14 hours ago
31
Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche are among the global superstars being touted around English clubs for blockbuster signings after next year's World Cup.
Players are already preparing for the next four-year cycle, when Test teams often turn to the next generation. Japan and France have proved the most lucrative destinations in recent seasons but agents are now testing the English market, following investment in the likes of Newcastle, Bath and Exeter.
Barrett, 35, is one of the most decorated players of all time and is likely to surpass Sam Whitelock's All Black record of 153 caps next year, with a current total of 144.
McKenzie, who has shared the fly-half duties with Barrett in recent years, is another extremely dangerous attacking player but would be 36 by the start of the 2031 World Cup, meaning New Zealand will likely be moving on from both of them.
Barrett has played for the Auckland-based Blues since 2020, with brief spells in Japan, and McKenzie is the all-time top points-scorer and try-scorer for the Chiefs.
Nche, 31, and reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Marx, 32, are part of the fearsome Springbok front row that has dominated the sport for the last seven years. Nche plays for the Durban-based Sharks in his homeland while Marx is in Japan with the Kubota Spears.
‘PREM Rugby is in a good place now with the investment so I see a future where, like before, we can bring world-class players into the competition,’ admitted Bristol coach Pat Lam. ‘We already have some of the best players in the world in our competition and now there’s talk about having a second marquee player and the salary cap coming up.’
According to Daily Mail Sport sources, New Zealand have the most players with expiring contracts after next year’s World Cup in Australia. The likes of Will Jordan, Codie Taylor, Richie Mo'unga and Ardie Savea – who can boast a combined 360 All Blacks caps between them – are also being pitched as players look to secure their futures early.
Will Jordan (left) and Beauden Barrett (right) are being offered to English clubs for potential blockbuster signings after next year's World Cup
Legendary All Black forwards Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea are also being touted
Reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx, 32, is also being offered around
Four England stars at centre of attention
England centre Seb Atkinson is attracting interest across the PREM as he approaches the end of his contract with Gloucester.
The 24-year-old has established himself in Steve Borthwick’s international plans but is yet to commit his club future as the Cherry and Whites get to grips with a new coaching set-up.
Atkinson’s girlfriend, Siena, is based in London, where she works for Goldman Sachs.
Depending on the development of No12s Bryn Bradley and Olly Hartley, Harlequins and Saracens could both emerge as potential suitors in the capital city.
Atkinson is not the only English centre looking at his future options. Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence are both up for renewal at Bath, where Scotland’s Cameron Redpath is also reaching the end of his deal. All three could attract interest from France.
Exeter’s Henry Slade must also decide if he wants to activate an extension clause on his deal at Sandy Park. ‘Henry’s got a plus one option on his contract so those negotiations will start fairly soon because it’s time dated,’ revealed Exeter coach Rob Baxter.
England centre Seb Atkinson is attracting interest across the PREM as he approaches the end of his contract with Gloucester
Fellow England centre Ollie Lawrence is also out of contract at the end of the season
Who broke the sofa?
In a recent interview on For the Love of Rugby, Sale co-owner Michelle Orange was asked about rumours that a high-profile transfer target broke her sofa last year.
‘Within rugby circles, there are rumours that you didn’t sign him because he broke your sofa,’ said former England scrum-half Ben Youngs.
‘He didn’t actually break it,’ replied Orange. ‘We’ve got quite low-profile sofas in our lounge. Sometimes you slump onto it and there’s a big crack.’
Daily Mail Sport can reveal the player in question was 21st 4lb Bath and England prop Will Stuart – who subsequently extended his contract with Bath.
Curry's not for Sale
Sale want to extend Tom Curry’s contract beyond the World Cup.
Alex Sanderson wants the England flanker to remain in Manchester, along with a core of other out-of-contract Sharks players. Curry has suffered a series of injuries but that has not deterred Sale from offering a new deal.
‘I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag but Tom’s one of the lads we’ve talked to,’ Sanderson told Daily Mail Sport. ‘Tom, Bevan Rodd, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Carpenter, Tom Roebuck, Nathan Jibulu. Cohesion is king.
‘Five years ago, when I came in at the start of a new season. I was talking to AJ MacGinty in the middle of September thinking, “I’ve got until Christmas here”, but by that point he had already signed for Bristol. It was a shock to me. That was a bit of a wake-up call. You’ve got to get onto these lads early because as soon as they’re out of contract they will have agents talking and other lads approaching them.’
Sale want to extend Tom Curry’s contract beyond the World Cup
Itoje committed to Sarries
England skipper Maro Itoje has revealed his plans to stay with Saracens beyond the World Cup.
The lock signed a secretive ‘long-term’ contract in 2024 but details of the arrangement were kept private. Itoje previously courted interest from Racing 92 but he told Daily Mail Sport that he remains committed to playing in England, so that he can continue to play for the national team.
‘I’m contracted until after the World Cup,’ said Itoje. ‘After the next World Cup, I still want to play rugby. How that looks, I don’t know yet. Ideally I’d love to play for England as long as possible.’
Quade on the radar
Australian veteran Quade Cooper has declared himself available if any clubs need to reinforce their No10 options.
The 38-year-old has not played since 2025 but he recently revealed his ambitions to make a comeback for next year’s World Cup: ‘It’s a home World Cup and I know I can still play.'
Daily Mail Sport understands Cooper has been added to injury-cover recruitment databases around Europe.
Australian veteran Quade Cooper has declared himself available if any clubs need to reinforce their No10 options
Sinckler's wages need to sink
Prop Kyle Sinckler will have to take a sizeable pay cut if he wants to return from Toulon to pursue his World Cup ambitions.
The Top14 club are keen for the tighthead prop to stay in France but that would rule him out of contention for next year’s World Cup. England could do with experienced props and Sinckler has played 68 times for his country, including in two World Cups.
Newcastle Red Bulls would have the financial firepower to sign Sinckler but they already have Elliot Millar Mills and James Harper on long-term deals.
With Josh Iosefa-Scott out of contract at Exeter, the West Country club could emerge as contenders with the backing of their new investors.
Saints want to keep dynamic duo
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson believes he can find a solution to keep both Archie McParland and Alex Mitchell at Franklin’s Gardens.
Both scrum-halves are pushing to become England’s starting No9, while also competing for selection at club level. Mitchell has a long-term contract and McParland, whose value rocketed while Mitchell was injured last season, is out of contract next summer.
Alex Mitchell has a long-term contract at Northampton and they are keen to keep him
But Archie McParland (left), who starred in Mitchell's absence last season, is another hot prospect - though his contract has only a year to run
‘Archie wants to play and Mitch wants to play and that’s a great position to be in,’ Dowson told Daily Mail Sport. ‘Is there enough rugby for both of them? I believe so, if we’re talking about things like game limits. I believe they can continue to push each other and we’re hopeful we can keep both of them. If you’ve got any cash, let me know!’
Tigers eye new Chessum deal
Leicester Tigers have made it a priority to extend Ollie Chessum’s contract at Welford Road.
The lock, who has 38 England caps and has become a potential future captain of his country, can command a hefty pay rise and the Tigers can ill-afford to lose another enforcer after George Martin joined Saracens last summer.
Jack van Poortvliet, Billy Searle, Joaquin Moro and Ollie Hassell-Collins are also among the players looking to renegotiate with the club.
