Five rugby rumours and transfers: Jack Goodhue, Henry Arundell, Italy head coach and much more

It’s been another busy week with rugby rumours and transfers, and Planet Rugby brings you five top stories ahead of the weekend.

Exiles on the market?

London Irish stars are scrambling to find new clubs after the side entered administration and were relegated ahead of next season’s Premiership.

The rumour mill is now spinning on where the best of the Exiles will end up while some have already been snapped up.

2022/23 Premiership Breakthrough Player of the Season, Tom Pearson, has signed on with Northampton Saints, joining former Exiles Chunya Munga and Tarrek Haffar at the club.

Adam Coleman is off to Bordeaux, while the Telegraph links Ben Loader to the Stormers and Will Joseph to Harlequins.

England star Henry Arundell is one of the biggest names up for grabs, and according to French publication L’Equipe, he has sealed a deal with Parisian club Racing 92.

Racing were in the market for an outside back to compensate for the departure of Springbok Warrick Gelant, who is set to return to the Stormers after an underwhelming stint in Paris.

Arundell is set to join Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, highly touted prop Thomas Laclayat, Wales lock Will Rowlands, scrum-halves Clovis Le Bail and James Hall, Fijian superstar Josua Tuisova and Fijian Wame Naituvi at the club next season with Stuart Lancaster taking charge of the side.

Meanwhile, London Irish fly-half Paddy Jackson looks set to join Arundell in the Top 14 next season. According to?L’Equipe,?Lyon have?agreed terms with the former Ireland international who was targeted as a replacement for Lima Sopoaga ahead of next season.

Exclusive: The next Italy head coach

Italian rugby chiefs stunned the rugby public this week with the news that Italy head coach Kieran Crowley will vacate the head coach role after the Rugby World Cup.

Crowley masterminded the Azzurri’s historic win over Wales in the Six Nations last year, breaking a 36-match losing streak in that tournament and backed that up with their maiden win over Australia last November.

Two sources close to the Italian national team exclusively revealed to Planet Rugby that former Jaguares and Stade Francais coach Gonzalo Quesada will take charge of the Azzurri next year.?

Quesada has signed a four-year deal as the next head coach, and it was eventually confirmed by the Italian Rugby Federation on Friday.

? Gonzalo #Quesada assumerà l’incarico di Commissario Tecnico di #Italrugby?a partire dal primo?gennaio 2024 ? https://t.co/Kg0BVMkGwS#insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana pic.twitter.com/7FVsYH1akC

— Italrugby (@Federugby) June 16, 2023

Williams seals Japanese switch

Liam Williams is set to leave Cardiff one season into his two-year deal with the Welsh region.?

According to?BBC Sport, the Welsh international has signed a deal to join a Japanese Rugby League One side after the Rugby World Cup.

While the report did mention an ‘‘unnamed club,’’ previous reports have linked him to current champions, the Kubota Spears.

The Spears bid former All Blacks centre Ryan Crotty farewell in the final of this season’s JRLO, which frees up a spot for an international player in their ranks.?

Williams’ departure would come off the back of Josh Navidi’s retirement, while Dillon Lewis and Jarrod Evans are both joining Premiership outfit Harlequins with Rhys Priestland, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo (all to be confirmed), James Ratti (Ospreys), Llyod Williams (Ealing Trailfinders), and Max Llewellyn (Gloucester) all leaving the side.

New French attack coach

Fabien Galthie has found his new attack coach beyond the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with former Perpignan boss Patrick Arlettaz joining the backroom staff.

Arlettaz recently stepped down as coach of Perpignan and will now replace Stade Francais-bound Laurent Labit after the World Cup.

The French Rugby Federation confirmed that Arlettaz has signed a four-year deal, starting ahead of the 2024 Six Nations.

The incoming attack coach guided Perpignan to promotion to the Top 14 in his first season in charge, with the side praised for their attacking prowess.

Arlettaz joins Laurent Sempéré and Nicolas Jeanjean as the new additions to the coaching team, with Karim Ghezal also joining Stade Francais and Thibaud Giroud off to Bordeaux.

Castres target All Black star

Top 14 outfit Castres have reportedly made a massive offer to sign All Blacks and Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue.

According to?Midi Olympique, the club are looking to make a ‘‘huge splash’’ on the transfer market ahead of next season, with Goodhue their main target.?

The side are renowned for recruiting mostly lesser-known talents and signing players from the PRO D2 but are keen to make a statement signing.

Centre Thomas Combezou was forced to retire this season, and despite talented centres in the form of Adrea Cocagi, Adrien Séguret and Vilimoni Botitu, Castres are looking for a world-class talent to fill Combezou’s void.

Injuries have hampered Goodhue’s involvement with the Crusaders and All Blacks in the last 12 months but he is set to be a key member of Ian Foster’s Rugby World Cup squad.?

READ MORE:?Clinical Crusaders reach another final after thrashing hapless Blues