"Au Revoir" - All Premiership Players Moving to France for the 2023/24 Season
Rugby NewsMonday, 03 July 2023 at 14:20
The 2023/24 Top 14 and Rugby Pro D2 seasons are set to see an influx of players from the Gallagher Premiership, as the salary cap and financial collapses of three top-flight clubs have forced players to move overseas.
As Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish all entered financial administration last season, the transfer market was flooded with players from England's top division, many of which have found new homes in France.
Here is a run-down of the Top 14, Pro D2 and French Nationale clubs, who have bolstered their squad with Premiership signings ahead of next season. This list also includes signings that were made mid-way through the 2022/23 campaign, as the French clubs capitalised on the boundless free agents who became available.
TOP 14 (FIRST DIVISION)
BAYONNE
Sale Sharks player Marland Yarde breaks the tackle of Wasps player Christian Wade during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Sale Sharks and Wasps at JW Bell Stadium on Sept 22 - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
Marland Yarde (Sale Sharks)
Luke Morahan (Bristol Bears)
BORDEAUX-BEGLES
Adam Coleman of London Irish during the European Challenge Cup match between London Irish and Toulon at Madejski Stadium on December 14 2019, Reading, England (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
Adam Coleman (London Irish)
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE
No Signings From the Premiership
CLERMONT AUVERNGE
Rob Simmons of London Irish during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Sale Sharks at The Gtech Community Stadium, London on 12 March 2023 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
Rob Simmons (London Irish)
LA ROCHELLE
Jack Nowell of Exeter Chiefs during the Gallagher Premiership match between Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park, Exeter on 28th January 2023. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Kyle Hatherell (Worcester Warriors)
LYON
Bristol Bears player Semi Radradra during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears at Welford Road on June 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
Paddy Jackson (London Irish)
Semi Radradra (Bristol Bears)
MONTPELLIER
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps) during England Rugby training session at The Lensbury Hotel, Teddington, London on 28 Sept 2021. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Elliot Stooke (Bristol Bears)
Curtis Langdon (Worcester Warriors)
OYONNAX
No Signings From the Premiership
PAU
Joe Simmonds of Exeter Chiefs looks for a pass during the Premiership Rugby Cup Final match between London Irish and Exeter Chiefs at The Gtech Community Stadium, London on 19 March 2023 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
Joe Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Santiago Grondona (Pau)
PERPIGNAN
Tommaso Allan of Italy looks dejected after losing during the Six Nations Match between England and Italy at Twickenham, London on 12 Feb 2023 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
So'otala Fa'aso'o (London Irish)
Tommaso Allan (Harlequins)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Ali Crossdale (Wasps)
RACING 92
Henry Arundell of London Irish with a pass out of the back of his hand during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Bath Rugby at The Gtech Community Stadium, London on 1 October 2022 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Biyi Alo (Wasps)
Pietro Turrisi (Wasps)
STADE FRANCAIS
Joe Marchant of Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Semi Final Match between Saracens and Harlequins at Stone X Stadium on 11 June. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Vincent Koch (Wasps)
TOULON
Dan Biggar of Northampton Saints kicks the penalty to take the lead during the European Champions Cup, Quarter-final match between Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints at Sandy Park on 20 Sept 2020. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK.
Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints)
Ben White (London Irish)
TOULOUSE
Jack Willis of England during the England Rugby Captains Run ahead of the Six Nations Match between England and Italy at Twickenham, London on 11 Feb 2023 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
Jack Willis (Wasps)
RUGBY PRO D2 (SECOND DIVISION)
GRENOBLE
Brandon Nansen (Northampton Saints)
PROVENCE RUGBY (AIX)
Wasps player Jimmy Gopperth during the Gallagher Premiership Match between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry on October 16th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
Jimmy Gopperth (Leicester Tigers)
AURILLAC
Cam Dodson (Wasps)
BIARRITZ
Jonathan Joseph of Bath Rugby during the Challenge Cup Semi Final Match between Bath Rugby and Montpellier at the Recreation Ground on 1 May. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
US MONTABANAISE
Karl Wilkins (Northampton Saints)
SOYAUX-ANGOLEME XV
Matthew Dalton of Newcastle Falcons during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Newcastle Falcons at the Recreation Ground on 31 December 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Matthew Dalton (Newcastle Falcons)
CARCASSONNE
George Merrick (Newcastle Falcons)
RC MASSEY ESSONNE
Will Haydon-Wood of Newcastle Falcons reins at Stephan Lewies of Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership match between Harlequins and Newcastle Falcons at Twickenham Stoop, London on the 4th March 2022 - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
Will Haydon-Wood (Wasps)
No Signings from the Premiership
MONT-DE-MARSAN
USON NEVERS
RC VANNES
AGEN
COLOMIERS RUGBY
BEZIERS
ROUEN NORMANDIE RUGBY
FRENCH RUGBY NATIONALE (3RD DIVISION)
CS BOURGOIN-JALLIEU
Morgan Eames (Bristol Bears)
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