Five powerhouse transfers set to ignite rivalries, reshape strategies, and redefine the race for Top 14 glory.
New Arrivals Poised to Ignite a Riveting Rugby Campaign in France
The Top 14 curtain had barely fallen before the buzz began for what’s next. Barely out of breath from last season’s conclusion, the league gears up for another fierce round. September 6 marks the kickoff. Stade Français will open the new campaign by hosting fresh contenders Montauban, and the countdown is officially on.
As reigning champions, Toulouse continue to cast a long shadow with five titles in six years; the rest of the league has wasted no time loading up. Transfers? Not just names on paper. These are power plays, strategic injections of talent with the potential to flip the script.
Below, we spotlight the five blockbuster signings that might just shake the foundations of French rugby.
5. Davit Niniashvili to La Rochelle
From Lyon’s open spaces to La Rochelle’s calculated rebuild, Davit Niniashvili isn’t just switching clubs; he’s stepping into a new mission.
The 23-year-old Georgian full-back, a whirlwind with the ball, arrives as the jolt of energy Ronan O’Gara’s side sorely lacked. Agile, fearless, and packed with experience beyond his years, Niniashvili thrives in chaos, exactly what La Rochelle needs to unlock their backline.
Factor in Nolann Le Garrec’s move westward, and suddenly, this squad has teeth again.
4. Julián Montoya to Pau
You won’t see fireworks here, but that’s the point.
Pau’s signing of Argentina’s unshakable skipper Julián Montoya is all substance over style. From Leicester Tigers to the foothills of the Pyrenees, Montoya brings 95 caps’ worth of bruising, uncompromising leadership.
His presence may not dominate headlines, but it will dominate collisions. If Pau had an identity crisis before, Montoya might just give them one.
3. Taniela Tupou to Racing 92
Cue thunder. Taniela Tupou “Tongan Thor” is now in Racing 92 colors. And yes, it's as dramatic as it sounds.
Racing doesn’t build quietly. This move screams ambition. Tupou, a 135kg wrecking ball with surprisingly nimble hands, has had a few stop-start years due to injury. But on form? He’s near-unstoppable.
Scrum anchor. Defensive disruptor. Offensive weapon. If Racing can keep him healthy, their title dreams get very real, very fast.
2. Joey Manu to Racing 92
Tupou isn’t Racing’s only headline; enter Joey Manu, the NRL’s quiet superstar turned rugby union experiment.
Having dipped his toes with Toyota Verblitz, Manu now dives head-first into the Top 14. Athletic, intelligent, and built for big moments, he’s an enigma: a league star in a union world.
If he clicks, Manu won’t just be a success; he could redefine what cross-code players can achieve in Europe. The All Blacks might even take notice.
1. Zach Mercer to Toulon
Zach Mercer didn’t just return to France. He returned home at least, to the place that embraces him.
After an underwhelming spell at Gloucester, the English No.8 is back where he thrives: offloading, roaming, orchestrating chaos. Toulon, ever in need of flair and control from the back row, pounced.
With Isa off to Pau and a growing English core around him, Mercer could become the heartbeat of a rejuvenated Toulon. He never got the nod in England. France? They can’t get enough of him.
A Season Ripe for Disruption
As the Top 14 prepares for another ferocious campaign, these five signings stand out not just for their names but their potential to tilt the league’s equilibrium.
Power. Flair. Stability. Untapped brilliance. They bring it all.
Toulouse may have ruled the past, but the future? It looks wild, wide open, and utterly compelling.
