All Blacks snub ‘in talks’ with Saracens but ‘disillusioned’ England star could scupper move
All Blacks and Blues number eight Hoskins Sotutu, and England head coach Steve Borthwick, who he could be playing under in 2026.
Saracens have stepped up their chase for Tom Willis’ replacement by entering talks with All Blacks number eight Hoskins Sotutu, according to reports.
The Blues back-row, who won the Super Rugby MVP award in 2024, has plenty of admirers in England, but his contract does not expire until the end of 2026.
However, with Willis departing to Bordeaux-Begles at the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign, Sarries are in need of a big ball carrying number eight.
That may come in the form of Sotutu, who will be able to play for either Fiji or England following the completion of his three-year stand down period this month.
Sotutu’s most recent All Blacks game
The Blues star last played for the All Blacks in November 2022, ironically against England, and under World Rugby’s eligibility laws he can switch nations given his ancestral ties to those two countries – Fijian father and English mother.
Last month it was reported by RugbyPass that Saracens could rekindle their interest in Sotutu given the loss of Willis, with the RFU potentially offering a sweetener to push the deal through.
It was suggested that England would be willing to offer him an enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contract worth up to £160,000 in order to tempt the 27-year-old to move to the PREM.
The Telegraph have since claimed that is not the case but that Sarries are now “in talks” with the talented number eight.
“That would be anathema to Steve [Borthwick, the England head coach],” a source told the newspaper. “The whole point of the enhanced EPS is that they have to be earned by playing at the highest possible level in England.”
While Borthwick appears unlikely to sanction an EPS deal, it is understood that the England coaches rate the back-rower highly and would welcome Sotutu putting himself in the selection mix.
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England’s number eight options
Having lost Willis for the foreseeable future, with England not selecting players based abroad, Borthwick does not have too many players of that ilk at his disposal.
Chandler Cunningham-South is a potential option in that position and made a good impression in their November Test victory over Fiji on Saturday, but most of their possible number eights, such as Ben Earl and Henry Pollock, are on the smaller side.
Having Sotutu available would therefore improve their depth and also makes sense from a Saracens perspective given Willis’ decision to depart for France.
However, the London club are equally considering a move for England lock George Martin, who is said to be “disillusioned” at Leicester Tigers according to The Telegraph.
Should that happen and Sarries not have space in the salary cap for both of them, the ambitious Newcastle Red Bulls could become front-runners for Sotutu’s signature and are said to be making a “big push” to bring him to the north east.