Henry Arundell will be the latest high-profile talent to join Racing 92. Credit: Getty Images/David Rogers
Henry Arundell on tap on the brink joining Racing 92 next season when the 20-year-old England international agrees to move after the death of the London Irishman.
Arundell, who has won seven caps since breaking into senior rugby union about 18 months ago. , has spent this week at England's World Cup pre-season training camp at Pennyhill Park but is expected to complete conditions on Thursday and Friday.
He is still eligible to be selected for England's World Cup squad and tie with Stuart Lancaster in the 2023-24 campaign. Top 14 when his participation in the tournament ends.
From there, for the 2024 Six Nations, Arundell's availability to England will be under scrutiny. Rugby union will treat each player on an individual basis and those leaving Ireland are considered exceptional cases to be approved by the Professional Gaming Board (PGB).
Following the same process, Jack Willis remained available for Steve Borthwick in the recent Six Nations following his move to Toulouse after the Wasps had moved into administration. However, the rear rower was not subject to the same protocols as his teammates and had to return to Toulouse for the weekend to compete in the Top 14 matches.
Racing's hiring quest means that Arundell, who can cover both wide and full back, will join a slew of high-profile players including South Africa's captain Sia Kolisi and Josua Tuisova, a phenomenal runner from Fiji. He could also share the back line with Christian Wade. Juan Imhoff, Donovan Taofifenua, Vinaya Habosi and Max Spring are three other options for Racing, who lost to Jack Willis' Toulouse in this season's national semi-finals.
The top 14 clubs have their own salary cap. stick, and it is understood that Warrick Gelant, cornerback for the Springboks, has left Racing. This made room for Arundell's wages. The Premier League salary cap will remain at £5m next season, after which it should rise again to £6.4m. This development could result in Arundell returning to England at some point in the future.
Next season he will be part of a sizable English contingent in France that will include Joe Marchand at the Stade Français, Jack Nowell at La Rochelle, Sam Simmonds and Harry Williams at Montpellier, Joe Simmonds at Pau and David Ribbans in Toulon, as well as Willis. in Toulouse.
Other former Irish players have already secured a further place in the Premier League. Tom Pearson, another member of Borthwick's training squad, has been confirmed as a Northampton Saints recruit next season along with Chunya Munga and Tarek Haffar.
Other Premier League players head to France
Meanwhile, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, one of the most effective centers in the Premier League over the past two seasons, has signed with the Bristol Bears.
Having made his first Test start against Ireland in the last Six Nations fixture of 2023, Arundell is England's current left winger and will be in contention for a place in England's World Cup squad in the next few weeks. Kadan Murley, Joe Kokanashiga, Johnny May, Ollie Hassel-Collins, Marchand and Will Joseph were the three candidates to win this week's Borthwick Bagshot.
Next week, Premier League semi-finalists Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks will join the team. Freddie Steward and Anthony Watson are sure to be among this cohort.
Arundell, Pearson, Joseph and Hassel-Collins were put on the London Irish roster by England at their own request, despite Hassel-Collins joining Leicester Tigers and the rest leaving. Speaking on Wednesday, Borthwick praised their attention and enthusiasm.
«When I spoke to them on Sunday, I saw and listened to the players who were excited about being at camp and looking forward to what lies ahead for them,» said the England head coach. “Right from practice on Monday morning, they are totally dedicated to what we are trying to do.
“No one should think about losing their livelihood and their clubs — no one should go through this. I will ask the players to come, accept it, dive into it and let's enjoy what we do — work hard and enjoy it.»
Paddy Jackson returns to the top 14 with Lyon
Gavin Meirs
Paddy Jackson, the former Republic of Ireland midfielder, is set to return to France next season by signing a one-year contract with Lyon's top 14 club following the financial collapse of the London Irish.
< p>Jackson, who has not played for Ireland since he was unanimously acquitted of rape and sexual assault charges in 2018, finished this season as the Premier League's top scorer.
When his contract with the Irish Football Union rugby was sacked after a trial in Belfast, he joined the French team Perpignan, who had just finished in the top 14. controversy, then returned to the London Irish club in 2019, where his form played a key role in Declan Kidney's team's rise to the Premier League, where they finished fifth that season before financial collapse.
It's clear that he signed the contract. a one-year contract with an option for a second year at Lyon, but the 31-year-old's hopes of playing for Ireland again seem elusive despite his club form.
He had several options in France despite that most midfield positions had already been sorted out for next season, also considered moving to Super Rugby. A return to Ireland is not possible unless the IRFU changes its mind about its position.
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