Seven rugby rumours and transfers: Maro Itoje, Nigel Owens, Cheslin Kolbe, Nemani Nadolo, and more

Jared Wright
rugby rumours maro itoje nigel owens nemani nadolo cheslin kolbe

It’s been another busy week with rugby rumours and transfers, and Planet Rugby brings you seven top stories ahead of the weekend. 

Nemani Nadolo announces his retirement

Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo has announced that he will retire at the end of the year.

The powerhouse winger has played 32 Tests for Fiji, including 30 starts and scored 237 points. 

He represented his country at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and has had club stints in Australia, England, France, Japan and New Zealand.

“When I signed my first professional contract in 2008, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would go on to experience this incredible journey,” Nadolo said in a statement shared on his social media accounts confirming his retirement.

Five things to know about the retiring Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo

Maro Itoje and Marcus Smith are considering moves abroad 

This week, The Times reported that Maro Itoje and Marcus Smith are ‘frustrated’ by the RFU’s position around Test selection, which England boss Steve Borthwick is also challenging, and are considering moves to France and Japan.

With the pair’s contracts expiring simultaneously at the end of next season, the report adds that both players have already received interest in their services.

The offers from Japan and France are far more lucrative than the contracts the Premiership sides are able to offer.

Following the report, Itoje called for Premiership Rugby to halt the player exodus to France and refused to rule out moving overseas when his Saracens contract expires next year.

“Saracens is a club that I love being a part of, I want to stay here, I want to stay in England; I want to keep playing my rugby in England,” Itoje said.

The England lock lamented the current situation at the Premiership clubs, and while he admitted that he would prefer to stay in England, he did not rule out a move abroad.

“Unfortunately, at the moment, we have a situation where for numerous reasons, there are a number of regulations and requirements that are making it more and more difficult for English players to stay in England,” he said.

“I think we’re seeing an unfortunate trend at the moment. There are numerous quality English players in their prime who are going abroad, which has never really happened before in my playing career.”

Nigel Owens turns down Springboks

It’s no secret that Rassie Erasmus has been in talks with former Test referee Nigel Owens to join the Springboks’ coaching staff.

Erasmus explained the ‘straightforward’ reason why he wanted to bring the Welshman into their set-up instead of a local referee but looks to have failed in his attempts to lure Owens to South Africa.

Wales Online reports that Owens has told Erasmus that he cannot commit to the role at this time.

It is understood that the timing isn’t right for Owens, who has other personal and work commitments to think about.

Sale Sharks get a six-figure sum for Ewan Ashman

22-year-old Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman will leave Sale Sharks this summer to head north.

He has signed a four-year deal with Edinburgh ahead of next season. 

The Canada-born front-rower has an Edinburgh-born father and has won seven full Scotland caps since graduating from the age-grade ranks while he was part of the recent Six Nations squad.

According to a report by the Telegraph, the Scottish Rugby Union paid a six-figure fee to secure the hooker’s services for next season.

He reportedly had two years left on his contract with Sale, which had to be bought out for him to sign with the Scottish United Rugby Championship side.

Toulon aim to extend key players’ contracts and provide an update on Cheslin Kolbe

Toulon head coach Franck Azéma spoke on a live Twitch stream this week, where he confirmed that the club is looking to extend the deals of three key players.

He confirmed that the club is working on extensions for flyers Jiuta Wainiqolo, Gabin Villière and Cheslin Kolbe.

“Wainiqolo, Villière and Kolbe are still under contract, but we are working on these files. There is no fire either, but inevitably these are things on which we like to anticipate because these are discussions that we regularly have with them, whether it is Pierre Mignoni, Laurent Emmanuelli, me or even the president. It’s in progress,” he confirmed.

Kolbe has been linked with a move away from France, with a return to South Africa touted. He was also linked with a move to Japan but shot down the rumours in an interview with AAP in February.

“I’m not going to Japan, I’m not going anywhere, I’m staying here,” Kolbe told AFP.

“I still have a lot I would love to do and give back to this jersey. I’ll still be here until 2024.”

He also stated that Kolbe is recovering quicker than expected following his ankle injury last month.

“We hope that Cheslin Kolbe will be back as soon as possible. It’s less serious than expected,” Azéma explained.

“He gradually resumed running. He will continue the race this Friday. So far, it’s light. We were afraid of a three-month unavailability. Finally, we said six weeks. I hope we will be less than six weeks away and that we will find him soon in training with us.”

Big moves and re-signings

It has been a busy week on the transfer market as players secure contract extensions and finalise moves ahead of next season.

Australia continue to lock in key players for the 2025 British and Irish Lions series and beyond.

Reds and Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott is the latest to sign an extension. He has signed until the end of 2027 with Rugby Australia and Queensland.

Meanwhile, Exeter Chiefs confirmed the signing of three new players in Wales’ rising star Joe Hawkins, Ospreys flanker Ethan Roots and flyhalf Will Hadyon-Wood.

Connacht announced a host of re-signings, with Colm Reilly, Shayne Bolton and Dominic Robertson-McCoy extending their stays with the side.

Staying in Ireland, Ulster confirmed that Luke Marshall, Angus Curtis, and Jake Flannery have signed three-year extensions with the Province.

That came after the news that Aaron Sexton, Callum Reid, John Andrew, Ben Moxham, Dave McCann and Andy Warwick had penned extensions with Ulster.

Veteran re-signs with Clermont, two more retirements

Over in France, Peceli Yato has signed a two-year extension, with the option of a third, with Clermont. 

There were two further retirement announcements, with Harlequins flyer Aaron Morris and Ulster back-rower Jordi Murphy calling time on their careers.

Morris’ is with immediate effect after a horrid run of injuries, while Murphy hangs his boots up at the end of the season.

READ MORE: Exclusive: Former Wasp Dan Frost buzzing in new life as an Exeter Chief