The January sales are in full swing.
Here are the transfer headlines from the weekend:
Newcastle Red Bulls build the back row
Northampton Saints back row Sam Graham is set to add physicality to the Newcastle Red Bulls’ squad after agreeing to join the club in the summer on a two-year deal.
The 28-year-old made a late entrant into the top-flight game, having played for Doncaster Knights and Hartpury in the Championship before joining Northampton Saints in 2022. He notably made 20 starts during the Saints Gallagher PREM winning season of 2024.
Graham said: “I’ve played up at Kingston Park a number of times throughout in my career and have always had a lot of respect for the guys there, and the way the supporters get behind their team.
“The place looks like it’s buzzing on a match day with everything surrounding Red Bull’s takeover, and I experienced it myself when Saints went up there earlier in the season.
“They’ve been getting sell-out crowds in the league on a consistent basis, and they’re really going places with the way they’re starting to build.
“As a player it’s massively exciting to be a part of that once my time at Northampton comes to an end, and I’m looking forward to throwing everything into it when I get up to Newcastle in the summer.”
Newcastle Red Bulls’ sporting general manager Neil McIlroy said: “Sam has worked extremely hard to forge a career in English rugby’s top flight, to his immense credit.
“He is a very consistent performer who makes big impacts on games, and he will get us on the front foot with his ball carrying, set-piece work and link play.
“It’s an exciting period for the club as we put in place the building blocks for what we are confident will be a very successful future, and Sam promises to be a big part of that.”
Scotland star heads to France
Adam Hastings has agreed terms with French side Montpellier, where he will join fellow Scotsmen Stuart Hogg and Ali Price in the blue kit.
Initially making his Glasgow Warriors debut in 2017, the fly-half has made 81 appearances to date across two spells with the club. He is one of only six players to amass over 500 points as a Glasgow Warrior, reaching the feat in victory over the Vodacom Bulls earlier this season.
Prior to his time at Glasgow, the 29-year-old had a brief spell at Bath, before returning to the west country four years later to spend many a campaign with Gloucester.
There are no eligibility restrictions on Scottish players playing overseas, so the 29-year-old will remain available for Scotland should they need him.
England greats weigh in on Antoine Dupont’s ‘off day’ as Saracens ‘rattle’ Toulouse and France stars
Quins legend offers services
Mike Brown has reportedly offered his services to his old club, Harlequins, but this time in a coaching capacity.
After completing his master’s degree in sports directorship, he is now working with Esher RFC in the fourth tier of English rugby and has offered to help out his former club at no cost.
A source close to the Daily Mail said: ‘There are too many yes men at the club. They should go out and get Mike in some sort of management capacity. He knows the club inside out and is more qualified than any ex-players. He’s someone who doesn’t take any bulls***.”
Stormers miss out on towering lock
According to the South African website, Rapport, Benetton second row forward Eli Snyman has signed a two-year contract with Irish side Ulster.
This is damning news to the Stormers, who were reportedly lining him up to replace the outgoing Ruben van Heerden, who is set to join Montpellier at the end of the season.