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The English club that just moved a step closer to signing Paddy Jackson

By Online Editors

07 Jan 2019

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

A new club has emerged as the favourite to sign former Ulster and Ireland star Paddy Jackson.

Jackson – who moved to Perpignan at the start of the season after his IRFU contract was terminated – had been the French side’s starting flyhalf for the first half of the season.

However, the Top 14 outfit are having a nightmare return to the French top flight, and are yet to record a victory. What’s more, Jackson’s standing at the club and with the fans have taken a serious blow since he was linked with a move away from the troubled side – even suffering the ignominy of being booed by his own fans.

The 27-year-old was initially linked with a move to Lyon in November, with French out-half Lionel Beauxis set to leave the club for Oyonnax.

RugbyPass now understands that Jackson is close to finalising a deal with Championship side London Irish. Irish are expected to bounce back up into the Gallagher Premiership this season, and had an interest in Jackson at the end of last season when he was forced to depart Ulster.

London Irish plan to move back to the capital with a ground share at Brentford FC, and are in need of star power to bolster the squad ahead of that return.

They are also set to benefit from a major windfall, namely the Premiership Rugby’s £200million minority stake sale to CVC Capital Partners.

RugbyPass revealed on the weekend that Irish are also set to sign Tongan secondrow Steve Mafi.

The former Leicester Tigers lock – who can also play in the backrow – is currently plying his trade for Top 14 champions Castres.

Last year the Tongan had been linked with a return to Welford Road for this season. Mafi had apparently agreed terms with the now departed Tigers’ coach Matt O’Connor, who was fired by the club just one game into the 2018/19 season.

A source has told RugbyPass that the Mafi is instead set to agree terms with the Exiles for an annual salary in the region of £500,000 per year.

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BM 25 minutes ago

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Great but players do play like Oz too BS!!

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GrahamVF 29 minutes ago

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And Itoje got away with a neck roll?

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GrahamVF 37 minutes ago

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I think the English team played way better than their previous two games but for me there were two deciding factors. The full back was beaten three times for tries and it would have been a fourth but for a slight forward drift. Secondly according to match stats England carried 110 times for five line breaks and South Africa carried 88 times for seven line breaks. Marcus Smith was the instigator if not the perpetrator of many of the English line breaks but as the game wore on he was much more closely policed by the Bok defence, hence only one score from a penalty in the second half. So generally England's attacking strategy is largely give the ball to Marcus which is going to put huge pressure on him.

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Another 41 minutes ago

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I would be surprised if Australia pull ahead of NZ, given the inertia that exists in the comparative strengths of their domestic teams. However, I do think that Australia are putting their house in order right now and will definitely make up a strong Rugby Championship next year.

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AA 42 minutes ago

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Players defend Borthwick .

Well they would , considering he picks them .

They defended Eddie too..

We can all see that after 2 years ,while the play has speeded up ,the organisation is hopeless.

If you keep taking the captain off early , well what do you expect .

How many vice captains on the field ??

Too many.

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BM 48 minutes ago

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Linda Julian (LJ) 53 minutes ago

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Another 59 minutes ago

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It is Official that Ireland are the most overrated team in World Rugby right now! 😁

In seriousness, from a NZ perspective:

1 South Africa

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3 New Zealand

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6 Scotland

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In terms of trends Australia are on the way up and Ireland on the way down. The rankings don’t yet bear this out, but Australia’s next two matches might make it real. Notably, Ireland have an ageing side but Australia a young side.

I think, from a NZ perspective again, that we have the potential to go top again, but South Africa and France are clearly in the way currently. We do get to play both teams in series in 2025 though, so well worth aiming for that.

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JK 1 hour ago

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For whatever reason England is not clicking. Either bin the coach or change out some of the players. More of the same will yield the same results - some good play, some crap but general inconsistency

England has the population, wealth and history to be a top 5 rugby nation but it's not currently. Start from reality

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robbo 1 hour ago

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fl 1 hour ago

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Too early for him.

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He needs to spend the year bulking up, working on his defence, and winning the u20 world cup. Then this time next year he'll be able to seriously challenge for the England no.8 shirt.

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Icefarrow 1 hour ago

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GrahamVF 1 hour ago

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Cantab 1 hour ago

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Ireland & England could be even money but Australia more likely to be 4th as they have the joy of playing away to the Boks . NZ are still improving and Aussie don't have the depth to consistently trouble the top sides

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fl 1 hour ago

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great player - but I think his future lies at 8.

I didn't see the game on Sunday, but every time I have seen him play his defensive workrate and positioning has looked an issue. If he's an 8, his attacking play and jackaling is more than enough to make up for that, but if he's a 7 he's going to limit who can be selected at 6 and 8, as there needs to be at least one really top drawer defender in the back row.

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DP 1 hour ago

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DrinkAwayTheConcussion 1 hour ago

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I’m not as harsh on the midfield as that, I like the Jordie/Rieko combo skill set wise, it’s more their use.

Just battering ram up the middle type stuff, I’d prefer they used the ball more and tried to manipulate one-on-ones.

Rieko’s defense at 13 is unmatched unfortunately and it was the biggest criticism of him a few years back.

(Incidentally I swear he made his starting debut at 13 against France in 2016 but maybe not.)

Proctor has some defense work to sort out, if he does then it will be hard to keep him out.