Farrell, Hogg, Grandidier…. The eight recruits to follow this year in Top 14

Owen Farrell, England, 32, fly-half – Racing 92

This is THE recruit of this off-season. At 32, the fly-half, with more than 100 caps with the XV de la Rose, will discover the Top 14 at Racing 92, he who has only known Saracens since his youth. Let’s hope for him a better adaptation than Siya Kolisi. The double world champion with the Springboks, arrived in Île-de-France after the last World Cup, and who already wants to go back to South Africa. But with the arrival of Farrell, the Parisian club is getting a hinge with a great look. The Englishman should be aligned with the French international Nolann Le Garrec who will play his last season in the sky and white jersey before joining La Rochelle. Their complementarity will be to be observed during the first outings of Racing 92. His new coach – and former coach of the XV de la Rose between 2011 and 2015 – Stuart Lancaster convinced him to sign in France “thanks to the beautiful relationship we have”explained the manager of the Parisian club. Finn Russell, who spent five seasons with the 2016 French champion, expects a successful marriage between the former Saracens player and the Parisian club: “Everyone sees him as a 10 who plays with his feet, but he also has a very good attacking game. Owen will fit very well with their style of play which is of high quality.”he explained to the PA Press Agency.

Manu Tuilagi, England, 33 years old, center – Aviron Bayonnais

A new Tuilagi in the Top 14. After Henry (USAP), Freddie (Castres), Alesana (Toulon) and the latest arrival, Posolo (USAP), Manu Tuilagi, uncle of the Catalan second-row of the XV of France, was attracted by the best championship in the world. The former Leicester and Sale player is settling down in the Basque Country where he is joining Aviron Bayonnais, 12th in the last exercise.Before signing here, I didn’t really know what to expect, but since I’ve settled here, I’m having a great time, I’m making the most of it.”he confided to Midi Olympique. While the English championship is experiencing an unprecedented crisis, the British international, also attracted by the salary, will bring his power in attack, but also in defense where he shines with his well-felt tackles. He will not be the only player to come and strengthen the Bayonne club. Joris Segonds (Stade Français) and Baptiste Germain (Stade Toulousain) are notably arriving in Bayonne for this new season.

Stuart Hogg, Scotland, 32 years old, fullback – Montpellier Hérault Rugby

A return that was no longer expected and that will be scrutinized. Retired since July 2023, Scottish full-back Stuart Hogg has decided to put his boots back on… in France. He joins the ranks of the MHR, in great difficulty last season, for two seasons plus an optional one. But in what state will he return? Accused of “threatening and abusive behavior” towards his ex-partner, he had suffered a wave of massive harassment on social networks. Messages of hate that affected him and pushed him to enter a rehabilitation center near his home to get away from the networks.I was lost. I needed help, direction, time away from the spotlight to take a deep breath and think. The personal and private issues that are being exposed to the public eye and the online abuse are things that have affected me greatly. I have not been able to deal with it,” he had confided to The Telegraph. A year later, the flamboyant full-back of the XV de Charbon will have to show that he is still the full-back known since the beginning of his career. And the challenge is great, within a club that is rebuilding itself and that will try to make us forget the demons of the past.

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Antoine Frisch, France, 28 years old, center – RC Toulon

A Frenchman who will be particularly scrutinized. After having chosen and then started with the XV of France in July for the unfortunate South American tour, the Franco-Irishman has also chosen to discover the Top 14 this season under the colors of Toulon. The former of the province of Munster, during the last two seasons, arrives until 2027. “This is an opportunity I have been waiting for a long time to be able to return to France. I really wanted it,” admitted the Bellifontain in an interview given to the Var club. The 28-year-old player still had one year left on his contract, but Munster agreed to release him, seeing his player’s desire to return home. A former player for Rouen, then Bristol (England), Frisch can play center, but also fly-half. A position he played in when he was learning the ropes at Stade Français. The player who could have played with the XV du Trèfle is described as an intelligent, calm player, capable of organizing the game and with an individual technique that allows him to make a difference with the ball in his hands. But also very solid in defense when it comes to stopping opponents.

Joey Carbery, Ireland, 28 years old, fly-half – Union Bordeaux Bègles

Like Stuart Hogg, Joey Carbery is coming to try the Top 14 experience after a few complicated last months. The Irish saw him as the successor to Jonathan Sexton, the legendary fly-half of the XV du Trèfle. But the native of Auckland in New Zealand has never been able (for the moment) to meet these expectations. So much so that he missed the World Cup and the last Six Nations Tournament, not selected by Andy Farrell.There was a time last year when I really wasn’t enjoying rugby and so I think this departure is exactly what I need,” he told RTE media last March, after his arrival at UBB was made official. He is joining Bordeaux to replace Mathieu Jalibert, who has a fragile body and is under contract until 2025, and to allow Yannick Bru to have an additional solution in this position. Described as a great “Irish” scorer, his goal will be to get the Stade Chaban-Delmas up on his feet more than once.

Madosh Tambwe, Congo, 27 years old, winger – Montpellier Hérault Rugby

A surprising choice for the now former UBB winger. Interesting during his appearances in the Bordeaux jersey, Madosh Tambwe chose a club with which he could express himself even more.It’s just that there are two international players in my position and I’m not in it yet. It’s something I can’t control,” he explained to Midi Libre, evoking the difficulty of finding a place in Bordeaux with the presence of Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud. Last season, he only played 12 matches as a starter with UBB for seven tries in the championship. The native of Kinshasa in Congo, who grew up and learned rugby in South Africa, will do good to MHR who needed an ultra-fast winger. The Hérault club will be his second in the Top 14 after having started his career in his “second country” with the Johannesburg Lions, then having continued it with the Sharks and the Bulls.

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Louis Carbonel, France, 25 years old, fly-half – Stade Français Paris

He leaves the MHR and his last “quagmire” season to try to perform in the French capital. The native of Toulon, who passed through the red and black club before settling in Hérault in 2022, will take the place of the unfortunate Joris Segonds – who missed the winning penalty in the semi-final against UBB last June – who left for Aviron Bayonnais. Double U20 world champion in 2018 and 2019, the son of Alain Carbonel, former RCT center, has chosen “an ambitious project» to try to establish himself in a team capable of evolving in the upper echelons of the championship. A real gamble by the Stade Français leaders who had explained that they were favoring French recruits and not international ones.to rebalance the club’s salaries,” according to president Thomas Lombard. His variation in play could do some good for the Pink Soldiers, who did not shine offensively last season.

Aaron Grandidier, France, 24 years old, winger – Section Paloise

The other man of the Olympic Games in rugby 7s is him. Aaron Grandidier Nkanang. The try scorer in the final, served after a magnificent run by Antoine Dupont, will make his big return to the Top 14. After having played a few matches with Brive, two years ago, in the French elite, he will be back there under the colors of the Section Paloise. In a club that trusts the wingers with in particular the recent emergence of Théo Attisogbe, the choice seems to be the right one for the London native. Especially since his new manager Sébastien Piqueronies, attracted by the offensive, confided to L’Equipe that he was won over by his profile.He is a hard-working, determined, humble and ambitious boy and a player that we have been following for a long time, because Pau has always been connected with the environment of the French 7. Aaron has gained confidence in himself, he is brilliant in the air and has great speed qualities as we saw against Argentina. He has learned a lot with the French team and it is the right time for him to achieve his potential at fifteen.