The 2024/2025 season of the French Pro D2 is about to start, and the number of international players keeps growing with the likes of Courtney Lawes, George North, Chris Farrell, and Curwin Bosch having joined it.
Northampton boss Phil Dowson has lost the services of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto for 2023/24 after the Gallagher Premiership club agreed to release the Australian on compassionate grounds.
Northampton Saints have confirmed the names of seven more players that are set to exit the club at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
New Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson will lead a group of 60 players in his first season at the helm - up from 58 in 2021/22 - with 19 new faces arriving at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, including Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
Nick Mullins is ideally placed to assess the hopes of the 13 teams for whom the road to Twickenham next June gets underway this weekend.
Northampton Saints have signed Samoan international second row Brandon Nansen from the Dragons.
Brive were worthy returnees to the Top 14 after a single Pro D2 campaign and while recruitment has been limited, there can expect consolidation in 2020/21.
Time is short, but Steve Jackson has lofty ambitions with Manu Samoa. The head coach of world rugby’s No 16-ranked side has been in the job less than a month but flies out this weekend for a Northern tour.
Lima Sopoaga is already proving his considerable worth for Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership.
