The sorry decline of Moana Pasifika has put European clubs on red alert, after the New Zealand-based Super Rugby franchise made up of Pacific Islanders was cut from next year’s competition.
That means dozens of players will be on the market this summer and Pasifika players started sounding out their agents the moment they were told the club’s funding is at risk. Most PREM recruitment is already complete but Daily Mail Sport understands teams are monitoring a handful of Pasifika players.
Pasifika captain Miracle Faiilagi is one of the hottest talents in the competition and the Samoa back-rower has already been lined up by the NEC Green Rockets in Japan.
Hooker Millennium Sanerivi and No 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa are highly regarded by recruitment chiefs across Europe, while former All Black centre Ngani Laumape is expected to be another man in demand.
One source suggested Laumape could be an attractive proposition for Harlequins. The London club have lacked midfield power since they lost Andre Esterhuizen and have fallen short in moves for the likes of Sione Tuipulotu, Levi Aumua and Santiago Chocobares.
Laumape has not been capped by New Zealand since 2020 and the 32-year-old could become a viable option if Pasifika fold.
The franchise was founded in December 2020 and attracted All Black superstars Ardie and Julian Savea, as well as former Gloucester captain Tom Savage. Their head coach is another New Zealand icon, Tana Umaga.
Moana Pasifika (led out by captain Miracle Faiilagi) are under threat after being cut from next year’s Super Rugby
Hooker Millennium Sanerivi is highly regarded by recruitment chiefs in Europe
Former All Blacks centre Ngani Laumape could be an attractive proposition for Harlequins, who have lacked midfield power since they lost Andre Esterhuizen
Sale’s triple threat
Sale Sharks are close to completing their recruitment drive with three more players set to be announced in the North West.
Scrum-half Xavier Roe has agreed terms to move over from New Zealand as a replacement for Raffi Quirke. Roe played for a New Zealand XV last year but he has not moved up the competitive No 9 pecking order for the All Blacks, with the likes of Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima offering formidable stumbling blocks to get past.
Coventry winger David Opoku-Fordjour has also joined Sale, where he will link up with his brother, Asher, the England prop.
As reported by Rugby Pass, the club are also set to bring in South African lock JJ Scheepers, who plays for the Pumas and Sharks in his homeland.
Alex Sanderson has invested heavily in his squad after a disappointing domestic campaign this year, with the likes of Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant, Alex Lozowski and Nicky Smith all signed up for next season.
Scrum-half Xavier Roe has agreed terms to join Sale Sharks next season as a replacement for Raffi Quirke
First Pollock, now Russell?
Eddie Hearn’s foray into rugby is set to continue. Hearn’s Matchroom talent agency have formed a partnership with Stellar Rugby to boost players’ commercial revenue, and after adding Henry Pollock to his talent roster, the boxing supremo is now keen on Scottish star Finn Russell.
Finn Russell (left) is next in Eddie Hearn’s sights after he snapped up England star Henry Pollock (right)
Kingston Park’s Red Bull revamp
Red Bull are set to make their biggest rugby investment yet as they begin their redevelopment of Kingston Park.
Daily Mail Sport understands the club’s owners are hoping to expand their existing stadium within the next two years. Work on the North Stand is set to begin this summer, connected to a state-of-the-art indoor training pitch that can be used by Red Bull’s European athletes.
A second phase of development is likely to focus on the East Stand, with architects who visited the club at the beginning of the season proposing a two-tier stand.
Red Bull are set to make their biggest rugby investment yet as they begin their redevelopment of Kingston Park
The club’s plans to strengthen links with local schools and students should also kick into action with a showpiece university match. Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham are set to join forces this season for a one-off match under the Red Bull banner against Scotland Students.
Emphasis has been placed on grassroots development, with more than 20 players likely to be cut from the senior squad this summer.
The likes of Amanaki Mafi, Tim Cardall and Freddie Lockwood are all looking for new clubs. Boeta Chamberlain has been approached by the Ospreys as a potential replacement for Jack Walsh, who held talks with Leicester but is primed for a move to France.
Jamie Hodgson has been offered the chance to join the Western Force in Australia and Cam Neild is set to take up a player-coach role in Manchester.
France eye up England youth star Kpoku
England Under 20s World Cup winner Junior Kpoku is on France’s radar after his impressive displays for Toulon.
The heavyweight 6ft 8in forward started at flanker for Toulon in Saturday’s Champions Cup victory over Glasgow, and is on loan with the coastal club from Racing 92. He will become JIFF qualified this summer after having spent three years in France since leaving Exeter Chiefs, meaning he will not be classified as an overseas player on club quotas.
French selectors are monitoring the 20-year-old, who will become eligible for Les Bleus midway through the next World Cup cycle.
Toulon are keen to buy Kpoku out of the final year of his contract with Racing 92, although the youngster is still exploring the possibility of a return to the PREM.
England Under 20s star Junior Kpoku has impressed on loan at Toulon this season and French rugby chiefs are eyeing him up for a potential nationality switch
Kpoku was part of the England side that won the Under 20s Six Nations and Youth World Cup in 2024
O Canada!
The CHAMP are in discussions to set up an official partnership with Rugby Canada.
America’s MLR club competition has shrunk from 11 to six clubs due to financial instability, resulting in reduced playing opportunities.
Canadian players have subsequently been classed as overseas players, meaning many of them are being squeezed out.
The CHAMP are exploring opportunities to bring Canadian players over to England’s second tier, with proposals to test out a draft system.
Ex-England star Tomkins eyes PREM coaching job
Former England international Joel Tomkins is eyeing up a return to rugby union.
The 39-year-old won three caps in 2013 while with Saracens and quit his rugby league coaching job with Catalan Dragons last week so he could be closer to his family.
Joel Tomkins won three union caps for England in 2013 while playing for Saracens
Tomkins is understood to be keen on taking up a defence coach role in the PREM and Gloucester are favourites to add the young coach to their ranks.
Leicester Tigers could also offer an ideal home. Geoff Parling is in the market for new assistant coaches, with Brett Deacon and Pete Hewat both set to depart at the end of the season. Tomkins played with Parling at he recently spent time with England at their Six Nations camp in Girona.
Northampton and Newcastle are also in the market for a new defence coach, but the Saints are expected to promote from within and the Red Bulls are lining up Calum MacRae.
Harlequins’ coaching shake-up remains ongoing, with attack coach Nick Evans and a number of strength and conditioning staff set to leave this summer. Martin Gleeson is a leading contender for a position, while head coach Jason Gilmore is also expected to tap into his connections in Australia.
