Players leaving and Joining the URC this season

July 03, 2025
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Ultimate Rugby

The South African United Rugby Championship franchises are undergoing significant squad changes ahead of the 2025/26 season, with a host of high-profile departures and exciting new arrivals across the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions. From seasoned Springboks returning home to rising talents making international moves, the player transfer activity signals a dynamic shift in each team’s strategy and depth. Here's a breakdown of all the confirmed ins and outs as the local giants prepare for another gruelling URC campaign.

Stormers

Players Leaving

Manie Libbok – fly-half (to Japan)
Herschel Jantjies – scrum-half (to Bayonne)
Brok Harris – retired
Ben Loader – utility back (to Gloucester)
Joseph Dweba – hooker (to Exeter Chiefs)
Paul de Wet – scrum-half (to Bulls)
Angelo Davids – wing (to Lions)
Dave Ewers – retired
Clayton Blommetjies – full-back (destination unknown)
Additional releases: Cornel Smit, Kwenzo Blose, Tristan Leyds, Simon Miller, Kade Wolhuter, Godlen Masimla, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Chris Hollis, Nama Xaba, Chad Solomon, Junior Pokomela, Leon Lyons, Hacjivah Dayimani

Players Joining

Cobus Reinach – scrum-half (from Montpellier)
Ntuthuko Mchunu – prop (from Sharks)
Ruan Ackermann – loose forward (from Gloucester)
Steven Kitshoff – prop (returned from Ulster)
JD Schickerling – lock (from Japan)

Sharks

Players Leaving

Ntuthuko Mchunu – prop (to Stormers)
James Venter – flanker (to Gloucester)
Dylan Richardson – hooker/flanker (to Edinburgh)
Eduan Keyter – wing (to Lions)
Gerbrandt Grobler – lock (destination unknown)
Henry Immelmann – loan ended

Players Joining

Edwill van der Merwe – wing (from Lions)
Jordan Hendrikse – fly-half (from Lions)
André Esterhuizen – centre (from Harlequins)
Emmanuel Tshituka – centre/flanker (from Lions)
Jason Jenkins – lock (from Leinster)
Trevor Nyakane – prop (from Racing 92)
Simphiwe Matanzima – prop (from Bulls)

Bulls

Players Leaving

Bernard van der Linde – scrum-half (to Bath)

Players Joining

Handré Pollard – fly-half (from Leicester Tigers)
Nico Janse van Rensburg – lock (from Montpellier)
Jan Serfontein – centre (from Montpellier)
Marvin Orie – lock (returning)
Paul de Wet – scrum-half (from Stormers)
Dylan de Leeuw – lock (from Zebre)
Jeandré Rudolph – flanker (from Cheetahs)

Lions

Players Leaving

Edwill van der Merwe – wing (to Sharks)
Marius Louw – centre (to Sale Sharks)
Sanele Nohamba – scrum-half (to Japan)
Eduan Keyter – wing (to Sharks)
Emmanuel Tshituka – flanker (to Sharks)
Jordan Hendrikse – fly-half (to Sharks)
Angelo Davids – wing (likely short-term deal)

Players Joining

Chris Smith – fly-half (from Bulls/Oyonnax)
Eduan Keyter – returns from Sharks
Angelo Davids – from Stormers
Dylan Sjoblom – lock (from Griquas)

The four Irish provinces are undergoing a significant reshuffle ahead of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season, with a blend of veteran retirements, overseas departures, and fresh arrivals set to reshape their squads. Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connacht have all seen notable names move on — including iconic figures like Cian Healy, Peter O'Mahony, and Conor Murray — while new signings and academy graduates step up to fill the void. Here's a full breakdown of all the confirmed player movements across Ireland’s top rugby sides)

Leinster

Players Leaving

Cian Healy – prop (retired)
Ross Byrne – fly-half (to Gloucester)
Michael Milne – prop (to Munster)
Lee Barron – hooker (to Munster)
Rhys Ruddock – back row (retired)
Michael Alaʻalatoa – prop (to Clermont)
Jason Jenkins – lock (to Sharks)
Ross Molony – lock (to Bath)
Ed Byrne – prop (to Cardiff)
Rob Russell, Liam Turner, Rory McGuire, Ben Brownlee, Aitzol Arenzana‑King – released or not renewed

Players Joining

Rieko Ioane – centre/wing (from Blues, New Zealand)

Munster

Players Leaving

Peter O’Mahony – back row (retired)
Dave Kilcoyne – prop (retired)
Stephen Archer – prop (retired)
Conor Murray – scrum-half (moving abroad)
Rory Scannell – centre (released)
Jack Daly, Cian Hurley, Liam Coombes, Patrick Campbell, Dian Bleuler, Eoghan Clarke, Scott Buckley, Bryan Fitzgerald – released or not re-contracted

Players Joining

JJ Hanrahan – fly-half (from Connacht)
Dan Kelly – centre (from Leicester Tigers)
Michael Milne – prop (from Leinster)
Lee Barron – hooker (from Leinster)

Ulster

Players Leaving

Kieran Treadwell – lock (to Harlequins)
John Cooney – scrum-half (to Brive)
Reuben Crothers – flanker (retired)
Alan O’Connor, Andrew Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Matty Rea, Michael McDonald, Aidan Morgan – released or left

Players Joining

Juarno Augustus – back row (from Northampton Saints)
Angus Bell – prop (from Waratahs)
Sam Crean – prop (from Saracens)
Rory McGuire – prop (from Leinster)
Joe Hopes, Charlie Irvine, Jack Murphy – promoted from academy

Connacht

Players Leaving

Piers O’Conor – centre
Adam McBurney – hooker
David O’Connor – lock
Temi Lasisi – prop (to Leinster)
Ben Murphy – scrum-half (to Leinster)
Tiernan O’Halloran – full-back (retired)
Josh Ioane – fly-half (to Chiefs, New Zealand)
Josh Murphy – flanker (departure after sabbatical)

Players Joining

Sam Gilbert – wing/full-back (academy promotion or local signing)

The Dragons have been the busiest in the market, snapping up several key players from domestic rivals, while Cardiff bid farewell to a host of senior names. Scarlets and Ospreys are also reshaping their rosters, bringing in fresh talent to offset major departures and retirements. With a number of high-profile moves confirmed, including George North and Tomos Williams heading abroad, the landscape of Welsh rugby is shifting fast — here’s a full breakdown of who’s in and who’s out at each region.

Dragons

Players Joining

Dillon Lewis (prop, from Harlequins)
Harry Beddall (hooker, from Leicester Tigers)
Codi Purnell (hooker, from Bath)
James Talamai (prop, from Saracens)
Thomas Young (flanker, from Cardiff)
Dylan Kelleher‑Griffiths (academy promotion)
Levi Douglas (lock, from Biarritz)
Tinus de Beer (fly‑half, from Cardiff)
Fine Inisi (centre/wing, from Moana Pasifika)
Wyn Jones (prop, from Harlequins)
Seb Davies (lock, from Cardiff)
Fetuli Paea (centre, from Zebre Parma)
Mackenzie Martin (number eight, loan from Cardiff)

Players Leaving

Taine Basham (to Cardiff)
Dan Lydiate (retired)
Dane Blacker (to Scarlets)
Josh Thomas (to Coventry)
Will Reed (to Worcester)
Released: Dmitri Arhip, Joe Davies, Lloyd Evans, Ashton Hewitt, Paula Latu, Josh Reynolds, Jordan Williams, George Young, Harry Wilson, George Nott

Ospreys

Players Joining

Kieran Hardy (scrum-half, from Scarlets)
Steffan Thomas (prop, from Scarlets)
Phil Cokanasiga (wing, from Leicester Tigers)
Will Greatbanks (lock, from Soyaux Angoulême)
Daniel Kasende (wing, from Cheetahs)
Ryan Conbeer (wing, short-term from Scarlets)

Players Leaving

George North (to Provence)
Nicky Smith (to Leicester Tigers)
Released: Alex Cuthbert, Will Hickey, Toby Fricker, Cameron Jones, Mat Protheroe

Scarlets

Players Joining

Joe Hawkins (centre, from Exeter Chiefs)
Jake Ball (lock, returnee)
Dane Blacker (scrum-half, from Dragons)
Ioan Jones (full-back, from Gloucester)
Alec Hepburn (prop, from Exeter Chiefs)
Marnus van der Merwe (hooker, from Cheetahs)
Jarrod Taylor (flanker, from Stormers)
Henry Thomas (prop, from Castres)
Max Douglas (lock, from Canon Eagles)
Blair Murray (utility back, from Canterbury)
Ellis Mee (wing, from Nottingham)

Players Leaving

Ioan Lloyd (fly-half, to Cardiff)
Alex Craig (lock, to Glasgow Warriors)
Released: Steff Evans, Shaun Evans, Efan Jones, Ed Scragg
Charlie Titcombe (fly-half, to Leicester Tigers)
Departed/retired: Wyn Jones, Scott Williams, Jonathan Davies, Johnny McNicholl, Ken Owens, Samson Lee

Cardiff Rugby

Players Joining

Callum Sheedy (fly-half, from Bristol Bears)
Gabriel Hamer-Webb (wing, from Northampton Saints)
Steffan Emanuel (centre, from Bath)
Tom Bowen (wing, from Bristol Bears)
Danny Southworth (prop, from Exeter Chiefs)
Ed Byrne (prop, from Leinster)
Iwan Stephens (wing, from Newcastle Falcons)
Rory Jennings (centre, from Newcastle Falcons)
Josh McNally (lock, from Bath)
Aled Davies (scrum-half, from Saracens)

Players Leaving

Tomos Williams (to Gloucester)
Rhys Carré (to Saracens)
Owen Lane (to Valence Romans)
Released: Max Clark, Gonzalo Bertranou, Jamie Hill, Aled Summerhill, Ellis Jenkins, Arwel Robson, Willis Halaholo
Thomas Young, Tinus de Beer, Seb Davies, Mackenzie Martin (all to Dragons)

Glasgow Warriors are undergoing a significant squad reshuffle, saying goodbye to several experienced players while welcoming promising additions like Alex Craig and Charlie Savala. Edinburgh have bolstered their ranks with the return of Magnus Bradbury and the exciting arrival of Mosese Tuipulotu, while keeping outgoing transfers to a minimum. In Italy, Benetton and Zebre Parma have kept relatively quiet on the transfer front so far, though Benetton have made a key change at the helm with Calum MacRae set to take over as head coach. Here's a full breakdown of confirmed player movements across the four clubs.