RUMOUR: Cipriani and Jones targeted for double swoop

Sunday, 07 March 2021 at 07:47

byRugby Rucker

Danny Cipriani and Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones are both reportedly targets for teams in Japan, according to a front page story in The Rugby Paper today.

Cipriani, who has been a free agent since leaving Gloucester in December, has also been attracting the interest of several Top 14 and Premiership clubs.

However, a £750,000 per season deal in Japan is now looking most likely with a number of Japanese clubs in the running.

Meanwhile, despite being out of contract this summer, Jones has no intention of calling it a day just yet.

His last deal was announced in July 2019 and contracted him to Ospreys and the WRU until June 2021.

Andrew Brownhill

@AndrewBrownhil

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After captaining his side to victory against England Alun Wyn Jones is spotted helping the ground staff clear the ground yesterday... Leadership and Culture is simply behaviours and actions 👇 🗣"The standard you walk past is the standard you accept."

8:12 PM · Feb 28, 2021

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The 36-year-old, who could double his wages with a move to Japan has told friends that he expects his future to be sorted by the end of the month.

DID YOU KNOW? Jones is also the record appearance holder for Ospreys and last appeared for the region in October 2020 against Ulster

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LIST: 4 England internationals linked with moves overseas

1. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)

The Powerhouse centre may have played his last game for England if the latest reports are to be believed. The 45-cap centre, who will be out until at least May with a snapped achilles tendon injury, will miss the entirety of the Six Nations, but is hoping to end his Test career with the British & Irish Lions in South Africa.

According to reports in France, the 29-year-old, who is out of contract with Sale Sharks this summer, is being lined up to join Racing 92 or Toulon in the TOP14 ahead of the 2021/22 season.

2. Owen Farrell (Saracens)

The Saracens fly-half, along with teammate Maro Itoje, has been placed at the top of the wishlist of Japan’s Top League which is seeking to massively expand its profile following the 2019 World Cup, according to The Telegraph.

owen farrell saracens england fly half 847327 1

3. Brad Shields (Wasps)

Reports in New Zealand suggest the Wasps flanker could return to the Southern Hemisphere, where the 29-year-old would rejoin the Hurricanes. The influential back-rower made his Super Rugby debut for the Wellington-based franchise in 2012 reached the 100-game mark at the end of the 2017 campaign.

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)

The England second-row has been linked with moves to Japan and South Africa in recent weeks. Despite the significant interest, it's unlikely that the RFU and Saracens would want to lose arguably England's best player.