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Fissler Confidential: Leicester Tigers set sights on Orlando Bailey
By Neil Fissler
Leicester Tigers could move for former England Under-20 fly-half Orlando Bailey to replace Brive-bound Jamie Shillcock in what would be a much-needed boost in the transfer market.
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The Tigers, who are looking for both a first- and second-choice playmaker to join their squad next season, are finding that players are reluctant to commit themselves while the coaching position at the club remains uncertain.
Dorchester-born Bailey, 23, has played 97 games for Bath but has been delayed in reaching his century after being injured against Bristol Bears in February, forcing him to withdraw from England A’s clash with Ireland A.
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A deal has been completed to take Scotland hooker Dave Cherry from Edinburgh to the Top 14’s bottom-placed side, Vannes, who appear to be heading for a return to the French second tier after just one season.
RugbyPass reported in December that the veteran Scotland international had been told he was surplus to requirements and had held talks with Leicester Tigers about a Premiership move.
However, Vannes have now confirmed their signing of Cherry, who will celebrate his 35th birthday in January and has previous experience of playing in France after a stint with Nice-based Stade Niçois.
Cornish Pirates fly-half Bruce Houston is set to swap Kernow for the Alpes next season to join Bourg-en-Bresse-based Union Sportive Bressane, who play in the French third tier, Nationale.
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Bressane are eighth out of 14 in the table with 57 points after winning ten of their 24 games this season, and their best-known player is former Harlequins and Samoa hooker Elia Elia.
Ballymena-born Houston, 25, started his career with Ulster and also had a stint at Edinburgh before moving to the Pirates. He has scored 98 points in 19 appearances for the Penzance-based Championship outfit this season.
Exeter Chiefs have held contract talks with former England Under-20 scrum-half Stu Townsend, who has been linked with a move to Premiership rivals Harlequins when his deal runs out at the end of the season.
Torbay-born Townsend, 29, joined the Chiefs in 2012 and had loan spells at Taunton and Cornish Pirates. He was a member of the squad that lost the Premiership Cup final against Bath two weeks ago.
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Chiefs boss Rob Baxter is hopeful that at least two players out of contract this summer, including long-serving hooker Jack Yeandle, will re-sign.
Former Lions tourist Ross Moriarty has now completed a deal that will see him return to Wales this summer and join the Ospreys when his contract with Brive ends in June.
St Helens-born back-row Moriarty, 30, who has been playing in France since leaving the Dragons in April 2023, had been linked with several clubs when it emerged he was ready to return to the UK.
But the Ospreys have secured a move to bring him back to Swansea, where his father Paul made over 300 appearances—either side of a spell in rugby league—and where his uncle Richard holds the all-time appearance record.
Sale Sharks have suffered a blow in the transfer market after Lions winger Edwill van der Merwe, who has won one cap for the Springboks, decided to remain in South Africa to keep his hopes of a Test recall alive.
Alex Sanderson wanted Van der Merwe, 28, to join his Lions team-mate Marius Louw in a move to the North-West when his contract with the Johannesburg franchise runs out at the end of the season.
He will instead be plying his trade for the Durban-based Sharks next season, who have also seen off a late bid from the Lions to keep him in Cash van Rooyen’s squad.
Bayonne have completed a deal that will see one of Australian rugby’s brightest talents, Under-18s sevens star Declan Minto, move to the Top 14 later this year.
Minto, 18, a former Sydney Roosters junior who attends St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill in New South Wales, clocked an impressive 11.34 seconds for 100 metres at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre last September.
He attracted interest from clubs in both codes but opted for a move to France after helping Australia claim the Global Youth Sevens title at the end of last year.
The Lions could have a royal seal of approval after King Charles was invited to attend the first Test against Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in July.
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reports that Rugby Australia sent an invitation for the King to be guest of honour at the game, via the Governor General Sam Mostyn, and is awaiting a reply.
The King, who is undergoing cancer treatment, visited Australia and Samoa last year. His sons, William and Harry, are big rugby fans, and his nephew-in-law is England World Cup winner Mike Tindall.
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