England's Henry Arundell Completes Shock Move To The Top 14

The back-three flyer is a free agent following the collapse of London Irish, with the Parisian club fastest to secure the speedster's signature.

According to a report in French sports news outlet Arundell's move to Racing 92 is a "done deal".

The 20-year-old was also previously linked with a move to Bath and Bristol Bears, yet Arundell seems to have decided to pursue the Top 14 over a return to the Gallagher Premiership.

If the move is confirmed, Arundell will become the latest English talent to make the move to France, and join the likes of Sam Simmonds, Jack Nowell and Jack Willis in the Top 14. Arundell made his England breakthrough as an 'apprentice player' in 2022, and has since made seven caps for his country.

The RFU selection saga regarding overseas based England players is yet to reach a definite conclusion, yet Arundell may be putting his future in Steve Borthwick's side in jeopardy should he complete the move to Racing 92.

Regarded as one of the Premiership's brightest young talents, Arundell made his breakthrough into the rugby landscape in the 2021/22 season. Arundell went viral after he scored a breath-taking solo try against Toulon in the Challenge Cup, running in a staggering effort from his own try-line.

The arrival of Arundell comes at an opportune time for the Parisian club, with the expected departure of South African star Warrick Gelant to the Stormers. The ex-London Irish fullback becomes the tenth reported signing for Racing 92, who have bolstered the ranks with the likes of Springboks Captain Siya Kolisi, Wales' lock Will Rowlands, and Fiji's 'Human Bulldozer' Josua Tuisova.

The Wallabies lock, who initially joined the club in 2019, has reached an agreement to join Bordeaux, a Top 14 club.

Sources have indicated that the winger will join the Stormers in South Africa on a two-year deal after impressing against the Cape Town franchise in the Champions Cup

who initially joined the club in 2019, has reached an agreement to join Bordeaux, a Top 14 club.

Australian prop Ollie Hoskins joined London Irish from Western Force in the build up to the 2016/17 season.

Hoskins played 24 times for Irish during the 2016/17 season, including an outing in the Championship Play-off Final.

Following a string of great performances in the 2017/18 Aviva Premiership campaign, Hoskins has continued to show his importance to the Irish squad.

His consistently high standard of performances in a London Irish shirt led to Ollie becoming a London Irish centurion, passing the 100-appearance mark for the Club in the 2020/21 season.

In the 2021/22 season, Hoskins played in 25 of Irish's games across three competitions, opening the season with a brace away to Worcester Warriors and then scoring in an important win over Edinburgh Rugby in the EPCR Challenge Cup pool stages.

He had the 18th most attacking ruck arrivals in the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership (351) and joint 25th most carries (159), ranking him in the top five and top three amongst props in the division respectively.

The proud Australian earned his first cap for his country in the 2021 autumn internationals when the Wallabies visited Twickenham Stadium.

Hoskins signed a contract extension with the club in the offseason preceding the 2022/23 season and is on course to surpass 150 appearances in the following campaign. 

Reports across the channel suggested last week that the Ireland international would sign with Top 14 strugglers Pau, who finished 12th last season.

Well regarded for his step and his ability as a broken field runner, Jackson is equally comfortable at inside centre. Jackson has been keenly followed by Irish Rugby fans for years, chiefly due to the fact that he was one The All Ireland League’s top point scorers for Dungannon RFC only a year after finishing school. Such impressive club form made an Ulster contract an inevitability. 

Jackson made his Ulster debut in early 2011 against the Scarlets. He was included in the Ireland Junior World Championship squad in 2011 and also went on to captain the U20s in their 2012 Six Nations campaign. 

He made his senior international debut in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations against Scotland and toured with the senior squad to North America. 

The Ulster man was then dropped for a number of matches form the Irish squad, but re-found his form starring for Ulster in the 2014/15 Pro 12 season. A string of excellent performances at the flyhalf position led to him being selected in Irelands 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

He started all three tests in South Africa in 2016 - showing he is an able deputy at out half as Ireland claimed an historic first by beating the Springboks in Cape Town.

Paddy has improved his game-management and is a threat in attack with natural pace and sharp distribution and in May 2017, Jackson was named in the Ireland squad to tour USA & Japan.

Jackson has played 123 times for Ulster and represented Ireland on 25 occasions.

In June 2018, Perpignan president François Rivière confirmed that the flyhalf has signed for the club on a two-year deal.

May 2019 saw Jackson sign a deal with London Irish ahead of the 2019/20 season.

The Rugby Paper suggests that Bristol may make an offer to sign Lovejoy Chawatama, a 30-year-old tighthead prop from Zimbabwe.

Chawatama, the Zimbabwean athlete who gained renown as the Zimbabwe Sports Personality of the Year in 2017, became a member of the Exiles team after leaving London Welsh in that very year.

Standing at an impressive height of 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 18 stone, this formidable prop forward has accumulated a commendable record of 75 appearances for London Irish. His arrival at Bristol Rugby Club presents an opportunity to bolster their ranks with his wealth of experience in the number three jersey.

This acquisition is particularly valuable as the team will face the absence of their first-choice tighthead, Kyle Sinckler, who is committed to England throughout the upcoming season.

Ben White, who left Leicester Tigers at the end of the 2020/21 season, put pen to paper on a deal with the Exiles to join ahead of the next campaign.

White made history when he became the youngest player in Leicester Tigers’ Premiership history when he came off the bench against Harlequins in September 2016, aged just 17 years and 151 days.

He made nine appearances in all competitions for the Tigers last term, having clocked up over 50 in the previous two campaigns.

White demonstrated his experience in a green shirt from the off, and going on to make 25 appearances for the Exiles just in his first season. 

These detailed starting berths in all of the Gallagher Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup (including starting in the final) and also in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

He scored five tries in his first year with London Irish and proved his dependability on big occasions, including in a comeback draw at home to Sale Sharks, an away win at Harlequins and the team's only try in the 2022 Premiership Rugby Cup final. 

The scrum-half was selected by Gregor Townsend in the Scotland national team for the first time during the 2022 Guinness Six Nations following on from his impressive adaptation to life in west London. 

In a 30 minute cameo, White had a scoring debut for his nation, replacing Ali Price and aiding his team to record a famous 20-17 win over England at Murrayfield.