The five biggest transfers in rugby ahead of the 2024/25 season

Players on the move, it is a tale as old as time but sometimes a move is so seismic that it has the potential to shift a teams fortunes.

With little over a month to go until club rugby returns in earnest for the 2024/25 season, here are five of the biggest transfers ahead of next season.

Siya Kolisi – Racing 92 -> Hollywoodbets Sharks
First reported by RugbyPass today (August 2nd), the Springbok captain looks set for a shock exit from the Top 14 powerhouse with a return to his previous team the Hollywoodbets Sharks being his favoured move. This move comes six weeks after Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti said of Kolisi, “The break was harmful to him. He gained weight, lost form and yesterday he was transparent. In the back row, we used to have an ultra-present warrior, a warrior called Wenceslas Lauret. For the moment, Siya does not let us forget him.” This assessment coupled with Kolisi’s series of injuries whilst in Paris meant the Bok captain only featured 18 times for his new club. Upon his return to the Springbok set-up, the 33-year-old hit the ground running with two strong performances against Ireland. For the Sharks, his return would be significant boost as the star studded squad look to bounce back from a dismal 14th place finish in the 2023/24 URC season.

Rugbypass’ Neil Fissler has revealed exclusively that Siya Kolisi wishes to return to South Africa 🤯

His former club Sharks are favourites to sign him up…#rugby #Springboks pic.twitter.com/gz0nsKNRv6

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 2, 2024

Owen Farrell – Saracens -> Racing 92
Set to join Kolisi in Paris was former England captain Owen Farrell, who shocked the rugby world with his decision to depart Saracens and England in favour of a move to the Top 14 side. Almost certainly the greatest English flyhalf of all time, the 32-year-old remains a front runner to start for the British and Irish Lions next season. Following sixteen largely successful seasons with Saracens, a move to Paris could be exactly what Farrell needs to reinvigorate himself. His addition comes at the perfect time with Kolisi leaving a leadership void in the squad and with his winning pedigree he could prove to be the catalyst for getting Racing back to the top table of European and French competition.

Owen Farrell has spent his whole career at Saracens having made his debut aged 17.

He will join Racing 92 on a two-year deal from next season#rugby pic.twitter.com/7DErir1YG0

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 22, 2024

RG Snyman – Munster -> Leinster
Hands down the most controversial move ahead of next season, the Springbok lock’s move from Munster to archrivals Leinster felt more like an April fools than a reality when it was first announced. Having spent four seasons in Limerick in which time he only featured in twenty matches for the men in red, Snyman’s signing was arguably the biggest flop in Munster history. Despite his lack of game time for Munster, the secondrow would be a key contributor for the Springboks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. To make a positive case for his time in Limerick, he had a very strong knockout run when Munster won the 2022/23 URC title but in reality his time with the province was a non factor. For Leinster if he can remain fit, then the powerhouse could prove to be the perfect bench option to inject late into contests alongside either Joe McCarthy or James Ryan.

🤯 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑-𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐄𝐑? 🏉

With reports that RG Snyman is heading to Leinster next season, Off The Ball Breakfast asks where this ranks among the transfers between the two bitter provincial rivals. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/SjfzN0ktT8

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— Off The Ball (@offtheball) December 15, 2023

Taniela Tupou – Melbourne Rebels -> NSW Waratahs
Rising from the ashes of the Rebels’ devastating destruction, the ‘Tongan Thor’ is exactly the player that the Waratahs need to return to relevance. Finishing dead last in the 2024 season, the 2014 Super Rugby Champions have a squad brimming with young talent. Filling both a leadership and playing role in the squad, the explosive 28-year-old will form one of the best prop partnerships in next year’s competition with Angus Bell. This in turn will not only help the Waratahs but the Wallabies too as they continue their rebuild under Joe Schmidt.

IT’S HAPPENING!!

Taniela Tupou is coming to the Tahs in 2025

Read more: https://t.co/u316JDTiJk pic.twitter.com/MuIRh0ks1T

— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) August 1, 2024

Ardie Savea – Hurricanes -> Moana Pasifika
In terms of impactful moves, few match the move of All Blacks star Ardie Savea from the Hurricanes to Moana Pasifika. Looking to gain a foothold in Super Rugby, Moana’s performances (12th,12th,11th) have not helped them establish themselves as a team for supporters to get behind. By adding the current World Rugby Player Of The year to the squad that includes his former All Black star brother Julian is a fast track move towards bringing success to the squad. Whilst the move is a major positive for the team, experts have questioned whether it could prove detrimental to Savea’s career. Leading the charge on this front is All Blacks legend John Kirwan who said, “Don’t get me wrong, I want Moana Pasifika to be great. But is it good for Ardie Savea if they have another season where they are second to last? Is that going to help us as All Blacks that Ardie is going to be coming from possibly doing extra or struggling?”. Irrespective of these ramifications, Savea’s move to the team is one of the biggest transfers in recent memory.

🇳🇿 TRANSFER NEWS: According to NZ Herald, Ardie Savea is set to join Moana Pasifika!

BOMBSHELL.

The reigning WPOTY has a clause in his contract that allows him to join another Super Rugby side next season.

What a boost that would be for the Pacific Island side!…

— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) July 18, 2024