Rugby Transfers: Newcastle Red Bulls draft in Test ace, Leinster tie down trio and Sale Sharks add latest recruit
Benjamín Elizalde (right) and Paddy McCarthy (left) feature in the latest transfers round-up
Newcastle Red Bulls have further bolstered their squad for next season with another Argentinian, Leinster tie down two key men on fresh deals, and Sale Sharks make their 10th signing.
Check out our latest transfer news and rumours update:
Newcastle Red Bulls add Argentina star Benjamín Elizalde for next season
Newcastle Red Bulls have shown no signs of slowing down on the recruitment front, with Benjamín Elizalde signing a two-year deal with the club for next season, when you can use the latest sports betting odds at Bovada during their campaign.
The four-cap Los Pumas back, who can play full-back, wing or centre, joins the North East outfit from Bristol Bears, where he has made 27 appearances in the past two seasons. In that time, he has also scored five tries.
Commenting on joining the Red Bulls, Elizalde said: “I’m excited to start a new chapter with Newcastle Red Bulls, and I’m looking forward to being there and meeting everyone.
“It’s an honour to join a club with such a rich history and strong identity.
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“I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and am ready to give my all, to grow as a player and contribute to the team’s future.”
Newcastle sporting general manager, Neil McIlroy, added: “Benjamín is an outstanding young talent with skill and athleticism in abundance.
“He has already made his international breakthrough and has a couple of Gallagher PREM seasons under his belt, but there is plenty more to come from him.”
He also becomes the latest Argentina international to sign for Newcastle, with Simon Benetez Cruz currently at Kingston Park as well.
Leinster tie down trio
Leinster have secured the services of Paddy McCarthy, Scott Penny and Jordan Larmour, with the trio re-signing with the Irish province for next season.
22-year-old loosehead prop McCarthy made his senior bow for the province in 2023/24 and has tallied a further 14 appearances in the time since. His form for Leinster has quickly seen him drafted into Andy Farrell’s Ireland side, too, with McCarthy notching four Test caps after making his debut in the 2025 Autumn Nations Series.
Back-rower Penny, 26, made his Leinster debut back in the 2018/19 season and has quickly become a consistent member of the match-day squad. In the eight years since, he has made a total of 104 appearances for the province, starting in 69 of them as well, while also scoring 39 tries.
Outside back Larmour has also been a consistent cog in the Leinster side since his debut back in 2017, notching 117 appearances in the Blue jersey to date. He too has gone on to represent Ireland as well, winning 32 caps and featuring in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
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The trio are the latest to re-commit to the Dublin-based side, following the likes of Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park in committing their futures to Leinster.
Sale Sharks sign Opoku-Fordjour
Sale Sharks have added Coventry winger David Opoku-Fordjour to their ranks for next season, as the North West outfit continue to bolster their squad.
The outside back is the brother of current Sharks and England prop Asher, and signs a one-year deal with an option for a further year as well.
Opoku-Fordjour, 22, rose through the youth ranks at Coventry to make 52 appearances at the time of writing, crossing for 21 tries in the process.
Commenting on joining Sale, Opoku-Fordjour said: “I know the levels at a PREM club will be much higher but I’m really looking forward to playing and training with internationals every day.
“There are so many good wingers at the club – guys like Tom Roebuck and Arron Reed – and I just want to be a sponge and learn from them and develop as much as I can.
“Asher and I are really close and playing with him again will be brilliant. When I spoke to him he just said that the environment at Sale is great and I would really enjoy it. He said the club is full of good people so I can’t wait to get started.”
Sharks director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, added: “There’s some real talent and potential in the Champ and we think we’ve found one in David.
“He scores tries for fun, but there’s plenty more to his game and we’re looking forward to seeing how he develops in this environment, learning and playing with the international wingers we’ve got.”
He becomes the latest player to put pen to paper on a deal to join the Sharks, following the likes of Courtney Lawes, Tomas Francis, Nicky Smith, Christ Tshiunza, Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski to the club for next season.
