Northampton lock Alex Moon 'on verge' of Top 14 deal – report

Northampton lock Alex Moon has become the latest Gallagher Premiership player tipped to play in France's 2024/25 Top 14. The French league demonstrated its increasing allure for players in England when Racing 92 confirmed on Monday the signing of Owen Farrell for next season and another heavyweight, Kyle Sinckler, is expected to soon be recruited by Toulon.

Also touted for a Premiership to Top 14 switch is Saints second row Moon, the 27-year-old who has made a dozen appearances this term in Northampton’s charge to the top of the league in England and their qualification for the Investec Champions Cup round of 16.

Moon featured in all four of those pool assignments, including the Franklin’s Gardens success earlier this month over Bayonne, the club that media in France are now claiming he will be at next season.

A rugbyrama.fr report read: “Bayonne, the brilliant winners against Exeter last Sunday (40-17), continue to arm for next season. According to our sources, the club managed by Philippe Tayeb and Gregory Patat is on the verge of signing Northampton second row Alexander Moon.

“The 27-year-old (2.03m and 128kg) is having an excellent season with the Saints. Very good in the lineout, Moon was an international with the English U20s and he made an impression on the Bayonne leaders on the occasion of Northampton's big victory against them (61-14).

“With the probable arrival of Moon in its squad, Bayonne would fill the successive departures of Thomas Ceyte and Manuel Leindekar, expected next season to Clermont and Oyonnax.

"If his signature is confirmed in the coming days, Moon would join the Tongan colossus Veikoso Poloniati (2m and 138 kg), currently a player for Racing 92, on the Basque coast."