In fact, the first big recruitment news broke more than two weeks before the current campaign even kicked off, when Racing 92 confirmed that rising star scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec had signed a four-year contract with La Rochelle, starting in July 2025.
Sometimes quite often, in fact - all the speculation gets ahead of itself. There is, for example, a crucial problem with the flurry of reports linking players to Montpellier. In short, the JIFF numbers don't add up.
Montpellier skated close to the rules last season, too. It was only with the departure of former Exeter prop Harry Williams for Pau-confirmed in July - that they, belatedly, fell into line with the rule that limits the number of senior non-JIFF players on their books to 13.
If reports are to be believed, Montpellier have been by far the most active French club on the transfer market in the early part of the current campaign. And they seem particularly interested in overseas signings.
Denne historien er fra November 10, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra November 10, 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.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ring fence has made English rugby go soft
THE most positive aspect to come out of the opening round of the European Cup was that, despite six out of the eight English clubs losing, it can get better and relatively quickly.
The global travellers who light up game
THERE is nothing especially funny about short-term memory loss, but it may just have an upside when it comes to rugby.
Battling Bath looking to revive cup campaign
JOHANN van Graan is braced to take on the Italian national team in all but name as Bath look to revive their Champions Cup campaign.
Off-target Gloucester get lesson in finishing
KIWI Michael Ruru scored two early tries and put in a silky display as Vannes created a famous night in their history, securing a first ever Challenge Cup win over a misfiring Gloucester.
We're happy to be the hunted, says Beckett
SARAH Beckett admits Gloucester-Hartpury have made an underwhelming start to their title defence but believes that's partly due to competition across the PWR being at an alltime high.
Heard takes charge to keep out Sarries
GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY secured a pulsating victory over Saracens to leapfrog the Londoners in the PWR table.
Hellfire Corner gives a warm welcome to all
RUGBY was undergoing a massive boom 150 years ago so we shouldn’t be surprised so many teams are celebrating their sesquicentennial anniversary as those who glory in long words like to call it.
My fierce Tigers are roaring-Howison
A RUTHLESS second-half display saw Sheffield Tigers come from behind to score 29 unanswered points and seal a vital bonus point win against bottom of the table Billingham.
Brave Lupus banking on Mo'unga class
THE fourth season of Japan Rugby League One kicks off this week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda Heat and Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on December 21.
Oyonnax must live without El-Abd
OYONNAX’S seven-try 53-10 bonus-point win over ProD2 rivals Soyaux-Angouleme on Friday – their first victory since October 25 – was a relief in more ways than one. In fact, relief probably doesn’t cover it.
