Rumour Mill

The new year is here and with 2019 being a Rugby World Cup Year we can expect a number of players to leave their current club after their current club after the showpiece in Japan and seek a more profitable payday before retiring or take a type of sabbatical to line their pockets.

Here are some of the rumours doing the rounds around the rugby world.

• Waisake Naholo has drawn the interest of Union Bordeaux Begles despite the club signing Santiago Cordero earlier this week
• Lyon has made an offer around 2.5 million euros per season to Beauden Barrett but a deal in Japan is ideal for the NZRU
• Dane Coles' CV is doing the rounds in France. Lyon, Stade Francais and Montpellier are interested in the hooker.
• Shannon Frizell drew the interest of Montpellier but is expected to re-sign for the Highlanders.
• Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty are set to sign deals with Japanese sides Toyota Verblitz and Kubota Spears respectively.
• The shortened Top League season in 2019 could see the players earn twice what they would in Europe during 2020 due to two modified seasons in 2020.
• Aaron Smith is also being offered a move to Japan

•  Bath are set to sign a host of front row recruits with the likes of Christian Judge (Cornish Pirates, currently on loan at Saracens), Will Stuart (Wasps) and Lewis Boyce (Harlequins).
• Paddy Jackson has drawn the interest of London Irish who are expected to bounce back into the Premiership following relegation last season.
• Steve Mafi is set to join Jackson at London Irish and is set to earn £500,000 per year.

• Northampton Saints are chasing the signature of Bath and England centre Jonathan Joseph
• Ospreys are set to announce the re-signing of Alun-Wyn Jones until 2021.

• Mathieu Bastareaud has a clause in his Toulon contract that could see play Super Rugby next year with the Sharks and Sunwolves mentioned as potential destinations. 

• Northampton Saints are interesting in signing a new centre with Chris Boyd publically identifying Ryan Crotty as a target.
• Jesse Kriel and Jonathan Joseph have also been linked to the club.