ON THE BLINDSIDE
Former Wasps skipper Joe Launchbury is set to move to Japan on a short-term deal with Toyota Verblitz who are now favourites to sign the England lock.
Launchbury, 31, who was born in Exeter, spent 12 years with Wasps, the last six as captain before becoming one of 167 players and staff made redundant last month.
He has been linked with a series of moves but appears set to join Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One in time for the season kicking off on December 17.
Launchbury, who has been left out of England's autumn squad, would miss the Six Nations with the Japanese season not ending until May 20.
He has been heavily linked with Harlequins and that remains an option for next season, while a reunion with Stuart Lancaster at Racing 92 has also been mooted.
