Fissler Confidential: European giants target Bok prop Ntuthuko Mchunu

Stormers loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu is the latest player to be linked with a move to Bordeaux Bègles, who are keen on bolstering their front row resources.

Mchunu, 27, who started his career with the Sharks in Durban, became Steven Kitshoff’s replacement in Cape Town. The Springbok cap, who returned to the national team this summer, has always had admirers in the Top 14.

Bordeaux have compiled a list of possible signings for next summer, including Bath and England prop Beno Obano, whom they spoke to and showed around their training facilities last week.

Northampton Saints are continuing to look to sign up their top talent who have entered the final year of their contracts after Tommy Freeman signed a new deal.

The next in line is loosehead Manny Iyogun, who won his first England cap against Argentina in the summer, and they would also like to agree terms with openside Tom Pearson, who won his only international cap against Wales in a 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up.

Other big names in the final year of their Franklin Gardens deals are scrum-half Archie McParland and England back row Henry Pollock, who is worth £1 million a year according to Eddie Hearn.

Springbok hooker Johan Grobbelaar has given last season’s United Rugby Championship finalists, the Bulls, a massive eve-of-season boost by signing a three-year extension to his current deal, despite them having Malcolm Marx on their shopping list.

Grobbelaar was out of contract at the end of the season, but has now committed to the Bulls until 2030, according to South African publication Rapport on Sunday morning.

The Bulls have room for another hooker after Junior Boks hooker Esethu Mnebelele was snapped up by Sharks boss John Dobson from under their noses, but Grobbelaar is now locked in for the long term.

Scarlets and Wales winger Ellis Mee is an interesting name floating around Gallagher PREM recruitment chiefs after entering the final year of his contract with the Scarlets’ future under threat.

Mee, who started his professional career in the Champ with his home town club Nottingham before joining the Scarlets two years ago, has scored one try in 12 test match appearances for Steve Tandy’s side.

He signed a three-year deal with the Scarlets after moving from Nottingham and has attracted interest from Cardiff in the past, and could they revive their interest in Mee?

Leicester Tigers’ new boy Jack Bowen, who will move to the East Midlands after spending a season in Japan with Mitsubishi Dynaboars, is the grandson of Australian tennis legend Tony Roche.

The NSW Waratahs fly-half’s father, Scott, was capped nine times by the Wallabies before switching to Aussie Rules and is married to Kelly, the daughter of former French Open winner Tony.

An extremely tenuous connection between Roche and Leicester was that he beat Mark Cox, who learnt to play tennis at Rushey Fields some eight miles from Welford Road, 6-2, 9-7, 6-3 in the third round at Wimbledon in June 1970.

La Rochelle have made a late move in the transfer market to secure Chiefs tighthead Sione Ahio ahead of the new Top 14 campaign, and he is due in France this week.

Former New Zealand under-20 international Ahio, 25, who has played 18 games for the Chiefs and another 18 for Auckland in the NPC, will bolster Ronan O’Gara’s front row options.

Auckland-born Ahio, who is highly rated by the Chiefs, has signed a two-year contract with La Rochelle until the summer of 2028 and is a powerful addition to their arsenal.

Toulon, who recruited Scotland international Huw Jones and France star Gaël Fickou to bolster their ranks this season, are in the market for another centre for next season.

They have now got their eye on Clermont Auvergne’s former France under-20 international Leon Darricarrère, who plays at both inside and outside centre, and are reported to be in advanced talks.

Darricarrère, 22, who has scored 10 tries in 58 appearances for Clermont, has been offered a three-year deal to move when his contract runs out at the end of the season.