Fissler Confidential: Paddy Jackson's future starts to become clearer

Former Ireland centre and Lions tourist Jared Payne, who is an assistant coach with URC rivals the Scarlets, has emerged as the new favourite to take over as Connacht boss.

New Zealand-born Payne, 39, moved into coaching with Ulster in 2018 after being forced into retirement when he failed to recover from an injury suffered on the 2017 Lions tour to his homeland.

He spent a year working in France for Clermont Auvergne after leaving Ulster in 2022 and was placed in interim charge when Jono Gibbes left, and he is known to be highly thought of by IRFU performance director David Humphreys.

Leicester Tigers, who are weighing up a move to bring former London Irish and Sale Sharks playmaker James O’Connor back to the Premiership for a third spell, could be looking at a more controversial name as well.

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The Tigers are growing increasingly desperate to sign a top-class fly-half for next season, and O’Connor, who has spent the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Crusaders in New Zealand, is someone who interests them.

And if a move for O’Connor doesn’t materialise, they are being linked with former Ireland international Paddy Jackson, as their search looks increasingly desperate, especially as it appears Owen Farrell will rejoin Saracens.

Glasgow Warriors have completed a deal that will see them sign Scotland-qualified fly-half Dan Lancaster when his contract with Racing 92 runs out at the end of next month.

Lancaster has been facing an uncertain future in the French capital since his father, former England boss Stuart, was sacked earlier this year, and Glasgow attempted to shut down talk of a move soon after we broke it last month.

The Scotstoun outfit were looking for a third playmaker to back up Adam Hastings and Duncan Weir following Tom Jordan’s departure for Bristol Bears and, despite their denials, always had Lancaster at the top of their wanted list.

Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti is set to change his policy of signing galácticos after having his fingers burnt for the second time in a year when Owen Farrell asked to leave the Paris La Défense Arena.

Lorenzetti is set to lose Farrell only a year after spending £500k to buy Farrell out of his Saracens contract, and it comes hot on the heels of Springbok superstar Siya Kolisi returning to the Sharks last September.

It appears that he will now implement a policy of signing younger players instead of splashing out on expensive, world-famous players with families who struggle to settle and often want to return home quickly.

Wigan Warriors are making plans for former England winger Christian Wade to join them as early as next week if Gloucester aren’t involved in the Premiership semi-finals.

The former NFL wannabee made the shock announcement that he was switching codes to join the Super League and World Club Champions Warriors on a short-term deal until the end of the Super League season in October.

Wade could join the Warriors early if the Cherry and Whites, who are fifth in the Premiership table, fail to beat Northampton or if either Leicester Tigers, Bristol Bears or Sale Sharks don’t slip up.

Former Super League star James Roby, Leadership, Culture, & Performance Coach at St. Helens, where he enjoyed a stellar career, spent a day with Leicester Tigers at Oval Park this week.

Roby, who won six Super League titles, four Challenge Cups, and two World Club Challenge titles, spent the day on a visit organised by Tigers Head of Athletic Performance Matt Parr, who worked at Dragons Catalans for two years.

“There were plenty of similarities to our environment at St.Helens R.F.C. but also valuable differences that challenged my thinking in the best way. Plenty to reflect on,” Roby wrote on his LinkedIn page.

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admits that he still has some work to do on improving his squad for next season, with the front row being the area that needs attention.

“We are close to being done, but we still have got a little bit of work around the front row to be done. Outside of that, we are pretty close to being done,” said Baxter.

There have been whispers of a potential move for Black Lion tighthead prop Bachuki Tchumbadze after Ulster tighthead Corrie Barrett, who has signed for the club, ruptured an Achilles tendon and faces a spell on the sidelines.

Wallabies full-back Tom Banks is close to securing a move to France with Montpellier in pole position to secure his services when his contract with Japan Rugby League One outfit Mie Honda Heat set to end.

Banks, 30, who has won 22 caps according to Midi Olympique, who turned down a move to the Top 14 in 2019 to stay with the Brumbies, is reported to be in advanced talks with Montpellier.

Anthony Bouthier and Julien Tisseron are leaving Montpellier this season, which leaves them short in the backs, and signing Brisbane-born Banks would help them address a problem area on their side.

Premier Sports could be about to increase the number of television rights it holds with a move to snap up those for the rebranded Champ Rugby.

A report in City AM says that Premier Sports currently have the rights to the Champions and Challenge Cups, United Rugby Championship, the Top 14, as well as Japanese and the United States domestic leagues.

And they now have their eyes on the 14-team Champ Rugby, giving a much-needed boost to the English second tier, which broadcasters have criminally ignored for many years.