French superstar Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who has been able to speak to rival clubs since July 1, has rejected Bordeaux’s opening offer of a four-year extension to his contract that runs out in the summer of 2027.
Midi Olympique is reporting that Bielle-Biarrey, who scored 34 tries in 31 games for club and country last season, is keen to stay with Bordeaux beyond the end of the season but has turned down an initial offer from the Gironde president, Laurent Marti.
It is also understood that the question of his image rights and a release to play for his country in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 also need to be ironed out, as talks have stalled, which could open the door to one of their rivals.
La Rochelle are preparing an offer to former England and Lions winger Jack Nowell, who is out of contract at the end of the season, a new deal to keep him out of the clutches of circling clubs who are keen on bringing him back to the Gallagher PREM.
Nowell, 33, who played for Redruth, Plymouth Albion, Cornish Pirates and Exeter Chiefs, where he won a PREM and Champions Cup double in 2020, before joining Les Maritimes three years ago, where he has scored 17 tries in 37 appearances.
RugbyPass understands that there is potential for a one-year extension in the pipeline, by which time Nowell, who recently did some training with the Pirates and was capped 46 times for England, will have celebrated his 35th birthday.
Former Leicester Tigers boss Dan McKellar, who two weeks ago lost his job as NSW Waratahs head coach, has taken to networking website LinkedIn to post a 51-word message to look for his next job.
Ex-Wallabies assistant coach McKellar, who spent a year in the East Midlands, had another year left on his deal with the Tahs and says he is open-minded about his next challenge.
“I am excited to be looking for new opportunities. I am open-minded around what is next for me. If you think someone with 15 years of experience in High Performance, Leadership, Managing people and Professional Coaching could help you or your organisation, please reach out. I am here to help,” he wrote.
England World Cup winner Mike Catt, who has returned to his home in Bath, has been tipped to succeed Glen Jackson as the next head coach of Fijian Drua, holding off several French coaches who had expressed interest in the role.
Catt, who has been part of England, Italy and Ireland coaching set-ups and, for the last two seasons, has been the NSW Waratahs backs coach, left at the end of last season despite another year remaining on his contract.
But he is now the favourite to become the head coach of the Super Rugby Pacific side in succession to former international referee Jackson, who decided not to take up the third year of his contract with the franchise.
Exeter Chiefs have missed out on the signing of Lions second row Darrien Landsberg, who will be playing in Durban next season after signing a deal to join the Sharks.
The Chiefs were the long-time favourites to sign Zimbabwean Landsberg, 27, who started his career with the Golden Lions and then the Pumas before joining the Lions four years ago, making 57 appearances, and he joins the Sharks with dreams of the Springboks.
“As long as Rassie Erasmus has not told me that the door is closed, I will continue to believe in it,” said Landsberg, who moved to Johannesburg as a child.
Springbok tighthead Carlü Sadie, who already had another two years left to run on his deal with Champions Cup winners Bordeaux, has extended his stay in France until 2029.
Sadie, 29, made 30 appearances for Bordeaux last season, forcing his way into Rassie Erasmus’s plans, starting the 43-0 Nations Championship victory over Wales at Kings Park yesterday.
Sadie played for the Stormers, Lions, Sharks and Stade Francais before moving to Bordeaux, where he became first-choice tighthead three years ago.
Exeter University loosehead Keita Ando will be playing in Japan’s Rugby League One next season after agreeing a deal to join Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars.
Ando, who was in Devon studying law, made 18 appearances for the BUCS, a side that has been a regular hunting ground for the Exeter Chiefs, who enjoy close links with the University.
But after three years in Devon’s second city, Asie Rugby are reporting that the 21-year-old front rower, who attended Sedbergh School, has signed a deal with the DynaBoars.