As we move to 2025, several dozen players playing in the Top 14 have started the last semester of their current contract without being sure of their future. Focus on the most notable cases, elements likely to fuel discussions and negotiations in the coming weeks.
A few more rising values…
At this stage of the year, the vast majority of players in form and/or considered to have great potential have logically already sealed their future. There are a handful left free. Starting with Pierre-Louis Barassi, a high-level center whose development has been thwarted by repeated glitches but who is currently giving his full potential. Source of desire of several tenors in recent months (Paris, Toulon…), the original Audois is to this day determined to continue the Toulouse adventure and its extension is no longer in doubt. On the La Rochelle side, we hope to quickly finalize the Matthias Haddad file. The flanker's talent, long overshadowed by injuries, is once again coming to light within a third line that is nevertheless competitive.
Ex-Blues at the relaunch?
A number of French internationals now far from Marcoussis find themselves on the market. This is the case of Clermont fly-half Anthony Belleau, one of the rare 10 Jiffs still free, of second row racingman Boris Palu, expected to leave, or of scrum half Maxime Machenaud, in talks for weeks with Bayonne in view of a possible extension. His former club and selection partner, La Rochelle fullback Brice Dulin, is in a similar situation, he who wants to continue for another year. Back from injury last weekend and author of a convincing performance, left pillar Hassane Kolingar saw his chances of returning to Racing 92 skyrocket. Montpellier's Anthony Bouthier, long-term injured, is above all waiting to return to the field to clear up a horizon that is currently undecided.
The Pumas are patient
If Marcos Kremer signed a new lease with Clermont at the end of December, many of his selection partners have not yet found buyers. This is the case for the Bayonnais Rodrigo Bruni, who hopes to stay at Aviron, the Toulonnais Facundo Isa, whose departure leaves little room for doubt, the Clermontois Bautista Delguy, in a similar situation, or even the Bordelais Guido Petti, leaving from UBB and who would have touches with other elite clubs. The level of the players in question is not so much in question but their situation as an active international and the competition on the non-Jiff market do not facilitate their plans. Other foreign internationals with a solid CV and reputation are faced with the same problem such as Folau Fainga'a (Clermont), who maintains a good rating on the heels market, Pete Samu, not retained by the UBB, and Adam Coleman (Bordeaux-Bègles), who is on hold, or So'otala Fa'aso'o (Perpignan), factor X about whom Usap has not yet decided.
Beautiful people on the wings
With the exception of the stars of the position, the recruitment of wingers generally occurs at a later stage. The year 2025 will be no exception to this rule and the coming months should be marked by a waltz of attackers. The candidates are numerous and there is no shortage of interesting profiles, between the Toulouse Nelson Épée and Setareki Bituniyata, the latter being injured for a long time, the Racingman Vinaya Habosi, whose name has been circulating in Aix, the Montpellier George Bridge, the Clermontois Bautista Delguy, the Perpignanais Alistair Crossdale and Louis Dupichot, both in negotiations for an extension, the Bayonnais Aurélien Callandret or even Paul Surano from Vannes.
Third line, fierce competition
Between the aerials, the scratchers and the carriers, the third line presents a great diversity of players. The market reflects this range of possibilities with very varied profiles: in addition to Rodrigo Bruni, Pete Samu, Matthias Haddad, Facundo Isa and So'otala Fa'aso'o, previously mentioned, we find, to name a few, Rémi Bourdeau , Alexandre Fischer, Fritz Lee, Pierre-Samuel Pacheco, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Thibaut Hamonou, Lucas Bachelier, Lucas Velarte and Alban Placines. Most of them should change colors next summer.
And also: Vilimoni Botitu (Castres), Antoine Zeghdar (Castres), Martin Page-Relo (Lyon), Clément Castets (Stade français), Pierre Lucas (Montpellier), Ignacio Calles (Pau), Marvin Orie (Usap), James Hall (Usap), Brian Alainu'uese (Toulon)…
