Summer signings XV: the best Premiership transfers for next season so far
Rugby NewsWednesday, 02 May 2018 at 16:11
We have seen an unprecedented number of World stars coming to England to ply their trade as well as big names moving to their Premiership rivals, let's see just how good a side could be with the best of the bunch.
Let's see just how good a side could be with the best of the bunch.
FULLBACK: ALEX LEWINGTON (LONDON IRISH TO SARACENS)
Sarries have agreed a deal to sign London Irish speedster Lewington at the end of the season. The 26-year-old has scored 24 tries in 63 matches for the Exiles since joining the Berkshire-based club from Leicester Tigers in the summer of 2013.
WINGER: NATHAN EARLE (SARACENS TO HARLEQUINS)
He started for England against the Barbarians in May last year and was part of the squad which toured Argentina last summer, although he did not feature for Eddie Jones' side. A very exciting talent.
RUCK POLL:
OUTSIDE-CENTRE: JAMIE ROBERTS (HARLEQUINS TO BATH)
Capped 94 times by Wales, Roberts featured in the 2009 and 2013 British & Irish Lions tours and will arrive in the West Country following three years with Harlequins. The hugely experienced centre started his career with Cardiff RFC before joining Cardiff Blues in 2007. After making over 80 appearances for the Welsh outfit, Roberts spent two seasons with French Top 14 side Racing Metro.
INSIDE-CENTRE: LIMA SOPOAGA (HIGHLANDERS TO WASPS)
Sopoaga is filling in at centre as we're in need of creativity in the midfield, especially with Roberts at 13. The 26-year-old, who has played 16 Tests for the All Blacks, has effectively ruled himself out of selection for the 2019 World Cup. Sopoaga was part of New Zealand’s U20 side that retained the junior IRB World Championship title in 2011, where he appeared alongside back-rower Brad Shields, with whom he will be reunited at Wasps next season.
WINGER: ALEX CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES TO EXETER CHIEFS)
He's joined the Chiefs on a three-year deal. Cuthbert, who toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2013, will complete his move to Sandy Park from Cardiff Blues at the end of the season. The move means the 27-year-old will no longer be available for Wales selection due to new rules announced last year.
FLY-HALF: DAN BIGGAR (OSPREYS TO NORTHAMPTON SAINTS)
The 27-year-old will move to Franklin's Gardens in the summer of 2018 after completing this season with Ospreys. Biggar has won 62 caps for Wales and was a member of the British & Irish Lions squad in New Zealand last summer. The exact length of Biggar's contract with Saints has not been disclosed. Biggar has made more than 200 appearances for Pro14 side Ospreys since 2007 and scored over 2,000 points for the region.
SCRUM-HALF: WILL CHUDLEY (EXETER CHIEFS TO BATH)
Chudley will join Bath at the end of the current Premiership season, although contract terms are undisclosed. The 29-year-old was a Premiership winner with the Chiefs last season and has been at Sandy Park since moving from Newcastle in 2012.
LOOSEHEAD PROP: BEN FRANKS (LONDON IRISH TO NORTHAMPTON)
The 33-year-old, who won the World Cup with the All Blacks in 2015 and has earned 47 international caps, will join from fellow Aviva Premiership side London Irish in the summer. He will replace Kieran Brookes who has already announced he will be leaving Franklin's Gardens at the end of the current campaign.
HOOKER: GEORGE MCGUIGAN (LEICESTER TO NEWCASTLE)
The 25-year-old, who will join up with Falcons ahead of next season, made 69 appearances during his first stint having come through their academy. McGuigan has missed much of the 2017-18 campaign because of a neck injury.
TIGHTHEAD PROP: NICK AUTERAC (BATH TO HARLEQUINS)
The 25-year-old loosehead will add further strength and depth to front row options at The Stoop, which already include England props Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler and Will Collier, plus the up-and-coming Lewis Boyce – who received his first call up to the England senior squad earlier this year.
LOCK: DOM BARROW (LEICESTER TO NORTHAMPTON)
Barrow has since signed for La Rochelle on a short-term deal as a medical joker, but will then move to Franklin’s Gardens at the end of the current campaign. The towering, Sheffield-born lock began his rugby career in Yorkshire Carnegie’s academy, but, after a two-year stint with Newcastle Falcons, he has now made over 50 appearances for Tigers. Barrow was shortlisted for Young Player and Newcomer of the Year in his debut season at Welford Road, before being nominated for Supporters’ Player of the Year in 2017.
LOCK: TAQELE NAIYARAVORO (NORTHAMPTON SAINTS)
The 26-year-old Fiji-born back will join the Premiership side in time for the 2018-19 campaign. He scored nine tries in 22 games while at Glasgow in 2015-16 and scored against England in his most recent international appearance in June 2016. He may be a winger but he's also 6ft 5in and played there before.
FLANKER: BRAD SHIELDS (HURRICANES TO WASPS)
Shields was labelled 'England's next number six' after he starred in the Hurricanes' 50-19 Super Rugby victory over the Rebels. His parents, Danielle and Nigel, were born in England before relocating to the southern hemisphere as youngsters - and returned to the country a few years ago. The flanker, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has made no secret of his international ambitions when he relocates to Coventry
FLANKER: GUY THOMPSON (WASPS TO LEICESTER)
Head coach Matt O'Connor believes that the versatility of the 31-year-old will give him added back-row options at Welford Road. The 31-year-old back-rower has appeared over 90 times since joining Wasps from Jersey in 2013 and has scored 24 tries.
NUMBER 8: DAVID DENTON (WORCESTER TO LEICESTER)
Denton, who is 28, first came to prominence during a spell with Edinburgh before moving to Bath in the Aviva Premiership and then switching to Sixways for this season. He made his debut ahead of the World Cup in 2011 and has gone on to earn 30 caps for Scotland.
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