Leicester Tigers eye Munster centre O'Brien as Tigers hunt backline reinforcements

Leicester Tigers are monitoring Munster outside centre Sean O’Brien ahead of a potential summer move, with the 28-year-old’s contract at the Irish province set to expire at the end of the current season.

O’Brien, who can also play inside centre and on either wing, is approaching 50 appearances for Munster since returning to Ireland four years ago after a spell at Exeter Chiefs. He signed a two-year extension to his initial deal in February 2025, but that agreement concludes this summer, opening the door for Tigers to make their move. Leicester are understood to be assessing several centre options, with O’Brien among those under consideration.

Elsewhere in the transfer market, former Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg faces an uncertain future after making just four appearances for Top 14 side Montpellier this season. The 34-year-old, who holds 100 Scotland caps and is a former British and Irish Lion, has made 31 appearances in total for the French club since joining three years ago following a brief retirement. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Hogg could seek another club in the Top 14 or Pro D2, though a return to the Gallagher Premiership or United Rugby Championship is considered highly unlikely given well-documented off-field legal matters.

Northampton Saints head coach Phil Dowson is weighing up whether to send Italian youngster Edoardo Todaro on loan to Championship strugglers Bedford Blues as the 20-year-old works his way back from a serious knee injury sustained in February. Todaro, who scored ten tries in 13 games for Saints last season, was hurt while preparing for the Six Nations. “We are being conservative reintroducing him to training and making sure we manage his load, and then it’s very different to go from full training into games. How we try and manage that. Do we get minutes with a loan club, or do we throw him straight in via the bench?” Dowson said.

Glasgow Warriors and Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu, 29, was spotted in Bristol this week, though the purpose of his visit remains unclear. Tuipulotu has 18 months remaining on his Warriors contract, which runs until at least the summer of 2028, making a near-term Premiership move appear unlikely. He is set to feature for Glasgow against Connacht in the URC.

Finally, lock Tom Staniforth could be entering his last season at Castres after more than 100 appearances for the Top 14 club. The 32-year-old former NSW Waratahs forward, who earned his first France caps in last summer’s Nations Championship, has yet to agree terms on a new deal, leaving his future at the club in doubt.