Fissler Confidential: Premiership club set to go to market early

Gloucester, who have won plaudits for their enterprising rugby in the opening two weeks of the season, are looking to get their recruitment business for next season done as early as possible. The Cherry and Whites defeated Bristol Bears 44-41 in a classic west country derby on Friday night and are in the market to sign a world-class outside centre for the 2025/26 season.

They asked for the names of players who are in the final year of their contracts to be forwarded to them as soon as possible in an attempt to get a jump start on rival clubs who are yet to start their business.

Sanele Nohamba is very much a target for the Stormers next season despite John Dobson attempting to put some distance between himself and the story Fissler Confidential broke a few weeks ago.

“I have had no conversations. I’ve not been part of one. So that would have to go in the rumour basket,” Dobson told the South African media ahead of their opening game of the URC season in Wales this weekend.

We understand that Dobson has lined up the Lions playmaker Nohamba, 25, to replace Paul de Wet, who is on the verge of completing a move to the Bulls when his current deal runs out at the end of the season.

Former England centre Ben Te'o (Photo by Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images)

Former England and Lions centre Ben Te’o is expected to stay on the coaching staff at Brisbane Broncos under a new head coach after the departure of Kevin Walters, who only appointed him a month ago.

The Auckland-born 37-year-old had spells with Leinster, Worcester Warriors, Toulon and the Sunwolves before returning to the NRL where he made his name winning an NRL grand final and playing for Queensland in the State of Origin.

The dual code international became head coach of the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup. He was appointed an assistant coach by Walters in July and it has been indicated he will work under the new boss when he comes in.

Los Pumas legend Agustin Creevy will play past his 40th birthday next March after agreeing to join Italian URC outfit Benetton until the end of the season.

The hooker has been a free agent since leaving Sale Sharks in June after playing 14 games last season after moving to the north-west following four seasons with London Irish until their demise.

Creevy ended his Test career at the end of August when he won his 110th cap against Australia in his home town of La Plata He has actively been looking for another club side since his contract with the Sharks ran out.

Bath lock Jacques du Plessis, who played in their opening-night win over Northampton Saints last weekend in a repeat of the Premiership season, has been lined up for a return to South Africa.

The former South Africa U20s star, who can also operate in the back row, joined Bath in January while he recovered from injury, officially signing a contract in March with an option for this season.

Jacques du Plessis on the charge (Photo by Getty Images)

Fissler Confidential understands that du Plessis, who made 104 appearances for Montpellier in France in between two spells with the Bulls, has been targetted by one of the South African URC sides to take him home immediately.

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has admitted that he is looking to dip into the transfer market, but it will only be for players who will be at Sandy Park on long-term contracts. Injuries have hit Baxter in the centres and scrum-half, and he doesn’t rule out signing players.

However, they won’t be journeymen players who are free agents for a short-term fix. “We are potentially looking to bring people in. The guys that we would look at would come now and will be here next year and then the year after and the year after. They wouldn’t be injury cover,” he said.

Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights boss Robbie Deans has turned his focus on the NRL to sign highly-rated West Tigers rookie Heamasi Makasini, who has just been named in the Australia U18s squad to travel to New Zealand.

Newington College educated Makasini, who was one of five U18s to link up with the Wallabies on the Monday of their Bledisloe Cup preparations in Sydney, is in the squad to face New Zealand Barbarians and New Zealand Schools in Hamilton.

Makasini has also been in the NSW Waratahs junior system. He has met with Deans, who is keen for him to start his professional career with the Wild Knights in Japan.

Fijian Drua have raided New Zealand to sign highly-rated prospects John Muller and Breyton Legge to their academy, but they are tipped to link up with the Super Rugby Pacific squad in the near future.

Prop Muller, 23, represented Fiji at the 2021 U20 World Cup and captained Northland's provincial team this season. He will join the Drua development programme for the 2025 season.

Tighthead Legge, 20, was a member of Fiji’s U20s side that played in the World Rugby Championship in South Africa earlier this year. He has been with the Chiefs.

Keir Starmer is said not to have enjoyed playing rugby when he was at Reigate Grammar School, but he hasn’t let it stop him from attending a Premiership game. Freebie-loving Starmer accepted four tickets, with lunch and drinks, worth £1,800 to watch Saracens crunch Bath 40-3 in the Premiership at the StoneX Stadium in February 2022.

Former Foreign Secretary David Cameron attended the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final at the Stade de France in Paris as a guest of the Rugby Football Union, with Michael Ashcroft providing some transport.