The Welsh second row and the New Zealand hooker will be two new faces in the Hérault pack next season. opening, the Byrne track is still relevant but the MHR faces serious competition on this issue.
Particularly active on the transfer market this fall, Montpellier has just concluded two major projects aimed at strengthening its pack from next season.
As announced Monday on rugbyrama.frthe Hérault club has obtained the agreement of Welsh international second row Adam Beard (28 years old, 58 caps), who will be Ciste for the next three seasons. The Ospreys player, who had the honors of a British Lions tour in 2021, is renowned for being one of the best sideline specialists in the world. A player who is more mobile than dense (2.03 m, 121 kg), he nonetheless took over from the legend Alun-Wyn Jones as number 5 of a rejuvenated Welsh selection of which he is one of the captains. Another non-Jiff forward will soon sign his contract with the MHR: as indicated by Free MiddayNew Zealand hooker Ricky Riccitelli (29) also decided to respond favorably to Montpellier's approach. Although he has never had the honors of the All Black selection, he has a fine reputation in Super Rugby with 14 tries in 39 matches played under the colors of the Auckland Blues.
Dave Lintott / Icon Sport – Simon Watts / lintottphoto.co.nz
Leicester in the dance for Byrne
After the commitments of English center Harlequins Lennox Anyanwu (23 years old) and Racing 92 winger Donovan Taofifenua (25 years old), the squad of the MHR version 2025-2026 is taking shape. Among the missing pieces of the puzzle, those of a scrum half and a flyhalf are the center of attention. While the departure of Cobus Reinach (34 years old, 37 caps) for the Stormers is now confirmed, the Hérault club hopes to find a successor of international stature to its current Bok. The hypothesis Herschel Jantjies (28 years old, 24 caps) still holds the rope even if nothing is set in stone.
As for the position of opener, the priority track remains that leading to Ross Byrne (29 years old, 22 caps), considered number 3 in the position in the hierarchy of the Clover XV. The name of the experienced Irish international has recently returned to Clermont without this interest being confirmed. Leicester, who risk seeing former Montpellier Handre Pollard join Japan next summer, are in the running while Leinster intend to keep their number 10, even though they are now facing strong internal competition. Business to follow.
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