Eight TOP 14 transfers you may have missed

The 2022/23 season is fast approaching, and while some player movements are still to be finalised, some big transfers have flown under the radar.

We take a look at eight you may have missed.

 

Leone Nakawara to Castres 

Leone Nakawara's next club has been a hot topic over recent seasons, particularly since he left Racing 92 after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which makes his relatively quiet move to Castres even more surprising.

On his day, the Fijian international is a world-class player, but at 34, he is in the twilight stage of his career.  

He joins last season's TOP 14 finalist along with the likes of Sammy Arnold, Rodrigo Bruni, Abraham Papali'i and Marcel van der Merwe.

Yoan Tanga to La Rochelle

Ronan O'Gara has seen a raft of his 2021/22 Champions Cup winning side depart La Rochelle in the off-season with Ihaia West, Arthur Retiere, Jules Plisson, Wiaan Liebenberg, Victor Vito, Jeremy Sinzelle and Faundo Bosch amoung the big name departees.

However, O'Gara has done some shrewd business that has flown somewhat under the radar with hard-working Irish international lock Ultan Dillane joining from Connacht and highly rated back rower Yoan Tanga arriving from Racing 92.

Tanga featured at the back of France's scrum in the two July tests against Japan and effectively comes into the squad as a replacement for Victor Vito. The 25-year-old could be seen as direct competition for Gregory Alldritt in the test set-up, and his move to La Rochelle could see him or Alldritt move to the blindside of the scrum in a formidable loose trio.

Ben Lam to Montpellier

 

Two successful seasons at Bordeaux and former Hurricanes star Ben Lam is on the move again after securing a deal with Montpellier.

The powerhouse winger scored 12 tries in 60 appearances over his two full seasons at Bordeaux and now heads off to Montpellier ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Lam's move to Montpellier has flown under the radar, with Madosh Tambwe's arrival at Bordeaux overshadowing Lam's departure.

Montpellier has also been busy in the market, signing the prolific Leo Coly from Mont-de-Marsan, Louis Carbonel from Toulon and All Black prop Karl Tu'inukuafe from the Blues.

Kyle Godwin to Lyon

After a relatively successful stint at Connacht, Kyle Godwin returned to Australia, where he rejoined the Western Force.

A skilful player, Godwin can cover several positions in the backline and arrives at Lyon to cover the departure of Charlie Ngatai to Leinster.

During his time at Lyon, Ngatai featured in the centres and fullback, two positions that Godwin is no stranger to, with the Australian also capable of filling in on the wing. 

The Challenge Cup holders have also added the likes of Liam Coltman, Arno Botha and Fletcher Smith from the South Hemisphere.

Maxime Machenaud to Bayonne

 

A Racing 92 stalwart, 33-year-old Maxime Machenaud faces a new challenge after ten years in Paris.

The veteran scrumhalf played over 200 times for Racing 92 between 2012 and 2012, having joined the club from Agen. He started his career at Bordeaux but made a name for himself in the Sky Blue of Racing 92.

The rise of Nolann Le Garrec has undoubtedly played a role in his move, but he joins an optimistic Bayonne side that clinched promotion from the PROD2. Machenaud will link up with former France international Camille Lopez at Bayonne, a formidable combination, to say the least. 

 

Veikoso Poloniati to Racing 92

After another season with no silverware, Racing 92 has aggressively recruited ahead of the upcoming season with Springbok back Warrick Gelant and France international Cameron Woki arriving in Paris.

They have also signed league star Regan Grace from St Helens, but the one signing that has been somewhat lost in the limelight is Tongan international Veikoso Poloniati.

The 6'8, 130kg second rower adds serious weight and power to a Racing 92 side that looked to have lacked a bit of punch last season. He was a standout performer for Moana Pasifika during their inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season and earned a test debut for Tonga during the Pacific Nations Cup. 

Alexandre Roumat to Toulouse

The son of former France hardman and captain Olivier Roumat, Alexandre is of a similar build to his father as a hard-nosed back rower who thrives at the lineout.

An unsung hero of the Bordeaux pack, Roumat did catch the eye of Toulouse, who have snapped up the talented 25-year-old. He signs with Toulouse as direct competition to Rynhardt Elstadt, who missed a large chunk of the season through injury and test duties, while the likes of Joe Tekori and Rory Arnold have also left the club.

France has no shortage of depth in the back row, and Roumat is pressing his case for selection with a move Toulouse likely to help his case if he manages to crack the starting XV regularly.

His signing went under the radar, with the likes of Melvyn Jaminet, Ange Capuozzo, Arthur Retiere, and Pierre-Loius Barassi's arrivals stealing the limelight.

Teddy Baubigny to Toulon

Between the noise of Eben Etzebeth and Louis Carbonel's departure, the arrival of Teddy Baubigny at Toulon has seemingly gone unnoticed.

Baubigny, a capped France international, battled with Camille Chat at Racing 92 for the starting jumper and arrives at Toulon, where he will go toe-to-toe with Christopher Tolofua for the first-choice hooking jersey.

The 23-year-old was beaten to a place on the plane to Japan by Tolofua, and the move to Toulon could spur him back into Les Bleus contention. A young front rower, he still has plenty of room for growth and an excellent bit of business from Toulon.

He joins Dany Priso, Sitaleki Timani, Benoit Paillaugue, Ihaia West, Jeremy Sinzelle, and Waisea Nayacalevu at Toulon this coming season.