Players leaving and Joining the Premiership

July 03, 2025
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Ultimate Rugby

With the conclusion of the 2024/25 Premiership Rugby seasson, clubs across England are undergoing significant changes ahead of the new campaign. A wave of high-profile departures and exciting new arrivals is reshaping team dynamics, with veteran players moving on, rising stars switching allegiances, and international talent set to light up the league. From marquee signings to emotional farewells, the transfer activity promises a fresh narrative for the 2025/26 season.

Saracens

Owen Farrell’s return from Racing 92 in a player-coach role is monumental for Saracens. His leadership and kicking game will once again anchor the team’s ambitions.

Players Leaving:

Michael Rhodes (retired)
Schalk Brits (retired)
Danny Cutmore (to Cornish Pirates)
Nathan Earle (to Harlequins)
Mike Ellery (to England Sevens)
Mark Flanagan (to Bedford Blues)
Matt Hankin (retired)
Kieran Longbottom (to Western Force)
Tadgh McElroy (loan to Bedford Blues)
Jack Nay (loan to Bedford Blues)
Chris Wyles (retired)

Players Joining:

Marco Riccioni (from Benetton)
Nick Isiekwe (returned from Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (returned from NEC Green Rockets)
Ben Earl (returned from Bristol Bears)
Ivan van Zyl (from Bulls)
Ruben de Haas (from Cheetahs)
Alex Lozowski (returned from Montpellier)
Max Malins (returned from Bristol Bears)
Nick Tompkins (returned from Dragons)
Theo McFarland (from Dallas Jackals)
Ethan Lewis (from Cardiff)
Ben Harris (academy promotion)
Sam Wainwright (academy promotion)
Owen Farrell (returned from Racing 92, player-coach role)

Northampton Saints

Losing Juarno Augustus to Ulster removes a dominant ball-carrier from the Saints’ pack. His physical presence at the base of the scrum will be hard to replace.

Players Leaving:

Juarno Augustus (to Ulster)
Reuben Logan (to Sale Sharks)
Temo Mayanavanua (to Fijian Drua)
Tarek Haffar (to Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Savala (to Glasgow Warriors)
Ewan Baker (to Coventry)
Tom Seabrook (to Worcester Warriors)
Jake Garside (to Worcester Warriors)
Toby Cousins (to Ealing Trailfinders)
Released: Tom Dye, Louis Haley, Callum Hunter-Hill, Nathan Langdon, Henry Nanka-Bruce, Beltus Nonleh, Burger Odendaal, Kieran Perkins

Players Joining:

Cleopas Kundiona (from Nevers)
Amena Caqusau (from Glasgow Warriors)
Danilo Fischetti (from Zebre Parma)
Callum Chick (from Newcastle Falcons)
Anthony Belleau (from Clermont Auvergne)

Leicester Tigers

The retirement of Dan Cole signals the end of an era for Tigers and English rugby. A cornerstone of their scrum for over a decade, his absence will be deeply felt.

Players Leaving:

Josh Bassett (to Worcester)
Mike Brown (retired)
Dan Cole (retired)
James Cronin (released)
Kyle Hatherall (released)
Tim Hoyt (to Worcester)
Dan Kelly (to Munster)
Julian Montoya (to Pau)
Handré Pollard (to Bulls)
Matt Rogerson (released)
Jamie Shillcock (to Brive)
James Whitcombe (to Edinburgh)
Ben Youngs (retired)

Players Joining:

Jamie Blamire (from Newcastle Falcons)
Tarek Haffar (from Northampton Saints)
Joaquin Moro (from Pampas XV)
Charlie Titcombe (BUCS/Academy)
Wilf McCarthy (BUCS/Academy)
Adam Radwan (from Newcastle Falcons)

Sale Sharks

Jean-Luc du Preez’s departure severs a long-running connection with the club's South African core. His physicality and versatility in the back five will be difficult to replicate.

Players Leaving:

Jean-Luc du Preez (moving abroad)
Jonny Hill (to Racing 92)
Josh Beaumont (retired)
Ross Harrison (retired)
Tommy Taylor (retired)
Will Addison (released)

Players Joining:

Marius Louw (from Lions)
Jacques Vermeulen (from Exeter Chiefs)

Gloucester Rugby

The signing of Ross Byrne from Leinster adds much-needed control and experience at fly-half. He’s expected to bring consistency and leadership to an evolving backline.

Players Leaving:

Santiago Carreras (to Bath)
Charlie Chapman (to Exeter Chiefs)
Christian Wade (to Wigan Warriors)
Gareth Anscombe (to Bayonne)
Chris Harris (to Bath)
Ruan Ackermann (to Stormers)
Mayco Vivas (to Oyonnax)
Zach Mercer (released)
Albert Tuisue (released)
Freddie Clarke (released)
Gareth Blackmore (released)
Morgan Adderly-Jones (to Coventry)
Aristot Benz-Salomon (to Coventry)
Morgan Nelson (to Cornish Pirates)
Alfie Petch (to Cornish Pirates)
Matty Ward (to Cornish Pirates)
Ioan Jones (to Scarlets)
Rory Taylor (to Worcester Warriors)
Louis Hillman-Cooper (to Rennes)

Players Joining:

Will Joseph (from Harlequins)
Ross Byrne (from Leinster)
Ben Loader (from Stormers)
James Venter (from Sharks)
Jack Innard (from Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Redshaw (from Newcastle Falcons)
Mike Austin (from Hartpury University)
Jono Benz-Salomon (from Hartpury University)
Academy promotions: Danny Eite, Afolabi Fasogbon, Josh Hathaway, Archie McArthur

Newcastle Falcons

The arrival of Tom Gordon from Glasgow gives Newcastle a rugged, hardworking flanker to anchor their back row. His URC experience brings quality to a side in transition.

Players Leaving:

Rory Jennings (to Cardiff)
Iwan Stephens (to Cardiff)
Josh Thomas (departure confirmed)
Ben Redshaw (to Gloucester)
Alex Hearle (to Gloucester)

Players Joining:

Luan de Bruin (from Edinburgh)
Cameron Neild (from Sale Sharks)
Tom Gordon (from Glasgow Warriors)
Kieran Wilkinson (from Leicester Tigers)
Sammy Arnold (from Brive)
Connor Doherty (on loan from Sale Sharks)
Jack Metcalf (from Doncaster Knights)
Academy signings: Callum Hancock, Connor Hancock, Charlie Turnbull, Reuben Parsons, Joe Davis, Junior Newton, Rhys Beeckmans

Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs hooker Jack Innard, a club stalwart with 82 appearances and 13 tries, will be departing Sandy Park at the end of the season to join Gloucester, marking the exit of one of their most experienced and influential forwards

Players Leaving:

Stu Townsend (to Harlequins)
Jacques Vermeulen (to Sale Sharks)
Dan Frost (to Bath)
Jack Innard (to Gloucester)
Joe Hawkins (to Scarlets)
Marcus Street (to Saracens)
Sam Maunder (to Coventry)
Billy Keast (to Worcester Warriors)
Chester Ribbons (to Cornish Pirates)
Charlie McCaig (to Edinburgh)
Niall Armstrong, Hallam Chapman, Jack Dunne, Franco Molina (released)
Eoin O’Connor (retired)

Players Joining:

Tom Hooper (from Brumbies)
Joseph Dweba (from Stormers)
Stephen Varney (from Vannes)
Julian Heaven (from Waratahs)
Charlie Chapman (from Gloucester)
Len Ikitau (from Brumbies)
Andrea Zambonin (from Zebre Parma)

Harlequins

Joe Marler’s retirement marks the end of an era for Harlequins and English rugby. His leadership, scrummaging strength, and larger-than-life presence leave a void few can fill.

Players Leaving:

Joe Marler (retired)
No other major departures confirmed at this stage

Players Joining:

Stu Townsend (from Exeter Chiefs)
Harry Williams (from Pau)
Guido Petti (from Bordeaux-Bègles)

Bath

The signing of Henry Arundell from Racing 92 is a blockbuster move for Bath’s backline. His electric pace and finishing instinct will add firepower to a team already brimming with attacking talent.

Players Leaving:

Tom Dunn (uncertain future, contract status not confirmed)

Players Joining:

Dan Frost (from Exeter Chiefs)
Bernard van der Linde (from Bulls)
Santiago Carreras (from Gloucester)
Henry Arundell (from Racing 92)

Bristol Bears

Tom Jordan’s arrival from Glasgow brings much-needed stability and versatility to the fly-half role. A smart distributor with a strong kicking game, he could become a key figure in Bristol’s attacking structure.