaining, cueing up no small amount of contractual scrambling. Not to mention some loud whispers over the next few months.

Still on the comedown from a frenetic and ineffectual injury-affected outing in the Top 14 final, Bordeaux’s Matthieu Jalibert is probably top of that list. We’ve been here before with Jalibert – in 2021 he was the subject of widespread speculation before signing on for four more seasons at Bordeaux. Once again, rumours have abounded about possible moves to either Stade Francais or Racing 92 – reports of a possible switch to Stade Jean Bouin were the loudest around the time of the Rugby World Cup, as he worked with then attack coach Laurent Labit, whose now sporting director at the Paris club.

Whispers of Toulon, or even a spell abroad were even in the wind, as Jalibert again did the unsurprising thing of non-too carefully sidestepping any media questions about his future.

Word is, Jalibert will stay at Stade Chaban Delmas for a few more seasons. But while there’s a deal to be done, reports of interest from the usual suspect clubs will continue.

Team-mate Jefferson Poirot is looking for a two-year deal as the end of his career looms ever-larger on the horizon. If Bordeaux pause, it seems ambitious ProD2 side Brive would be ready to come in with an offer.

Of arguably more interest is the future of Racing 92’s 22-year-old scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, who is recovering from surgery on an injured shoulder.

Racing are desperate to keep him – owner Jacky Lorenzetti said finalising a contract was his ‘priority’ – but Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle are keen to bring the Breton to Stade Marcel Deflandre as a long-term replacement for Tawera Kerr-Barlow. The consensus is that La Rochelle currently have the inside track on a Le Garrec deal, despite rival interest from Stade Francais. But Racing 92 clearly aren’t going to give him up willingly.

The Rochelais could also raid the capital for another rising star. Stade Francais’ full-back Leo Barre, 21, currently touring Argentina and Uruguay with France’s senior men’s squad, is on their radar to eventually take over the 15 shirt from 34-year-old Brice Dulin – who seems ready to activate a clause in his contract for another season at the club. Who can blame him, really?

A sticking point for La Rochelle, however, is at tighthead. Uini Atonio and Georges-Henri Colombe – France internationals both – are out of contract next June. O’Gara would like to keep both, but Atonio is blocking Colombe’s opportunities. It’s quite the contractual tightrope walk, that one.

O’Gara, meanwhile, is believed to be keen on grabbing another young gun from another Top 14 club – Lyon’s Georgian winger Davit Niniashvili. He may have to get in line, however, as several clubs are circling, most notably Toulon, while Lyon are determined to keep one of their highlight players. It seems that Pierre Mignoni has the upper hand here, with Niniashvili reportedly leaning towards a switch to Stade Mayol.

Toulouse’s Italian full-back Ange Capuozzo and centre Pierre-Louis Barassi – once tipped as the future of France’s midfield – may be open to a move away from Stade Ernest Wallon, given competition at their positions.

Arthur Retiere, too, may want more gametime than he’s getting at an obscenely-stacked Toulouse squad. A possible return to La Rochelle was mooted, with Teddy Thomas heading the other way, but reports suggest that possibility seems unlikely.

Toulouse, who have been almost silent on the recruitment front for the 24/25 campaign, are reportedly interested in bringing in Yoram Moefana from Bordeaux as a long-term solution to a post-Pita Ahki future. Yannick Bru, however, is believed to be keen to keep his midfield man, while Santiago Chocobares will have something to say on the issue. He’s reportedly keen to stay; Ugo Mola is reportedly keen to keep him. And, let’s not forget, Ahki is 31. There’s another contract in him, surely.

But Toulouse’s focus will first be on their current players. Emmanuel Meafou and Alexandre Roumat look certain to quickly follow Peato Mauvaka in signing lengthy contract extensions. As could Jack Willis, whose current deal runs to June 2026, with an optional additional year. Whispers suggest that talks on a longer stay in southwest France are already ongoing.

Castres’ French international hooker Gaetan Barlot is attracting covetous eyes from Stade Francais and Bordeaux, rumours suggest. Lyon had apparently been willing to buy out the last year of his contract to take him to Stade Gerland for the start of the 24/25 season, but their advances were turned down. An extension remains a possibility, but Barlot will probably want to understand what’s going on with the coaching side of things at the club before committing.

Already, then, plenty to talk about on the recruitment front for the next season plus one. And, no doubt, plenty more to come.