Harlequins swoop to sign trio from London Irish
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Harlequins have pounced for three players who found themselves out of work after the collapse of neighbours London Irish, including England centre Will Joseph.
The 20-year old, who was capped on last year's tour of Australia, will replace the departing Joe Marchant while the England U20 back rower Chandler Cunningham-South and prop Lovejoy Chawatama are also making the short move to the Stoop.
“We are in the position where, unfortunately, another club has gone into administration,” said Laurie Dalrymple, Quins chief executive. “Our first thoughts are with the supporters, players and staff who have all been affected by this which has been extremely distressing.
“As a club, we remain in a strong position. Our owners continue to be really invested in what we are doing. We are developing the club at the rate we want to and we are going really well commercially.
“We have had another really strong take up of our season tickets for next season. We are in as strong a place as we can be.
“I know there is macro pressure on the league. The Premiership is one of the best leagues in the world in terms of the players in it, the quality of the rugby and how close it is. Let us not lose sight of the value of what we have, but we need to continue to reset and deliver the best value we can on the pitch.
“I am aware this is the loss of another fixture that will place some pressure from a supporter perspective on the engagement they will have with us through the season.
“We ask them to bear with us while we look at how the season will play out and we will communicate back on the overall identity of the season and what people's season tickets and memberships will look like.”
Champions Saracens have signed Australia prop Ollie Hoskins and Newcastle have recruited outside-half Rory Jennings.
Ireland outside-half Paddy Jackson is bound for Lyon as Lima Sopoaga's replacement and his Scotland half-back partner Ben White also looks as if he will be playing in the Top 14 next season with Toulon set to outbid Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Centre Benhard van Rensburg will be at Bristol next season, filling a gap that has not been filled in the two years since Siale Piutau left the club.
“Benhard has been one of the outstanding centres in the Premiership over the past two seasons and we are pleased to bring a player of his quality to the club,” said Pat Lam, Bristol's director of rugby.
“He will add real quality on and off the field. His experience, versatility and well-rounded skill set on both sides of the ball will make him a superb addition to our team.”
Samoa No.8 So'otaia Fa'aso'o is returning to France and that may be the destination of England international Henry Arundell, who is in the squad preparing for this year's World Cup.
The full-back, who has been used by England as a wing off the bench, has been talking with Bath but the constraints of the £5m salary cap are being exploited by Racing 92 who want to lure him to Paris after the World Cup, although going here would stall his Test career.
Flanker Tom Pearson, who is in the England squad, has joined Northampton along with the 21-year old loose-head prop Tarek Haffar, who established himself on Irish's bench in the second half of last season.
“What happened at London Irish was heartbreaking,” said Haffar. “I want to thank the coaches and supporters there for getting me to where I am. Northampton is a club that is building up to something big and when the opportunity arose to come here, it was something I wanted to be a part of.”
