Five Biggest Signings Ahead of the 2023/24 Premiership Season

The dissolvement of these three clubs has flooded the transfer market, with a new-look Premiership landscape being shaped up for the 2023/24 Premiership campaign.

The tightening salary cap has also had a significant impact on the league, with the likes of Exeter Chiefs and Newcastle Falcons re-building their squads, ahead of this new era in the Premiership.

Here are the Top 5 Premiership Signings, ahead of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season.

Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish to Leicester Tigers)

Solomone Kata (Exeter Chiefs to Leicester Tigers)

Kalaveti Ravouvou (Fijian Drua to Bristol Bears)

Zach Mercer (Montpellier to Gloucester)

Arguably the signing of the season, Scotland's talisman Finn Russell will be calling the Premiership home for the first time in his career, when he arrives at the Rec after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Russell signs for Bath for a reported salary that will see him become the leagues' highest paid player, with the Scotsman agreeing a deal speculated around £1million a year.

Russell arrives in Bath from Racing 92, which he has resided at since 2018. Russell took over the halfback reigns from Dan Carter, as the legendary All Black departed the Parisians for Japan ahead of the 2018/19 season. Russell will bring an electrifying edge to the Bath attacking line, as the former British & Irish Lion dictates the game with an exciting tempo.

Russell shone for Scotland throughout the 2023 Six Nations, as his side recorded memorable victories over England, Wales and Italy. Russell provided four try assists during the competition, and made a staggering 340 ball-in-hand metres in 320 minutes on the pitch. Bath fans are certainly excited to see Russell make his debut in the blue, black and white stripes, with the Somerset club setting themselves up for an exciting season.

One of the most explosive steppers the Premiership has ever seen, Telusa Veainu is set to make his return to the top flight of English rugby, after signing with Sale Sharks for the 2023/24 season. Formally of Leicester Tigers, Veainu first arrived in the Premiership back in 2015, and quickly became a fan favourite at Welford Road.

Veainu marked his Tigers debut with a try against Wasps, and was promptly encouraged to sign a contract extension. The Tongan international stayed with the Tigers until 2020, before he departed for a three year stint with Stade Francais in the Top 14. The elusive outside back gained notoriety during his exhilarating time in the Premiership, and took the league by storm from the get go.

Veainu was awarded the titles of 'Newcomer of the Year' and also the illustrious 'Player of the Year', in his first season at Leicester Tigers. He was also included in Will Greenwood's Daily Telegraph Team of the Year for the 2016/17 Premiership Season, with Sale Sharks fans excited to see him bring more of that previous fire back to the Premiership.

Bristol Bears have bolstered their ranks with the full signing of England winger Max Malins, with the added bonus of securing the star from Premiership rivals Saracens. Bears fans are familiar with Malins, as he signed on loan during the 2020/21 season, and even scored in Bristol's victorious Challenge Cup Final that year.

Malins ended the 2022/23 Premiership season as the joint-third highest try scorer, as he scored 11 tries for Saracens. Malins has previously been crowned the Premiership's top try scorer, as he ended the 2021/22 Premiership season at top spot with 16 tries.

Bristol have certainly signed an undeniable try-machine, in what is an exciting addition for the Ashton Gate faithful. Malins has the added team chemistry of joining up with several England teammates at the Bears, as the likes of Kyle Sinckler and Ellis Genge will make the move a seamless transition for Malins.

Despite England not having a memorable Six Nations by their standards, Malins was impressive on the international stage earlier this year. The 26-year-old scored two tries, and set up a further one for England, whilst making 244 metres with the ball in the process. Bristol fans will have all eyes on Malins at the Rugby World Cup, with the winger ready to showcase his talents once again.

The transfer of talented young Welshman Joe Hawkins to Exeter Chiefs, has been thrust into the spotlight by the ongoing WRU contract saga. Hawkins has five caps for his country, which is below the threshold of the 25-cap limit required to play for Wales whilst based in a different country.

Unfortunately, Hawkins is ineligible to represent Wales at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but Exeter Chiefs fans are certainly excited at the signing of the centre. Whilst based at the Ospreys, Hawkins burst onto the international scene, and had a starring role in Wales' rather turbulent 2023 Six Nations campaign. Hawkins played in all but one match for Wales, and was a driving force in the midfield.

Hawkins made 44 carries in the competition, and established himself on the biggest stages. Confident to take the ball to the line at just 21-years-old, Hawkins made 279 metres with the ball, and presented his versatility in attack by kicking an additional 234m all-together. An all-rounder who is yet to enter his prime, Exeter Chiefs have struck gold in the form of Hawkins. A talented young gem from Wales, Hawkins has all the qualities it takes to grow and thrive in the Premiership.

And who knows, if Hawkins stays with the Chiefs for the foreseeable future, Steve Borthwick may well come scouting the centre as he hits his prime. If the eligibility and residency laws remain the same, Hawkins could well be on his way to representing England at the 2027 Rugby World Cup!

The Premiership had to bid farewell to hard-hitting back-rower Tom Willis, following the unfortunate collapse of Wasps back in October. However, Willis is set to make his return to England, as he has agreed a move to Saracens ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Like his brother Jack, Tom Willis found a new home in France after his boyhood club entered administration.

Willis was promptly picked up by Top 14 side Bordeaux-Begles, and muscled his way into a back-row slot. However, after less than a full season in France, Willis is ready to return to the Premiership, with the Sarries faithful eagerly anticipating his arrival at the StoneX Stadium.

Willis' brother Jack opted to extend his stay in France, as he signed a three-year contract extension with Toulouse. However Premiership fans are ready to see the return of one of Wasps' favourite sons, with his bone-crunching tackles and breakdown prowess sorely missed last season.

Willis seemed to have joined Mark McCall's side as a potential replacement for Billy Vunipola, who's Saracens future was previously uncertain. However the 30-year-old has now been called into the England squad by Steve Borthwick, and will be ready to battle for his number eight jersey once Willis arrives at Saracens. The retirement of Jackson Wray opens up a spot on the blindside flank, which Willis may have to occupy if Vunipola remains with the Men in Black.