While the summer is often synonymous with international tours, these months also give the chance for Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup sides to reinforce their squads ahead of the new season.
The United Rugby Championship’s sides have been as busy as ever preparing for their restart on 26 September
There’s no risk of Leinster fans having a hangover from Jordie Barrett’s departure as the Irish side is trading one All Black for another.
And if Barrett’s Investec Player of the Year nomination is anything to go by, fellow New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane is sure to be a hit.
His signing alone grabbed the headlines, and the anticipation is building around the impact he’ll have on an already formidable squad. Leinster will not only be looking to go back-to-back in the URC but also add that coveted fifth star in the Investec Champions Cup.
The Irish side have also had a busy summer tying down their current flock, with Rabah Slimani, Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, RG Snyman, Garry Ringrose and Sam Prendergast amongst those to have signed contract extensions.
It’s been a very busy summer for South Africa’s Vodacom Bulls as they prepare to take their prowess to another level.
Experienced fly-half Handré Pollard heads back home after stints at Europe’s Montpellier Hérault Rugby and Leicester Tigers had kept him away since 2019.
Another man to be making a return to the Bulls is back rower Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, as the pair head back to Pretoria.
Scrum-half Paul de Wet makes the domestic switch from DHL Stormers, as he will look to bring his intelligence of the game to reinforce the Bulls’ squad.
While the Bulls already had impressive talent across the park, which took them to the URC Final last term, they’ll be hoping this renewed depth of experience will reinforce their chances in the Investec Champions Cup.
Scottish giants Glasgow Warriors have had an intense summer in terms of contract extensions with Zander Fagerson, Rory Darge, George Horne and Sione Tuipulotu among 15 players to pen a longer deal.
New faces include ex-Racing 92 fly-half Dan Lancaster, who makes the swap from the TOP 14 for what will be his first taste of the URC.
It’s been a memorable rise for Lancaster, considering he was playing in the English Championship just two seasons ago, and an EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final run with the Parisian side last year really showed how far he’s come in recent seasons.
Ulster Rugby have also turned some heads with its business this summer. Australian loosehead prop Angus Bell was announced to join the side from December.
Fellow Irish province Connacht Rugby’s preparations for the upcoming season have gone well on the contract extensions front, with stars such as Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Cian Prendergast all signing on.
