French club target England international after missing out on Springbok’s signature

Top 14 club Lyon are reportedly interested in signing England and Sale Sharks’ lock Jonny Hill after failing with their previous targets.

Lyon currently sit 13th overall in the Top 14 but are aggressively recruiting ahead of next season, despite the threat of relegation.

The club are in the market for an international lock and ambitiously chased the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup winner Jean Kleyn, who ultimately opted to sign a contract extension with Irish province Munster instead.

They are hoping to fill the void of Les Bleus international Romain Taofifenua, who will be joining Racing 92 next season.

English targets

After failing to lure their top target, Kleyn, across to France, Lyon were reportedly in the running to secure England star Maro Itoje’s services, who shot to the top of their shortlist.

However, those reports stated that the club had budgeted £570,000 for Taofifenua’s replacement, and Itoje was believed to be seeking nearly double that per season.

Now, French publications Le Progres and Rugby Rama report that Lyon are in advanced talks with Sale Sharks’ second-rower Hill.

The 29-year-old has represented England on 20 occasions and toured with the British and Irish Lions to South Africa in 2021. However, he has dropped down the pecking order under Steve Borthwick in the current England set-up. He was part of the extended training squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup but did not make the final cut.

Hill joined Sale ahead of the 2022/23 season on a long-term deal, after a successful seven years at Exeter Chiefs, where he scored an impressive 32 tries in 116 appearances.

He has been a key cog in Sale’s success this season featuring in 10 of the club’s 11 Premiership matches and both of their Champions Cup fixtures.

Hill is not the only Premiership player that Lyon are interested in as Rugby Rama also reported that they are eager to secure Rusi Tuima’s services ahead of next season.

The Exeter Chiefs number eight has been a standout for the Premiership side this season, featuring in all 13 of their matches across the league and Champions Cup.

The 23-year-old has also scored five times in that time and would be a handy addition to the French outfit who have also had Leo Berdeu (2026), Killian Geraci (2026), and Beka Saghinadze (2027) sign new deals.

However, Lyon will lose ex-Saracens lock Joel Kpoku, who is set to join Pau.

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