The regular season may be over but Gallagher Premiership clubs are still putting the final touches on their squads ahead of next season and there is still plenty of business being done.
With Bristol Bears back at the top table of European rugby, playing in the Gallagher Premiership and European Challenge Cup, we take a look at all the latest transfer news and rumours from them and their rivals.
South African fly-half’s departure from Harlequins confirmed
Harlequins fly-half Demetri Catrakilis will leave the Club to join Pro 14 side Izuzu Southern Kings
Fly-half Catrakilis joined Harlequins ahead of the 2017/18 season from Top 14 side Montpellier and has gone on to make 13 appearances for the club over two seasons unfortunately dominated by injury.
Despite suffering a serious throat injury early in his first season against Gloucester Rugby at The Stoop, Catrakilis returned to the starting line-up in March.
Quins have been linked with a number of fly-half replacements in the rumour columns with Australians Quade Cooper and Brook James mentioned is dispatches amongst others.
Saracens centre heading to Ospreys
Centre Tom Griffiths is set to join Pro14 side Ospreys from Saracens, according to The Rugby Paper.
The Gloucester-born 23-year-old was signed by Saracens in 2015 and promoted into their senior squad in 2017/18 but has struggled to break into the star-studded first team.
Now with the arrival of England star Elliot Daly at Allianz Park, who is expected to play centre, there is no room for the former Gloucester Rugby man who made his Gallagher Premiership debut off the bench against Worcester this season and helped Saracens Storm win the Premiership Rugby Shield
Scottish international prop signs new deal at Falcons
Prop Jon Welsh has signed a new two-year deal at Newcastle Falcons.
The 32-year-old tight-head was a mainstay for the Falcons during their fourth-placed Premiership finish in 2017-18, but spent almost the entire 2018-19 season on the sidelines through injury.
Now close to fitness and looking to make a big impact on the club’s promotion push, the 12-times-capped Scotland prop, who joined the club from Glasgow Warriors in 2015, has agreed a new deal with the northern club despite them dropping down into the Championship following relegation last season.
Ireland great takes Top 14 job
Former Ireland and Munster fly-half Ronan O'Gara has been appointed head coach at French Top 14 club La Rochelle.
O'Gara will make the switch from New Zealand Super Rugby club the Crusaders at the end of the season.
O'Gara has been attack coach at Crusaders for the past two seasons and will now step up to be head coach working under the club's director of rugby Jono Gibbes.
England coaches commit until 2021
John Mitchell will stay on at England men's defence coach until 2021 it has been confirmed today.
The RFU also announced England head coach Eddie Jones' intention of seeing out the remaining two years of his own contract.
The vastly-experienced Mitchell was an England assistant coach between 1997 and 2000 under Sir Clive Woodward for 33 Tests, and was appointed defence coach in September 2018.
"I am delighted and privileged to be recommitting to England Rugby until 2021," said Mitchell. "This is the right decision for me especially given the RFU's investment in me over the last year and what I have been able to add and learn so far, and will continue to do in the future."
