Rugby transfer round-up as Maro Itoje, Henry Slade and Marcus Smith linked with moves

RUCK RUGBY takes a look at all the latest transfer stories with their rugby Transfer Round-Up

England second row Delaney Burns has signed a new deal with Premier 15s club Bristol. 

The 21-year-old forward has started every league match for the Bears this season.

Harlequins have announced that back-three player Aaron Morris will be retiring at the end of the season. Morris has been side-lined for the majority of the past two Premiership campaigns, due to a series of unrelenting injuries keeping the 28-year-old out of action. 

Morris arrived at the Twickenham Stoop from London rivals Saracens in 2021, and has since gone on to make 69 appearances for the club, and scored nine tries. Apart of the Quins side that won the 2021 Gallagher Premiership, Morris also won the U20 World Championship with England, alongside Quins teammates Jack Walker and James Chisholm.

London Irish Academy graduate Luke Green has joined Major League Rugby’s San Diego Legion on loan with immediate effect.

The prop links up with former Exile Blair Cowan in the playing squad and will be coached by another former Exile in Alex Corbisiero, San Diego’s Scrum Coach.

So far in their season, San Diego has picked up four wins and one loss from an opening five fixtures in the MLR.

Exeter have signed Wales back Joe Hawkins on a "long-term deal" from United Rugby Championship side Ospreys for the 2023-24 season.

They have also signed forward Ethan Roots from Ospreys and former Newcastle Falcons and Wasps fly-half Will Haydon-Wood from French Pro D2 side Massy Esonne for next season.

Tom Ellis, a versatile forward who was on loan at Saracens and played for 80 minutes against Sale Sharks in March, has been signed by the Sharks on a contract that will run until the end of the 2023/24 Premiership season. 

The 28-year-old, who came through the academy at Bath and played more than 100 games for his childhood club, will join Alex Sanderson’s squad immediately to prepare for the season’s end.

Maro Itoje and Marcus Smith, both of whom are England rugby stars, are reportedly considering offers to play in France or Japan, which would lead to them abandoning their international careers. 

According to sources, the two players are currently weighing their options in France, as their current contracts with Saracens and Harlequins respectively, are set to expire in 2024.

Henry Slade is the latest Exeter Chiefs star to be linked with a move overseas with The Rugby Paper linking him with a move to France.

Harlequins have today confirmed the departure of scrum-half Scott Steele, as the Scotsman returns home at the end of the season.

The scrum-half has agreed a move north of the border to Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship, and is the latest Quin to announce their departure from the Twickenham Stoop.