Ellis Genge targeted by French and Japanese clubs ahead of 2025 Rugby World Cup

Ellis Genge, England’s first-choice loosehead and a British & Irish Lion, is being lined up for a lucrative move abroad following the 2025 Rugby World Cup in Australia, with clubs from France’s Top 14 and Japan Rugby League One understood to have registered serious interest in the Bristol Bears prop.

Genge, who turns 32 next February, signed a long-term contract with Bristol in September 2024 after returning to his hometown club from Leicester Tigers, where he helped them defeat Saracens to claim their 11th Premiership title in 2022. The Knowle West-raised tighthead has accumulated 80 England caps and was previously linked with a switch to rugby league side Warrington Wolves.

Elsewhere in the transfer market, Perpignan have revived their pursuit of Toulon fly-half Paolo Garbisi after failing to agree a compensation package for former Ireland international Ross Byrne, whose career has stalled since joining Gloucester last summer. Byrne has two seasons remaining on his Kingsholm deal, leaving Perpignan to shift focus to Garbisi, who is surplus to requirements at Toulon. The Italy international, with one year left on his contract, has reportedly been offered a two-year deal to move to Catalonia, with Midi Olympique reporting that the Blood and Gold are growing in confidence a deal can be struck.

Israel Folau, the 37-year-old former Wallabies full-back with 73 international caps, is understood to be exploring a return to club rugby in Sydney’s Shute Shield after a bid to rejoin the NRL with the Wests Tigers was blocked at the final stage. Folau, who scored eight tries in eight appearances for Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan this season, is now a free agent, and feelers have reportedly been put out to gauge interest from potential clubs.

Former Wallabies tighthead Jermaine Ainsley has confirmed he is returning to the Highlanders next season after his proposed transfer from Top 14 side Lyon to Saracens collapsed earlier this year. The 30-year-old, who made 38 appearances for the Highlanders before moving to France until 2028, was released from his Lyon contract and returned to New Zealand for personal reasons.

Finally, Jordan Els, the 29-year-old loosehead who was among 13 senior players released by Harlequins at the end of last season, is now fully fit and seeking a new club. Els, who made 58 appearances for Quins including four last season, had been sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury — one of 27 players on the club’s injured list in April — but has since recovered and is available for next season.