Rugby Transfers: SA boss labels Irish approach for Aussie prop as ‘crazy stuff’, Springbok skipper set for Top 14 and URC duo chase Harlequins utility
Dave Wessels, inset, has taken umbrage with the IRFU's reported offer to being in Reds prop Massimo De Lutiis
With tighthead props a short-in-supply commodity in Ireland, an approach has reportedly been made for a 22-year-old making his way in Australia, while Ronan O’Gara has his sights set on bringing a Springbok to France and two URC clubs are battling for a PREM utility.
Check out our latest transfer news and rumours update:
De Lutiis to Ireland claim winds up Wessels
The fractured wrist that ruled tighthead Massimo De Lutiis out of a potential debut Test cap last year with the Wallabies could reportedly backfire on Joe Schmidt and co, as reports have emerged that the 22-year-old Reds front-rower has an offer to switch to Ireland.
Having turned out for the Junior Wallabies against the Irish at the 2023 World Rugby Junior Championship in South Africa, he played for Australia A in November 2025 and was eventually called up to a 40-strong senior Wallabies squad just last January.
However, it has now emerged that the uncapped forward is Irish qualified through his family, making him an attractive target for the IRFU, who want to recruit him to feature for an as yet unnamed province and Andy Farrell’s Ireland side.
It’s an intriguing situation, especially as Les Kiss, De Lutiis’ current boss at the Reds, is set to succeed Schmidt as Wallabies head coach once the initial three home matches of the new Nations Championship in July have been played.
The story, first reported by Code Sports in Australia, has caused a stir, with even SA Rugby high performance general manager Dave Wessels firing a message up on X after learning about the IRFU’s approach to De Lutiis.
“This is crazy stuff,” he tweeted. “Rugby needs a better model to compensate countries that are exporters of talent – similar to what FIFA has. At the moment, the farmer who has spent years fattening the cow doesn’t get a cent when the cow goes to the abattoir… doesn’t work for farming. Can’t work for rugby.”
This is crazy stuff. Rugby needs a better model to compensate countries that are exporters of talent – similar to what FIFA has.
At the moment the farmer who has spent years fattening the cow doesn’t get a cent when the cow goes to the abattoir…doesn’t work for farming. Can’t… https://t.co/mWSJE58VJF
— Dave Wessels (@DaveWessels) March 30, 2026
The SA administrator had already had his qualms recently about the IRFU, quipping that they should perhaps receive a ‘loyalty shopper rewards card’ after Rynard Gordon switched to Ulster from the Cape Town-based Bishops not long after Josh Neill, the former Rondebosch and SA U18 player, linked with Leinster and featured for Ireland’s U20s in the recent Six Nations.
De Lutiis is currently back on the sidelines again, with his latest injuries meaning he has yet to feature in this year’s Super Rugby campaign with the Reds.
Moerat wanted in France
The Ronan O’Gara revamp at La Rochelle for 2026/27 continues to tick along with Salmaan Moerat, the second-row with 11 Springboks caps, said to be weighing up an offer to quit the Stormers and have a go in the Top 14.
Sidelined since a January toe operation, the 28-year-old, who skippered his country for the July 2024 match against Portugal, is expected back on the pitch before the end of the URC season.
South African media outlet Rapport are claiming that the deal taking him to La Rochelle is all but done apart from a couple of outstanding issues on the Stormers’ side. If so, it would represent the latest development in O’Gara’s rebuilding project at the two-time Champions Cup champions.
Already reported to be joining from Pro D2 are Brive prop Nathan Fraissenon and Colomiers lock Thomas Adelaide, with Saracens back-rower Theo McFarland and Edinburgh fly-half Ben Healy also set to enlist.
Springboks bolster backroom staff with the appointment of former England coach
Benson to quit PREM?
Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman has claimed that Harlequins fly-half Jamie Benson has been approached about switching PREM Rugby for the URC next season.
Appearing in the latest episode of Rugby Weekly Extra on The 42, the coach-turned-pundit claimed the ex-England U20s international is Irish-qualified and that both Munster and Ulster are chasing him.
Now 23 and with the versatility to fill a variety of positions across the backline, he has made 38 appearances for the London club and was their starting full-back in last Saturday’s league win over Bristol at Principality Stadium.
“Ulster and Munster are both chasing him,” said Jackman in the show. “Harlequins want to keep him, but does he want to go down the route of coming to Ireland and trying to become an established player at Munster or Ulster, then trying to play for Ireland, or does he stick in the English system?”
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