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Fissler Confidential: Leicester Tigers to let England international go
By Neil Fissler
Harlequins are closing in on a deal to take Toulon and Samoa inside centre Duncan Paia’aua to the Twickenham Stoop from the start of next season when his deal with the Top 14 high flyers runs out.
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Three of Paia’aua’s four appearances this season have come at full-back, but his preferred position is inside centre, while the former Australia A international has also operated at outside centre and fly-half.
The 29-year-old was born in Porirua on New Zealand’s North Island before his family moved to Melbourne when he was three. He joined Toulon in 2019 after spells with Queensland County and Queensland Reds and has won 12 Test caps.
Former England inside centre Dan Kelly is tipped to become the third player to leave Leicester when his contract runs out at the end of the season, with his CV doing the rounds of Gallagher Premiership and United Rugby Championship sides.
The Manchester-born 23-year-old has been mentioned as a possible target for Sale Sharks. He was capped by England against Canada in July 2021 and could join Julian Montoya, who is joining Pau, and Jamie Shillcock in leaving the club.
Fly-half Shillcock is close to agreeing on a contract with French club Brive, while Springboks No10 Handre Pollard is edging towards securing a move to Japan when his contract ends in June.
Gloucester spies travelled to Saracens last weekend to watch Bulls tighthead Mornay Smith in action in their Investec Champions Cup defeat to the former European and Premiership champions. The Cherry and Whites and Bristol Bears have both been linked with a move for Smith on a deal from the start of next season when his contract with the URC outfit runs out.
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The Pretoria-born 26-year-old started his third game of the season on the replacements bench but came on for Francois Klopper 10 minutes into the second half of the Bulls’ 27-5 defeat at StoneX Stadium.
Exeter hooker Dan Frost is in advanced talks to swap Sandy Park for Premiership rivals Bath when his contract runs out at the end of the season. The 27-year-old former England U18 international started his career with home town club Taunton Titans before moving to Cornish Pirates. He joined the Chiefs in October 2022 when Wasps entered administration.
Frost has been a bright spot for Exeter this season, scoring four tries in nine appearances, including a brace in the Champions Cup defeat against the Sharks last weekend. He will start when Toulouse visit Devon on Sunday evening.
Premiership champions Northampton have seen off one bid from France to sign their Fiji international Temo Mayanavanua after Montpellier made enquiries about taking him to GGL Stadium next season.
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Saints have already lost South African Juarno Augustus to URC outfit Ulster next season, and Montpellier were very keen on heaping more misery on them by signing the 27-year-old Mayanavanua.
Much to Saints’ relief, though, they have opted to extend the contract of controversial France lock Bastien Chalureau for another two years and dropped their interest in Mayanavanua, who helped Fiji to Pacific Nations Cup glory last September.
Munster are set to step up their search for a new head coach almost two months after parting company with former boss Graham Rowntree. Head of rugby operations Ian Costello has been interim head coach since Rowntree left at the end of October and they recently brought in Chris Boyd until the end of the season.
Mike Prendergast said last week that his hat was in the ring to become their next permanent boss, which will be music to the ears of transfer targets who had been reluctant to commit themselves while everything was up in the air.
American superstar Ilona Maher has already taken Bristol by storm. Even though she won’t be making her Premiership Women’s Rugby debut for another month, she is already eying her next career move.
The Olympic bronze medalist, who is playing for the Bears for three months to get herself up to speed for the women’s Rugby World Cup later in 2025, could move to the NRLW in 2026. She can expect an invite to the NRL’s combine in Las Vegas, but a club may decide to roll the dice before then and offer her a deal without going through the selection process.
Racing 92 have abandoned their bid to lure Ireland No8 Jack Conan away from Leinster when his contract runs out at the end of the season. Racing bosses, who were armed with cash from the sale of Siya Kolisi, had Conan on their shopping list, but he is now set to stay in the Irish capital when his contract runs out next summer.
The 32-year-old is now believed to be in advanced talks with the IRFU about extending his contract and spending the twilight years of his career in his homeland and challenging for a place at the next World Cup.
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Disappointed in Shillcock if true. Professed to be his dream come true when he got the gig with Tigers. Really thought he was a keeper.
Dan Kelly's departure has been mooted for aaaages
Really hope he stays in the prem and gets another few England caps