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Fissler Confidential: Favourites emerge to land Handre Pollard
By Neil Fissler
Racing 92 emerged as surprise contenders for the signature of former Australia and Argentina boss Michael Cheika, who is leaving Leicester Tigers when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
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Cheika, 57, spent two years coaching Racing’s arch-rivals Stade Francais between 2010 and 2012, but his CV has been doing the rounds at their state-of-the-art training facilities at Plessis Robinson in the last week.
Racing are looking for a permanent replacement for Stuart Lancaster, and his main competition could come from former Racing lock Karim Ghezal, who has been head coach of Lyon this season after getting sacked by the Pink Army.
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Bordeaux are in advanced talks to keep South African tight-head Carlu Sadie, who was due to return home and join the Bulls when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
Sadie, 27, who has played for the Stormers, the Lions, Stade Francais and the Sharks, has played for Bordeaux since the start of last season and has started 13 of the 15 games that he has played for them this season.
Bordeaux are keen for him to stay at the Stade Chaban-Delmas for the next two years but need to reach an agreement for a compensation package with the Bulls.
Former London Irish and Ulster boss Les Kiss will go head-to-head with ex Leicester Tigers head coach Dan McKellar in the race to replace Joe Schmidt as Australia head coach when he stands down later this year.
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Schmidt’s last game in charge will be against the All Blacks in October, and it is seen as a straight shoot out the former Premiership bosses who coach Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs respectively for his job.
Rugby Australia are set to look to see if there are any candidates abroad, but Kiss and McKellar are seen as the favourites, while ACT Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham does have some support.
Gloucester’s squad for next season continues to take shape after they turned their attention to agreeing a new deal with prop Jamal Ford-Robinson, who can play on either side of the front row.
Fissler Confidential understands that former Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears ace Ford-Robinson, 27, who has played over 100 games for the club, held talks with Cherry and Whites bosses earlier this week.
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Gloucester have also signed up Zebra’s Italian international loosehead Danilo Fischetti, 27, who used to play for London Irish on a start that starts in July when his contract with the Rugby Rugby Championship outfit ends.
Suntory Sungoliath are leading the race to land two-time World Cup Handre Pollard when his contract with Leicester Tigers runs out at the end of the season.
Pollard, 30, who has played for the Bulls, Red Hurricanes Osaka, and Montpelier before arriving in the East Midlands in 2022, is being chased by a handful of clubs in Japan’s Rugby League One.
The Tigers are resigned to losing Pollard after taking too long to get themselves together and, in a double setback, received an initial cold shoulder after asking Owen Farrell if he was planning to come back from France this summer.
Saracens have released US Eagles hooker Kapeli Pifeleti who has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Pro D2 promotion hopefuls Provence Rugby who are chasing Grenoble and Beziers at the top of the table.
Tonga born, Pifeleti, 25, who has scored one try in five appearances for the former Premiership and European Champions this season, made 49 appearances for the North London side after through their academy.
Mark McCall is well served at hooker with Jamie George and Theo Dan heading his resources and he could make his debut against Stade Montois on Thursday evening after signing a deal until 2027.
Lyon have announced that they have reached an agreement that will see New Zealand fly-half Fletcher Smith released from the last six months of his contract with the club.
Smith, 29, who also plays full-back, was signed as a medical joker for Lima Sopoaga three years ago and only played twice for Lyon this season could return home or go back to Japan’s Rugby League One.
He played for the Green Rockets Tokatsu in Japan after stints in Super Rugby with the Hurricanes and the Highlanders before moving to Lyon, where he scored 74 points in 25 appearances.
Italian international brothers Niccolo Cannone and his younger sibling Lorenzo are set to be on the move to the UK this summer, according to reports in the Italian media.
Benetton Rugby No. 8 Lorenzo, 24, who is set to face Wales this weekend to win his 25th international cap, has played seven times for the club this season and has clocked up 52 appearances in total.
Much sought after lock Niccolo, who is two years older, has played 13 times for Benetton, and 86 in total will win his 50th test cap against Warren Gatland’s side.
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Japan. Good move for the body for Polly.