Rugby Transfers: Ireland stars make crucial decision on futures, ex-All Black on the move and Gloucester rebuild continues
Harry Byrne (left) and Edwin Edogbo (right) feature in the latest round-up of rugby transfers
Ireland trio Harry Byrne, Edwin Edogbo and Calvin Nash have all made key decisions on their future, ex-All Black George Moala looks set to head to pastures new and Gloucester have added two coaches to their backroom team.
Check out our latest transfer news and rumours update:
Nash and Edogbo to remain at Munster
Munster have tied down Ireland duo Nash and Edogbo to new deals, keeping them in Limerick for the foreseeable future.
Winger Nash has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the province, while forward Edogbo has signed a new one-year deal.
Both players progressed through the youth ranks with the Irish giants, and both played a part in their URC title run in 2022/23.
28-year-old back Nash made his senior bow for Munster in 2017 against Edinburgh, and has since added a further 98 appearances to his tally. In that time, he has also scored 28 tries.
His form in the famous red jersey has also seen him drafted into the Ireland set-up, winning 12 Test caps and scoring four tries after making his debut in 2023.
23-year-old Edogbo, who was the first player from Cobh to join the Munster academy, made his debut for the province in the aforementioned title-winning season, but missed the entirety of the 2024/25 season through an Achilles injury.
However, he has hit the ground running on his return to full fitness, making 14 club appearances this season and making his Ireland debut in the Six Nations.
Byrne re-signs with Leinster as starlet pens pro deal
Leinster have also re-signed an Ireland international, with Byrne committing his future to the Dublin-based side.
The fly-half, who returned to Leinster this season after a successful loan stint at Bristol Bears, has quickly become a key man this season with 15 appearances thus far, 11 of which have been starts.
His form also earned him a recall into the wider Ireland squad for the Six Nations, but he failed to register an appearance across the Championship.
Elsewhere, Conor O’Tighearnaigh has signed his first professional deal with Leinster, while back-rower James Culhane has also put pen to paper on an extension to remain in Dublin.
Ireland A lock O’Tighearnaigh, 23, has enjoyed a decent breakthrough season for the province this year, making five appearances thus far, while Culhane has made seven this campaign.
Ex-All Black George Moala set for La Rochelle switch
Former All Black Moala is set to swap Clermont Auvergne for La Rochelle next season, according to reports from Midi Olympique and Sud Ouest.
Per the reports, the 35-year-old, who won four Test caps for the All Blacks, is not expected to be offered a new deal at the Stade Marcel-Michelin for next season and has already begun advanced talks to join the two-time Investec Champions Cup winners on a one-year deal as a result.
Moala has been in France since 2018 after joining Clermont from the Blues, and has notched 148 appearances for the club in that time. He has also been drafted into the Tonga squad after serving the stand-down period from the All Blacks, winning six Test caps for the country of his birth.
Gloucester continue rebuild with latest coaching appointments
PREM side Gloucester have continued their dramatic rebuild ahead of next season with the appointments of Brett Deacon and Joel Tomkins onto the coaching staff.
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Deacon will swap Mattioli Woods Welford Road for Kingsholm next season, joining as forward’s coach from Leicester Tigers, while Tomkins joins the club following his departure from rugby league club Catalans Dragons, where he had been head coach.
This comes amid the exit of long-standing assistant Trevor Woodman, who will head to Connacht for next season.
Commenting on his move to Gloucester, former Cherry and White Deacon said: “I’m excited to be coming back to Gloucester Rugby in the summer. I’ve learnt a huge amount during my time at Leicester, working with outstanding players and coaches, and I feel like I’m ready to take on the next challenge in my career.
“There’s a real ambition at Kingsholm and I’m looking forward to playing my part in helping the club move forward.
“I have very fond memories of my playing days at Gloucester. I’m excited to now work with a forward pack full of potential, alongside a coaching group that is building a strong new identity.”
Also commenting, Tomkins added: “I’m really excited to be joining Gloucester Rugby and returning to Rugby Union in a coaching role.
“After speaking with George and Rob, it’s clear the club has strong ambitions for the future, and I’m looking forward to playing my part alongside an ambitious coaching team and a talented, exciting playing squad.
“Gloucester is a big club with a passionate supporter base, and I’m relishing the challenge of developing a defensive programme that complements the team’s strengths.”
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Elsewhere, Dom Waldouck will shift over to the newly created role of head of player development, overseeing the progression of academy players into the senior side.
Explaining the appointments of Deacon and Tomkins, as well as the shift for Waldouck, Gloucester technical director Chris Boyd said: “We’ve been very deliberate in how we’ve shaped this coaching group, and Brett and Joel are both outstanding fits for what we’re trying to build at Gloucester Rugby.
“Brett brings a deep understanding of PREM Rugby, and he knows exactly what it means to represent this club. His return is a big plus for us.
“With Joel, he offers us a different perspective, having worked at the highest level in Rugby League as well as playing international Rugby Union. His defensive knowledge, competitiveness and appetite to challenge players will be hugely valuable.
“Dom’s new position is critical. The significance of nurturing home-grown talent is considerable and should not be understated. Establishing a tailored support structure for young players within our system will be instrumental in maximising their potential as they progress into the senior squad.
“Collectively, these appointments strengthen our coaching group significantly and underline our ambition heading into the 2026/27 season.”
