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Premiership Rugby

The Most Impactful Signings For The 2023/24 English Premiership Season

The Most Impactful Signings For The 2023/24 English Premiership Season

English Premiership Rugby's most impactful signings and transfers for the 2023/24 rugby season.

May 3, 2023 by Philip Bendon
The Most Impactful Signings For The 2023/24 English Premiership Season

The English Premiership has been at an all-time low this season, with two clubs falling into administration with several others on the brink of financial collapse. Yet, in a world that appears so dark, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for the stricken league as the competing clubs begin to push forward. Signalling their faith in the league have been several big-name players who have signed contracts to either remain in or join the league. 

Now with just one round remaining in the regular season, the semi-finals have been decided as Saracens, Sale, Leicester and Northampton push to etch their names onto the famous trophy. Here are some of the biggest names from the past month who have signed on to play in the league next season. 

Finn Russell – Bath Rugby

Scotland international Finn Russell is arguably the biggest signature of this offseason as he brings an end to his five-year run with Top 14 giants Racing 92. The Scottish playmaker is one of the game’s biggest stars and, at 30 years old, is at the peak of his powers as a flyhalf. His addition alone will make Bath one of the more fascinating teams next season.


Manu Tuilagi - Sale Sharks

England stalwart Tuilagi has been the centre of much speculation over the past several months, with a move overseas rumoured to be his preferred option. However, bucking the trend of stars heading aboard, the hulking centre has signed a one-year contract extension with the Sale Sharks which will ensure that the 31-year-old remains eligible for English Rugby for at least another season.


Courtney Lawes - Northampton Saints

Joining his international teammate in remaining within the English game, 34-year-old Lawes turned down several lucrative contracts to remain with Northampton. Having made his debut for the Saints back in 2007, Lawes will likely see out his career at Franklin’s Gardens and will go down as one of the best players in the club’s long history.


Tolu Latu – Sale Sharks

New South Wales Waratah Tolu Latu is set to return to northern hemisphere rugby, having reportedly signed a contract with Sale Sharks. The 30-year-old is a physical freak but has had his issues throughout his career, having recently had his contract terminated by French club Stade Francais. 


Joe Hawkins – Exeter Chiefs

Promising young Welsh international Hawkins has confirmed his move to the Exeter Chiefs despite growing pressure to keep him in Wales. His move will make him ineligible for the Welsh national team in a situation that has clearly frustrated head coach Warren Gatland. Given Hawkins falls short of the 25 caps required for Welsh players to remain eligible should they play in foreign leagues, his place at the year’s Rugby World Cup is firmly in doubt. 


Thomas Du Toit – Bath Rugby

World Cup-winning Springbok prop Thomas Du Toit has confirmed his move to Bath for next season. Playing under former Springbok assistant coach Johan van Graan who is now the Bath head coach, Du Toit will join a team that has already confirmed the signing of Scotland star Finn Russell. 


Max Llewellyn – Gloucester Rugby

Former Wales U20 winger Max Llewellyn will join Gloucester Rugby from Cardiff at the beginning of next season. The 24-year-old winger has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Welsh capital side. Having been named in Warren Gatland’s 54-man Wales training squad for the World Cup, his move will be yet another source of frustration for Gatland. Linking up with fellow Welsh speedster Louis Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn will ensure that Gloucester have one of the most lethal wing duos in the league.


Dillon Lewis – Harlequins

50 times capped Welsh international tighthead prop Dillon Lewis will join 2020/21 Premiership champions Harlequins as they look to return to the top table of Premiership rugby. Playing under former Cardiff teammate Adam Jones who is the club’s scrum coach, Lewis will provide a hard edge to the Quins pack as he forms a dynamic partnership with English international loosehead Joe Marler.  


Jarrod Evans – Harlequins

Joining Lewis at Quins will be fellow Welsh international and Cardiff star flyhalf Jarrod Evans who will compete with Marcus Smith for the number ten shirt whilst also replacing the departing Tommy Allan. Having missed out on selection to Wales’s 54-man World Cup training squad, the 26-year-old Evans will be looking to reignite his career with an eye to adding to his 8 test caps. 


Ernst van Rhyn – Sale Sharks

Stormers utility forward van Rhyn will join the Sale Sharks from the reigning URC champions next season. Replacing fellow South African Jono Ross, who recently announced his retirement, the 25-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Sharks. The former South African U20 representative is equally adept at playing in the second or back row and will add even more power to an already formidable Sharks pack. 


Ethan Roots – Exeter Chiefs

Physical backrow Ethan Roots will join the Exeter Chiefs rebuild as he departs URC side the Ospreys. The 23-year-old has made a name for himself as a big hitter since coming to the Northern Hemisphere from the Crusaders in 2020. His addition will help to ease the loss of Sam Simmonds, Jannes Kisten and Santiago Grondona, who all depart the club at the end of the season.  


Ollie Hassle-Collins – Leicester Tigers

England international Hassle-Collins departs London Irish this season in search of greener pastures with rivals Leicester Tigers. The physical winger will join a club that are putting together one of the most potent squads the Premiership has seen in recent seasons. Slotting in the back three alongside fellow England internationals Freddie Stewart and Anthony Watson as well as the terrifically talented Harry Potter.  


Zach Mercer – Gloucester 

The long-awaited return of England international Zach Mercer from French powerhouse Montpellier is nearly upon us. The rangy playmaking backrow has reached superstar status in the Top 14 since his move in 2021. Such was his rise in France, that there were murmurings that the powers that be in French Rugby were floating the idea of him switching international allegiances. Now returning to the English game at 25-years-old, his best days look to be ahead of him for both club and country. Interestingly Mercer turned down a reported move by his former club Bath in favour of joining their West country rivals. 


Kieran Marmion – Bristol Bears 

Irish international Marmion will link up with his former Connacht coach Pat Lam at the financially gifted Bristol Bears next season. Departing Connacht after 12 terrific seasons, the scrumhalf has ended his chances of playing international rugby for Ireland again due to the international selection policy on the Emerald Isle. Yet, at 31 years old, the nippy playmaker has several good seasons left in him and will likely make an immediate impact for the Bears.