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.
Denne historien er fra July 07, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra July 07, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
