Seven biggest names to move to Prem Rugby this summer

The first game of the new Prem Rugby season will begin on Thursday, September 25th.

Everyone was asking themselves, “Who would he play for?” when Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit announced his return to rugby union after 18 months of trying to break into the NFL.

Gloucester’s former club With all the Red Bull money now in place, what about Newcastle? He said he wanted to visit France. Perhaps the new R360 breakaway league?

With the league’s most potent attack last year, it is not hard to see why Bristol Bears chose him to sign. In any case, that is what led to his signature.

According to Oval Insights, Bristol topped the list for most tries, points, carries, yards made, and defenders lost last year. A winger who ran rugby at speeds of up to 22 to 24 mph a few years ago is perfectly suited for their free-flowing, swashbuckling style of running.

Bristol, a 24-year-old rugby player, has been forced to rest and adjust to American football conditioning after 20 months away from a pitch.

Owen Farrell’s return to Saracens seems appropriate and beneficial for both the team and the player.

Many people will assume that the former club captain has never been away.

Farrell had spent his entire career with Sarries, winning six Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups in a 16-year trophy-filled career in north London, before joining Racing 92 for one season in France.

The fly-half, who can also play center, moved to Paris last summer after taking a break from his “mental wellbeing” to focus on his record-setting goals.

Farrell, who turned 34 this week, returns to StoneX Stadium after only 17 starts due to injuries. He is also re-admitting England as a result of his return.

With the exception of when they were relegated for salary cap breaches, Mark McCall’s side went through a transition following a string of high-profile exits, finishing sixth overall and missing the play-offs for the first time since 2008-2009.

The summer’s biggest addition to the Prem may not kick a penalty, score a try, or tackle a tackle, but their impact may be even greater.

Red Bull’s purchase of the ailing Newcastle Falcons has had a major impact on both English rugby and the club.

The energy drinks company immediately made its mark with a new name for Newcastle and a new kit by bringing in F1, football, and other sports’ experience.

Over 9, 000 people showed up for Kingston Park’s Prem Rugby Cup season-opening game against Harlequins, which has altered the atmosphere.

The development of his squad will be a subject for speculation in the coming months, but director of rugby Steve Diamond made an early move to bring in experienced campaigners from all over the world.

Arundell made his first senior cap when he was a teenager, scoring a “sensational” solo try for the Under-20s before a 90-metre try in England training described as Bryan Habana-esque by ex-head coach Eddie Jones.

In his country’s final 10 games, he scored seven tries, including a record-equal five against Chile at the 2023 World Cup.

Arundell, who can play wing or full-back, has since switched to Racing 92 after his former club, London Irish, was shut down, and has spent the past two seasons without eligibility for his country.

After a few seasons of post-Covid belt-tightening, Exeter splashed the money on Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper, the center of the frontline.

Joe Hawkins’ return to Wales after a disappointing two-season at Sandy Park will give the Chiefs hope that Ikitau can play midfield with Henry Slade and resurrect their old winning ways.

Ikitau has started seven of Australia’s first eight Tests this year, including all three against the British and Irish Lions, which is arguably Exeter’s most well-known signing since Stuart Hogg.

After helping the Brumbies reach the Super Rugby semi-finals from 13 for the past three years, he feels just as comfortable playing outside the box.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Josh Hodge, and Slade might find themselves in good shape under Ikitau’s addition, but their team may struggle with that.

The renamed Red Bulls appear to have made some wise acquisitions, including Japan back-row Amanaki Mafi and Argentina scrum-half Simon Benitez Cruz.

But Christian Wade’s signing without a doubt has attracted the most attention.

The 34-year-old Gloucester wing left Gloucester last year to accept a job offer from Wigan Warriors, a renowned rugby league organization.

When Wade’s contract with the Warriors expires, Steve Diamond has now persuaded him to move to Newcastle.

The 34-year-old winger will have that in mind when he arrives in the North East, eight points behind Chris Ashton’s all-time scoring streak of 101 Premiership tries.

Over the years, James O’Connor has been a number of things to many teams.

At age 18, he was regarded as a “once-in-a-generation talent,” a Wallaby who had arrived in Australia.

Then there is the “bad boy,” who joined the London Irish in 2013 and then left to play in Europe.

After spending five years in the international wilderness, the O’Connor made his way back to Australia after stints at Sale and Toulon.

However, Tigers of Leicester’ O’Connor is completely different. The rebel is long overdue, and the whizz-kid is now older.

A 35-year-old former Australia international who had reportedly earned his final international cap three years prior to his signing from the Tigers appeared to be getting what Tigers were getting.

O’Connor returned to green and gold playing for South Africa in August, and he has played in all four of their Rugby Championship Tests so far. Within a month, he was added to the Australian squad for the British and Irish Lions tour.

O’Connor claimed that it was a “full circle moment” when he signed for the Tigers.

Due to injury, life choices, and where I was at as a man, he said, “I never felt like I played my best footy.” This action seeks to correct this.