We’re now into 2023 and so dozens of big-namerugby are free to negotiate with potential suitors as their contracts are set to expire in the summer.
Over the past few years, we have seen a notable rise in players willingly running down their contracts in order to strike the best deal possible at their new club.
We’ve scoured the home nations and picked out 40 of the biggest names who are out of contract at the end of the season.
Wales:
Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
George North (Ospreys)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys)
Ross Moriarty (Dragons)
Sam Davies (Dragons)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys)
Jack Morgan (Ospreys)
England:
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Joe Marler of England during the summer international match between Wales and England at Principality Stadium on Saturday 17 Aug 2019 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Marland Yarde (Bayonne)
Ben Loader (London Irish)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath)
Scotland:
Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs)
Try Celebrations for Stuart Hogg of Exeter Chiefs during the European Rugby Champions Cup Match between Exeter Chiefs and Montpellier at Sandy Park on 11 December 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Gregor Townsend (Scotland - coach)
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors)
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)
Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs)
Ireland:
Johnny Sexton (Leinster)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster)